Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the word given below:-
CRYPTIC
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Perspicuous
- Cryptic means having a hidden or puzzling meaning. It comes from the Greek kryptos (hidden), as in crypt and cryptography.
Example: She left a cryptic message that nobody could understand. - Perspicuous means expressed in a plain way that is easy to understand (from the Latin perspicere, to see through). A meaning that is easy to see through is the opposite of a hidden one, so perspicuous is the antonym of cryptic.
Example: His perspicuous explanation made the problem simple.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Shadowy — Incorrect. Shadowy means dark, vague and hard to make out; it is close in sense to cryptic, not opposite.
Example: A shadowy figure stood at the gate.
Option 3: Mysterious — Incorrect. Mysterious means difficult to explain or understand; it is a synonym of cryptic.
Example: The mysterious disappearance baffled everyone.
Option 4: Secretive — Incorrect. Secretive means inclined to hide information; it also points towards hiding, not clarity.
Example: He is secretive about his plans.
| Synonyms (Cryptic) | Antonyms (Cryptic) |
|---|---|
| mysterious | perspicuous |
| obscure | clear |
| enigmatic | lucid |
| puzzling | plain |
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cryptic | 30-05 S1 30-05 S2 | 21-05 S2 31-05 S1 | 29-05 S1 | – | – |