Read the sentence given below. Select the word which means the opposite of the underlined word.
The politician's statement only served to obfuscate the real issue.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → elucidate
- Obfuscate means to make something unclear or confusing, often on purpose (Latin ob + fuscus, dark: to darken). The politician's statement made the real issue harder to understand.
Example: The lawyer used long words to obfuscate the facts. - Elucidate means to make something clear by explaining it (Latin e, out + lucidus, bright: to bring into the light). Obfuscate makes a thing unclear; elucidate makes it clear, so elucidate is the antonym.
Example: The teacher elucidated the theory with simple diagrams.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: obscure — Incorrect. To obscure is to hide or make unclear, almost the same as obfuscate, so it is a synonym, not an antonym.
Example: Clouds obscured the view of the mountains.
Option 2: exemplify — Incorrect. To exemplify is to be or give a typical example of something. An example can help make a point clear, but the word does not mean "make clear", so it is not the opposite of obfuscate.
Example: Her honesty exemplifies the values of the school.
Option 3: obliterate — Incorrect. To obliterate is to destroy or wipe out completely; it has nothing to do with making things clear.
Example: The flood obliterated the village.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| obscure | 11-05 S2 | 20-05 S2 21-05 S2 24-05 S1 30-05 S1 31-05 S1 03-06 S1 | – | 24-05 S3 | 21-08 S1 |
| obliterate | 25-05 S1 | – | – | – | – |