Question

Select the word which means the opposite word of “Adolescent”.
A) adult
B) Teen-aged
C) Escence
D) Immature

Answer 1

Hint: An antonym is a term that has the exact opposite meaning as another word. The antonym of 'hot', for example, may be 'cold.' The term 'antonym' is derived from the terms 'anti' and 'onym,' which mean 'against' or 'opposite,' respectively. Synonyms and antonyms are diametrically opposed words. Synonyms are words that are similar but not identical to antonyms.

Complete answer:
An antonym is a word that means "the precise opposite of something else." It's a noun, and it's best described as a term having the inverse meaning. Antonyms are word pairings that have polar opposing meanings on a continuum (hot, cold). Word pairs with opposing meanings that do not fall on a continuous continuum are known as complementary antonyms (push, pull).

Let's have a look at a few of the possibilities:
A) adult: This is the correct answer. 'Adolescent' refers to a teen, therefore the antonym is 'adult.' A fully grown or mature adult is a person who has reached adulthood.
B) Teen-aged: This option is incorrect because 'Adolescent' refers to a teen, so it is a synonym for adolescent.
C) Essence: This option is incorrect because it is not an antonym for ‘adolescent’. It is rather a suffix in English.
D) Immature: This option is incorrect because it is not an antonym for ‘adolescent’. The term "immature" refers to a state of development that has not yet reached its full potential.

Thus, the correct answer is option A) adult.

Note: Although the term antonym (and the associated antonymy) is frequently used interchangeably with opposing, it has additional, more limited connotations. Graded (or gradable) antonyms are word pairs with opposing meanings that fall along a continuum.