Choose the most appropriate opposite of the underlined word in the given sentence:
The doctor’s ambiguous diagnosis made us think that he had no idea what Mrs. Prabha was suffering from.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → unequivocal
- Ambiguous means unclear because it can be understood in more than one way. The doctor's diagnosis was so unclear that the family felt he did not know what the illness was.
Example: His ambiguous reply left us unsure whether he would come. - Unequivocal means clear and leaving no room for doubt, so it is the opposite of ambiguous. It is un- (not) + equivocal, from the Latin aequus (equal) + vox (voice): not open to two equal meanings.
Example: The minister gave an unequivocal promise that the road would be built this year.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: conventional — Incorrect. Conventional means following accepted customs or ways of doing things. It is about tradition, not about clarity.
Example: They had a conventional wedding with all the usual rituals.
Option 3: transient — Incorrect. Transient means lasting only for a short time. It is about duration, not about clarity.
Example: The town has many transient visitors in summer.
Option 4: dubious — Incorrect. Dubious means doubtful or not to be trusted. It is close to ambiguous in feeling (uncertain), so it is not the opposite.
Example: He made a dubious claim about his income.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ambiguous | 19-05 S2 | 21-05 S2 30-05 S1 | – | – | 21-08 S1 |
| unequivocal | 11-05 S2 | – | – | – | – |
| transient | 13-05 S1 15-05 S1 06-06 S1 | 19-05 S1 29-05 S1 | – | 02-06 S1 | 10-08 S1 |
| dubious | 14-05 S1 | 26-05 S1 | – | 08-06 S1 | – |