Choose the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word:
His impetuous behaviour has always been debated about.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → cautious
Impetuous means acting quickly without thinking about the results. The sentence speaks of behaviour driven by impulse, which people have long argued about. Its antonym is cautious.
Example: In an impetuous moment, he quit his job.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) cautious (answer) | careful to avoid risks and mistakes (an impetuous person rushes in, while a cautious person thinks first) | Be cautious while crossing a busy road. |
| (2) reckless | not caring about danger or results (it is a synonym of impetuous) | He was fined for reckless driving. |
| (3) hasty | done too quickly, without enough thought (it is close in meaning to impetuous) | Don't make a hasty decision about your career. |
| (4) heedless | paying no attention to risks or warnings (it too is a synonym, not an antonym) | Heedless of the warning, they swam into the deep water. |
| Synonyms of impetuous: reckless, hasty, heedless, impulsive Antonyms of impetuous: cautious, careful, prudent, deliberate Also asked in CUET (UG): impetuous – 19-05-2026 Slot 1, 27-05-2025 Slot 1, 26-05-2025 Slot 1, 23-05-2025 Slot 1, 20-05-2025 Slot 2, 13-05-2025 Slot 1, 08-06-2023 Slot 3, 30-05-2023 Slot 2 heedless – 27-05-2023 Slot 1 |