Select the word that is the exact opposite of the word MELLIFLUOUS in meaning from the given options:-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Cacophonous
Mellifluous describes a voice or sound that is sweet, smooth and pleasant to hear. The word literally means "flowing like honey". Its antonym is cacophonous.
Example: Her mellifluous voice held the whole hall silent.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Resonant | deep, clear and continuing to echo (it speaks of the depth of a sound, not its harshness) | The singer has a resonant bass voice. |
| (2) Cacophonous (answer) | made up of harsh, jarring sounds (a sweet, smooth sound and a harsh, jarring one are opposites) | The cacophonous traffic outside kept him awake all night. |
| (3) Harmonious | tuneful, with sounds blending pleasantly (close in meaning to mellifluous rather than its opposite) | The choir's harmonious singing filled the hall. |
| (4) Acrimonious | bitter and angry, used for quarrels and relationships (it describes the mood of words, not the quality of a sound) | The meeting ended in an acrimonious argument. |
| Synonyms of mellifluous: sweet-sounding, harmonious, melodious, dulcet Antonyms of mellifluous: cacophonous, harsh, jarring, discordant Also asked in CUET (UG): mellifluous – 22-05-2025 Slot 2 resonant – 20-05-2025 Slot 1 cacophonous – 20-05-2025 Slot 1 acrimonious – 11-05-2026 Slot 2, 23-05-2025 Slot 2, 21-05-2025 Slot 2, 27-05-2023 Slot 1 |