Select the appropriate option to complete the following sentence with a word that means the same as BELLIGERENT:
His ____________________ attitude especially when drunk, cost him many friends.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → pugnacious
- Belligerent means hostile and ready to fight or argue. His aggressive attitude when drunk drove his friends away.
Example: The belligerent customer shouted at the staff. - Pugnacious means eager to quarrel or fight (from the Latin for "fist"), the same meaning, so it is the synonym: "His pugnacious attitude ... cost him many friends."
Example: The pugnacious boy was always picking fights in the playground.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: benevolent — Incorrect. Benevolent means kind and generous, the opposite of belligerent; a kind attitude would not cost him friends.
Example: A benevolent donor paid for the new library.
Option 2: friendly — Incorrect. Friendly means kind and pleasant towards others, again the opposite of belligerent.
Example: Our new neighbours are very friendly.
Option 4: benign — Incorrect. Benign means gentle and harmless, also opposite in meaning.
Example: The old teacher had a benign smile.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| belligerent | 11-05 S1 14-05 S1 | 23-05 S1 27-05 S1 03-06 S2 | – | 15-06 S3 | – |
| benevolent | 11-05 S1 25-05 S1 30-05 S1 | 23-05 S2 03-06 S2 | – | – | 17-08 S2 |
| pugnacious | – | 21-05 S1 | – | – | 17-08 S1 |
| benign | – | 21-05 S2 23-05 S2 31-05 S1 | – | – | – |