Select the correct antonym of the following word from the given options:
Niggardly
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Liberal
- Niggardly means unwilling to give or spend; mean with money. A niggard is a miser.
Example: The niggardly employer refused to raise the workers' wages. - Liberal here means giving freely; generous. A liberal giver is the opposite of a niggardly one, so liberal is the antonym among the options.
Example: The businessman made a liberal donation to the school.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Miserly — Incorrect. Miserly means hoarding money and hating to spend it; it is a synonym of niggardly.
Example: The miserly landlord refused to repair the roof.
Option 3: Stingy — Incorrect. Stingy means not generous, unwilling to give; it too has the same meaning as niggardly.
Example: He was too stingy to buy his friends a cup of tea.
Option 4: Grudging — Incorrect. Grudging means given or done unwillingly; it is close to niggardly in spirit, not opposite.
Example: The coach gave a grudging nod of approval.
| Synonyms (Niggardly) | Antonyms (Niggardly) |
|---|---|
| miserly | liberal |
| stingy | generous |
| parsimonious | lavish |
| tight-fisted | munificent |
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| niggardly | 30-05 S1 | – | – | 21-06 S1 | – |
| miserly | 12-05 S2 | – | – | 23-05 S1 | 17-08 S2 |