Choose the correct antonym of the underlined word:
She is an astute observer of human behaviour.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → ingenuous
Astute means clever at understanding people and situations quickly (shrewd). An astute observer of human behaviour sees through people easily. Its antonym is ingenuous.
Example: An astute shopkeeper knows which customers will bargain.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) sharp | here, quick to notice and understand (a synonym of astute) | The detective has a sharp eye for detail. |
| (2) brilliant | very clever or very bright (it is close to astute in meaning, not opposite) | She came up with a brilliant plan to save water. |
| (3) ingenuous (answer) | innocent and too ready to trust, naive (a shrewd person sees through others, while an ingenuous person believes them easily) | The ingenuous boy believed every story the stranger told him. |
| (4) prudent | careful and sensible in judging what to do (it too sits on the side of good judgement) | It is prudent to save some money every month. |
| Synonyms of astute: sharp, shrewd, perceptive, canny Antonyms of astute: ingenuous, naive, gullible, unwary Also asked in CUET (UG): astute – 11-05-2026 Slot 2, 22-05-2025 Slot 2, 07-06-2023 Slot 3 ingenuous – 21-05-2026 Slot 2, 03-06-2025 Slot 2, 03-06-2025 Slot 1, 22-05-2025 Slot 2, 05-06-2023 Slot 3 prudent – 18-05-2026 Slot 1, 24-05-2025 Slot 2, 16-05-2025 Slot 1, 30-05-2023 Slot 2 |