Choose the correct Antonym for the word 'VANITY' from the options given :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Humility
- Vanity means too much pride in one's own looks, abilities or achievements.
Example: Out of vanity, he kept looking at himself in every mirror. - Humility means a modest view of one's own importance. Excessive self-regard and modest self-regard are opposites, so humility is the antonym of vanity.
Example: Despite his fame, the scientist spoke with great humility.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: Pride — Incorrect. Pride is a high opinion of oneself; it is close in meaning to vanity, not its opposite.
Example: His pride would not let him ask for help.
Option 3: Wane — Incorrect. Wane is a verb meaning to become smaller or weaker; it has nothing to do with pride.
Example: Interest in the game began to wane after the first hour.
Option 4: Arrogance — Incorrect. Arrogance is proud behaviour that looks down on others; it is a synonym of vanity, not an antonym.
Example: His arrogance made him unpopular with his colleagues.
| Synonyms (Vanity) | Antonyms (Vanity) |
|---|---|
| pride | humility |
| arrogance | modesty |
| conceit | humbleness |
| egotism | meekness |
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| humility | – | – | – | 30-05 S1 | 30-08 S1 |
| wane | 13-05 S1 14-05 S1 25-05 S2 26-05 S1 | – | – | 25-05 S1 10-06 S3 | – |