Choose the word, opposite in meaning to the underlined word from the given options to fill in the blank:-
We must not chase ephemeral things, instead build things that are ________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → perennial
Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time. The sentence asks us not to chase things that pass quickly. Its antonym is perennial.
Example: Fame on social media is often ephemeral.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) fleeting | lasting a very short time (it is a synonym of ephemeral) | I caught only a fleeting glimpse of the actor. |
| (2) materialistic | caring too much about money and possessions (it says nothing about how long something lasts) | He became materialistic after he got rich. |
| (3) perennial (answer) | lasting for a very long time, or for ever (short-lived and long-lasting are opposites) | The Ganga is a perennial river. |
| (4) momentary | lasting only a moment (it too is a synonym of ephemeral) | There was a momentary silence before the applause. |
| Synonyms of ephemeral: fleeting, momentary, transient, short-lived Antonyms of ephemeral: perennial, permanent, enduring, everlasting Also asked in CUET (UG): ephemeral – 14-05-2026 Slot 1, 30-05-2025 Slot 1, 29-05-2025 Slot 1, 27-05-2025 Slot 1, 21-05-2025 Slot 2, 16-05-2025 Slot 1, 23-06-2023 Slot 2, 02-06-2023 Slot 3, 01-06-2023 Slot 3 fleeting – 15-05-2026 Slot 1, 02-06-2025 Slot 2, 31-05-2025 Slot 1, 29-05-2025 Slot 1 perennial – 16-09-2022 Slot 1 |