Select the most appropriate antonym of the underlined word in the given sentence:-
It seemed a perfectly innocuous remark.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → pernicious
Innocuous means harmless, not likely to hurt or offend anyone. "A perfectly innocuous remark" is a remark that could do no harm. Its antonym is pernicious.
Example: He asked an innocuous question about the weather.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) harmless | causing no harm (a synonym of innocuous) | The snake in the garden was harmless. |
| (2) insane | mentally ill or very foolish (it is not the opposite of harmless) | It would be insane to drive in this storm. |
| (3) pernicious (answer) | very harmful, often in a slow or hidden way (harmless and harmful are opposites) | Rumours can have a pernicious effect on a person's reputation. |
| (4) permissible | allowed by rules (it speaks of permission, not harm) | Mobile phones are not permissible in the exam hall. |
| Synonyms of innocuous: harmless, inoffensive, safe, mild Antonyms of innocuous: pernicious, harmful, offensive, damaging Also asked in CUET (UG): innocuous – 07-06-2026 Slot 2, 18-05-2026 Slot 2, 15-05-2026 Slot 1, 30-05-2025 Slot 1, 21-05-2025 Slot 2, 13-05-2025 Slot 1, 30-05-2023 Slot 2 pernicious – 02-06-2025 Slot 1 |