Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence given below.
Even in the last months of her long illness, my grandmother showed great fortitude and never complained.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Courage
In the given sentence, fortitude means courage and strength of mind in pain or trouble, over a long time. Its synonym is courage. Example: The farmers bore the long drought with great fortitude.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Courage (answer) | the ability to face danger, pain or difficulty without fear (same as fortitude) | It took courage for Aman to jump into the river and save the child. |
| (2) Cheerfulness | a happy and bright mood (a person can bear pain bravely without being cheerful) | Her cheerfulness made everyone in the office smile. |
| (3) Caution | care taken to avoid danger or mistakes (bearing an illness bravely is courage, not care) | Drive with caution on the wet road. |
| (4) Faith | strong belief or trust, often in God (the sentence is about bearing pain without complaint, not about belief) | Ramesh has full faith in his doctor. |
| Synonyms of fortitude: courage, endurance, grit, resilience Antonyms of fortitude: cowardice, weakness, timidity, faint-heartedness |