Fill in the blank with the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word:-
One needs _____ workers to contribute to a company's profits and not listless workers.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → solicitous
Listless means lacking energy, interest or enthusiasm. Listless workers do the bare minimum and add little to a company's profits. Its antonym is solicitous.
Example: The heat made the players listless in the second half.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) lethargic | sluggish and without energy (a synonym of listless, not its opposite) | He felt lethargic after the heavy lunch. |
| (2) placating | to placate is to calm or soothe an angry person (placating describes pacifying someone, not energy at work) | She spoke in a placating tone to the upset customer. |
| (3) garrulous | too talkative (talking a lot does not make a worker energetic or useful) | The garrulous clerk spent more time chatting than working. |
| (4) solicitous (answer) | eager and attentive, showing care and keen interest in doing something well (workers who are keen and attentive are the opposite of those who show no interest, so it is the best opposite of listless among the options) | The solicitous nurse checked on every patient twice an hour. |
| Also asked in CUET (UG): listless – 16-09-2022 Slot 1, 18-08-2022 Slot 1, 10-08-2022 Slot 1 lethargic – 16-09-2022 Slot 1 placate – 27-05-2025 Slot 1, 15-05-2025 Slot 2, 15-05-2024 Slot 1 garrulous – 07-06-2026 Slot 2, 06-06-2026 Slot 1, 31-05-2026 Slot 2, 21-05-2025 Slot 1, 14-05-2025 Slot 2, 29-05-2024 Slot 1, 20-08-2022 Slot 1, 17-08-2022 Slot 1 |