Choose the most appropriate antonym of the following word:
PETULANCE
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Forbearance
- Petulance means childish bad temper and impatience, especially over small matters.
Example: He threw down the pen in a fit of petulance. - Forbearance means patient self-control; the quality of staying calm and tolerant when one has reason to be annoyed. Calm patience is the opposite of childish impatience, so forbearance is the antonym.
- Root line: petulance comes from the Latin petulans (forward, impudent), while forbearance is built on forbear, Old English for- + beran (to bear), that is, to hold oneself back.
Example: The teacher showed great forbearance with the noisy class.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: Resentment — Incorrect. Resentment means bitterness at being treated unfairly; it is close in feeling to petulance, not opposite.
Example: He felt deep resentment at being left out of the team.
Option 3: Obstinacy — Incorrect. Obstinacy means stubbornness, refusing to change one's opinion; it is not the opposite of bad temper.
Example: His obstinacy made any discussion difficult.
Option 4: Felicitousness — Incorrect. Felicitousness means being well suited or well chosen, as of a word or remark; it says nothing about temper.
Example: The felicitousness of her speech pleased the audience.
| Synonyms (Petulance) | Antonyms (Petulance) |
|---|---|
| irritability | forbearance |
| peevishness | patience |
| sulkiness | good humour |
| fretfulness | equanimity |
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| obstinacy | 20-05 S2 | – | – | – | – |