Question

Choose the word which is closest to the opposite in meaning to the italicised word and fill in the blank.
Take these stale buns away and bring the __________ ones.

a)new
b)fresh
c)good
d)sweet

Answer 1

Hint: The italicised word stale means not fresh. Therefore, the opposite of stale would be accounting for fresh. Example: I asked for fresh bread, but the shopkeeper gave me the stale one.

Complete step by step answer:
To know the word which is closest to the opposite in meaning to the word ‘stale’, let us discuss the given options in detail:

a)new: new means, of recent origin, to change what was before.
Example: It is a new book.
Example: The architect renovated the house to give it a new look.

b)fresh: fresh means, newly made or arrived, experienced recently, original in quality.
Example: The fruits are fresh.
Example: He is a fresh talent in the industry.

c)good: good means morally excellent or satisfactory in quality, ability to do something, something that can be of help.
Example: He is a good man.
Example: She is good at verbal skills.

d)sweet: sweet means to have a flavour or characteristic of sugar or honey, pleasant, delightful. . Example: These strawberries are very sweet.
Example: She is a sweet girl.

Hence, option b is closest to the opposite of word stale.

Note:
The meaning of the words new, good, and sweet are not in regard to what we need in this question. They all have positive meanings but not necessarily mean fresh. Therefore, the opposite of stale(not fresh) has to be fresh.