Select the most appropriate antonym to the underlined word in the sentence given below:
The judge appreciated the young speaker for his IMMACULATE style of speaking.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Flawed
- Immaculate means perfect, without any fault or mistake (also, perfectly clean). It comes from the Latin in- (not) + macula (spot): "without a spot". The judge praised the young speaker because his style of speaking was faultless.
Example: The pianist gave an immaculate performance. - Flawed means having faults or mistakes. Faultless and faulty are opposites, so flawed is the antonym of immaculate.
Example: The report was flawed because it used old data.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Tidy — Incorrect. Tidy means neat and in order; it is close to the "clean" sense of immaculate, not its opposite.
Example: She keeps her desk tidy.
Option 2: Perilous — Incorrect. Perilous means full of danger; it has no link with being perfect or faulty.
Example: The climbers made a perilous journey across the glacier.
Option 4: Flawless — Incorrect. Flawless means without any fault; it is a synonym of immaculate, not an antonym.
Example: She gave a flawless speech.
| Synonyms (Immaculate) | Antonyms (Immaculate) |
|---|---|
| flawless | flawed |
| impeccable | imperfect |
| spotless | faulty |
| pristine | stained |
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| immaculate | – | 14-05 S2 | – | – | – |
| perilous | 13-05 S1 | 24-05 S2 | – | – | 17-08 S2 18-08 S1 23-08 S1 |