Choose the antonym for the following word:
"MERCURIAL"
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → level - headed
Mercurial means changing mood or mind suddenly and unpredictably, like the quick-moving metal mercury. Its antonym is level-headed.
Example: His mercurial temper made him hard to work with.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) level - headed (answer) | calm, steady and sensible, especially in difficult situations (steadiness is the opposite of sudden changes of mood) | We need a level-headed leader in a crisis. |
| (2) ephemerel | the word meant is ephemeral, lasting for a very short time (it is close in spirit to mercurial, not opposite to it) | Fame on social media is often ephemeral. |
| (3) laconic | using very few words (it describes a way of speaking, not steadiness of mood) | His laconic reply was just "Fine". |
| (4) skinflint | a person who hates spending money, a miser (it is a noun with an unrelated meaning) | The old skinflint refused to give even a rupee to charity. |
| Synonyms of mercurial: volatile, fickle, capricious, temperamental Antonyms of mercurial: level-headed, stable, steady, calm Also asked in CUET (UG): ephemeral – 25-05-2026 Slot 1, 14-05-2026 Slot 1, 30-05-2025 Slot 1, 29-05-2025 Slot 1, 27-05-2025 Slot 1, 21-05-2025 Slot 2, 16-05-2025 Slot 1, 02-06-2023 Slot 3, 01-06-2023 Slot 3 laconic – 13-05-2026 Slot 1, 03-06-2025 Slot 1, 24-05-2025 Slot 2, 21-05-2025 Slot 1 |