Select the antonym of the underlined word.
The succinct explanation by the professor summed up the topic for the learners.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → verbose
- Succinct means brief and clear, using few words (from the Latin succinctus, girded up, tucked in). The professor's short, clear explanation summed up the topic.
Example: Her succinct report covered every point in one page. - Verbose means using many more words than needed. A long-winded explanation is the exact opposite of a succinct one, so verbose is the antonym. Roots: succinct is from the Latin succinctus (tucked in), verbose from the Latin verbum (word): one is trimmed short, the other is full of words.
Example: The verbose speaker went on for an hour without making his point.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: crisp — Incorrect. Crisp, for speech or writing, means short, clear and to the point; it is close in meaning to succinct.
Example: The manager gave a crisp summary of the plan.
Option 2: brief — Incorrect. Brief means short; it is a synonym of succinct, not an antonym.
Example: He made a brief visit to his old school.
Option 3: moderate — Incorrect. Moderate means average in amount or degree, not extreme; it does not mean wordy.
Example: Take moderate exercise every day.
| Synonyms (Succinct) | Antonyms (Succinct) |
|---|---|
| concise | verbose |
| brief | wordy |
| crisp | long-winded |
| terse | rambling |
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| succinct | – | 19-05 S1 21-05 S2 | 19-07 S1 | – | – |
| verbose | 14-05 S1 | 19-05 S1 23-05 S1 28-05 S1 | – | 08-06 S3 | 23-08 S1 |