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. A "politics of exorbitance" is a politics of excessive spending. Its antonym is austerity.
Example: Shoppers complained about the exorbitance of hotel prices during the festival.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) supercilious | behaving as if one is better than others (it describes pride, not spending) | The supercilious clerk ignored the villagers in the queue. |
| (2) lavish | large, rich and expensive (it is close in meaning to exorbitance, not opposite) | They threw a lavish party for their anniversary. |
| (3) austerity (answer) | strict economy: spending as little as possible and avoiding luxury (excess and strict economy are opposites, and austerity also fits "in times of economic instability") | The government announced austerity measures to cut its deficit. |
| (4) extravagance | spending far more than is reasonable (it is a synonym of exorbitance) | His extravagance left him deep in debt. |
| Synonyms of exorbitance: extravagance, excess, immoderation, lavishness Antonyms of exorbitance: austerity, frugality, thrift, moderation Also asked in CUET (UG): supercilious – 29-05-2025 Slot 1, 18-06-2023 Slot 1 austerity – 18-05-2026 Slot 2 |