Question

Select the antonym for the given word:
DAINTY
a. Heavy
b. Inelegant
c. Defaced
d. Sinking

Answer 1

Hint: Antonyms are opposite words. In this case, we must find a word whose meaning is completely different than that of ‘dainty’.

Complete step-by-step answer:

As we have seen before, antonyms are also known as opposite words. Anything that is opposite differs in its meaning completely from the given word. If the word is fast, its opposite would be a word that means moving at a low speed i.e., slow. Similarly, if the word is early, its opposite would be a word that means doing something after the expected time i.e. late.
In the given question, the word is ‘dainty’. Dainty is an adjective that is derived from the Old French word ‘daintie’. If something is dainty, it is delicate and graceful. It is used in the context of something small and elegant. Now, that we know what the word means, we must find a word whose meaning is the opposite of ‘dainty’. Logically, this means that we have to find a word whose meaning is to be graceless and coarse. Out of all the given options, the word inelegant, which means, showing a lack of elegance and refinement, is the correct match of this opposite meaning. Hence, option ‘b’ is the correct answer.

Note: Let us consider the problematic areas of this question. As dainty refers to something delicately small and light, students may mistake option ‘a’ heavy to be its antonym. However, this option is a distractor. The proper antonym of dainty is inelegant and not heavy.