Question

Choose the option which means the opposite of the given word:
Scurrilous
A) Decent
B) Savage
C) Descent
D) Volatile

Answer 1

Hint: Antonyms are the words that are opposite in meaning to another. The root words for the word 'antonym' are the words 'anti' meaning 'against' or 'opposite' and 'onym' meaning 'name’. For instance: the antonym of ‘hot’ is ‘cold’.

Complete step by step answer:
The meaning of the word scurrilous is ‘abusive or derogatory’. So, as per the question we have to find the word which is opposite in meaning to the word scurrilous.
Option A) Decent - is the correct answer because the meaning of decent is ‘conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behaviour’ and this is the antonym of the word scurrilous as they have different meanings or they are opposite in meaning to each other. Thus, this is the correct answer.
Option B) Savage - is an incorrect answer because the meaning of savage is ‘fierce, violent, and uncontrolled or untamed or wild’ and this is not antonym of the word scurrilous. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option C) Descent - is an incorrect answer because the meaning of descent is ‘an act of going or coming down in location or in condition’ and this is not antonym of the word scurrilous. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option D) Volatile- is an incorrect answer because the meaning of volatile is ‘easily evaporated at normal temperatures or explosive’ and this is not antonym of the word scurrilous. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note:
Antonyms are the words that are opposite to each other i.e. an antonym of scurrilous is decent and synonyms are the words that are similar in meaning. So, the synonym of the word scurrilous is abusive or derogatory. Thus, Option A is the most appropriate answer as compared to the other options.