Select the most appropriate antonym of the underlined word:-
Her genteel accent often irritated me.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → uncouth
Genteel means polite and refined in a way typical of a high social class, often in a slightly put-on manner. Her over-refined accent is what irritated the speaker. Its antonym is uncouth.
Example: She spoke in a genteel voice at the formal dinner.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) refined | polite, elegant and cultured (a synonym of genteel) | She has refined taste in music. |
| (2) colloquial | used in informal, everyday conversation (it describes informal language, not rough manners, so it is not the true opposite of genteel) | "Gonna" is a colloquial form of "going to". |
| (3) amicable | friendly and peaceful (it is not related to refinement or its lack) | The two brothers reached an amicable settlement. |
| (4) uncouth (answer) | rough, rude and lacking good manners (refined politeness and rough rudeness are opposites) | His uncouth behaviour at the wedding embarrassed his family. |
| Synonyms of genteel: refined, polished, cultured, well-bred Antonyms of genteel: uncouth, crude, coarse, vulgar Also asked in CUET (UG): genteel – 19-05-2025 Slot 1 colloquial – 03-06-2025 Slot 1, 30-05-2025 Slot 1 amicable – 31-05-2026 Slot 1, 25-05-2026 Slot 1, 21-05-2025 Slot 2, 30-05-2023 Slot 1 uncouth – 07-06-2026 Slot 2, 31-05-2026 Slot 1, 22-05-2026 Slot 2, 19-05-2025 Slot 1 |