Question

Select the most appropriate antonym of the given word:
Harmony

a. Consensus
b. Amicability
c. Discord
d. Peace

Answer 1

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

Complete 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 absent, its opposite would be a word that means the state of existing i.e., presence. Similarly, if the word is wild, its opposite would be a word that means domesticated i.e. tame.
In the given question, the word is ‘harmony’. Harmony is an abstract noun. It is derived from the Latin word ‘Harmonia.’ If something is harmonious, it is in a state of agreement and accord. Now, that we know what the word means, we must find a word whose meaning is the opposite of ‘harmony’. Logically, this means that we must find a word whose meaning is being in a state of disagreement. Out of all the given options, the word discord, which means a disagreement between people, is the correct match of this opposite meaning. Hence, option ‘c’ is the correct answer.

Note: Let us consider the problems that may arise with this question. All the other options are synonyms for harmony. If a student misreads the question and thinks that he/she must choose the appropriate synonym, he/she may end up selecting any one of the other options listed.