Question

Choose the word/phrase which is opposite in meaning to the italicized word/phrase in the sentence.
She handled the machine with deft fingers.
a) Clumsy
b) Sturdy
c) Delicate
d) quick

Answer 1

Hint: Deft is an adjective that means ‘neatly skilful and quick in one's movements.’ And opposites or antonyms are the words that have a contrasting meaning to the given word.

Complete answer:
Reading the question above, we see that we have to replace the italicized word in the sentence. Now, deft means ’neatly skillful and quick in one's movements’, so the antonym or the opposite of the word would mean something which is not neat or untidy.
Now, let us go through the meanings of all the four given alternatives, one by one.
Option ‘a’, Clumsy means ‘awkward in movement or in handling things’
Option b, Sturdy means ‘(of a person or their body) strongly and solidly built’
Delicate, the third alternative, means: ‘very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality’
And we all know, that the last option, quick means ‘moving fast or doing something in a short time’
Looking at all the four options above, it is very clear that option ‘a’, clumsy is the correct answer for the question given to us, as its meaning matches with the opposite explanation of the italicized word ‘deft’ ( deft means neatly skillful and quick in one’s movements and its antonym or opposite ‘clumsy’ means ‘awkward in movement or in handling things)

Note: Antonyms are the words with opposite meanings and synonyms are the words with similar meanings. Do not get confused between the two.