Choose the most appropriate synonym of the underlined word.
The monk led an austere life in a small hut and ate only one meal a day.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Ascetic
In the given sentence, austere means very simple and plain, without comforts or pleasures. Its synonym is ascetic. Example: My grandfather still keeps an austere room with just a bed and a table.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Lavish | rich, costly and full of luxury (the opposite of austere) | The wedding had a lavish dinner with forty dishes. |
| (2) Restless | unable to stay still or calm (the sentence is about a simple life, not a worried mind) | The children grew restless during the long bus ride. |
| (3) Ascetic (answer) | giving up comforts and pleasures, often for religious reasons (same as austere) | The sage lived an ascetic life in the hills and slept on the floor. |
| (4) Leisurely | relaxed and unhurried (a slow, easy life can still be full of comforts) | We took a leisurely walk by the lake after lunch. |
| Synonyms of austere: ascetic, spartan, frugal, plain Antonyms of austere: lavish, luxurious, comfortable, extravagant |