Choose the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word in the given sentence:
Some leaders advocated for a politics of exorbitance in times of economic instability.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → austerity
- Exorbitance means the quality of being far too much, especially of prices or spending (from the Latin ex-, out of + orbita, track: going out of the track). A "politics of exorbitance" is a politics of excessive spending.
Example: Shoppers complained about the exorbitance of hotel prices during the festival. - Austerity means strict economy: spending as little as possible and avoiding luxury. Excess and strict economy are opposites, so austerity is the antonym; it also fits "in times of economic instability".
Example: The government announced austerity measures to cut its deficit.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: supercilious — Incorrect. Supercilious means behaving as if one is better than others; it describes pride, not spending.
Example: The supercilious clerk ignored the villagers in the queue.
Option 2: lavish — Incorrect. Lavish means large, rich and expensive; it is close in meaning to exorbitance, not opposite.
Example: They threw a lavish party for their anniversary.
Option 4: extravagance — Incorrect. Extravagance means spending far more than is reasonable; it is a synonym of exorbitance.
Example: His extravagance left him deep in debt.
| Synonyms (Exorbitance) | Antonyms (Exorbitance) |
|---|---|
| extravagance | austerity |
| excess | frugality |
| immoderation | thrift |
| lavishness | moderation |
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| supercilious | – | 29-05 S1 | – | 18-06 S1 | – |
| austerity | 18-05 S2 | – | – | – | – |