Identify the word closest in meaning to the underlined word from the options given below:-
The acrimonious scenes at the board meeting depicted the members in a poor light.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → rancorous
Acrimonious means angry and bitter, full of harsh words. Bitter, quarrelsome scenes at a board meeting would naturally show the members "in a poor light". Its synonym is rancorous.
Example: The two partners went through an acrimonious split.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) amiable | friendly and pleasant (nearly the opposite of acrimonious, and friendly scenes would not show the members in a poor light) | Our new neighbour is an amiable old man. |
| (2) rancorous (answer) | full of bitterness and long-held resentment (it carries the same idea of bitter hostility) | The rancorous debate went on until midnight. |
| (3) energetic | full of energy and activity (it says nothing about bitterness) | The energetic children ran around the park all evening. |
| (4) humorous | funny, causing laughter (it does not fit scenes of bitter quarrelling) | He told a humorous story about his first day at work. |
| Synonyms of acrimonious: rancorous, bitter, hostile, caustic Antonyms of acrimonious: amiable, cordial, friendly, harmonious Also asked in CUET (UG): acrimonious – 11-05-2026 Slot 2, 21-05-2025 Slot 2, 13-05-2025 Slot 1, 27-05-2023 Slot 1 amiable – 25-05-2026 Slot 1, 22-05-2026 Slot 2, 21-05-2026 Slot 1, 12-05-2026 Slot 2, 02-06-2025 Slot 1, 20-08-2022 Slot 1 |