Choose the antonym of the underlined word in the following sentence from the given options:
Given the global scenario is it a propitious time to start a new venture?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → unfavourable
- Propitious means favourable, giving a good chance of success. It comes from the Latin propitius (favourable, kindly). The sentence asks whether this is a good time to start a new venture.
Example: The calm sea made it a propitious day for sailing. - Unfavourable means not helpful, likely to lead to failure. A time that helps success and a time that works against it are opposites, so unfavourable is the antonym of propitious.
Example: Unfavourable winds delayed the ship.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: amicable — Incorrect. Amicable means friendly, without quarrel; it describes relations between people, not how suitable a time is.
Example: The two firms reached an amicable settlement.
Option 2: relevant — Incorrect. Relevant means connected with the matter in hand; it has no link with good or bad timing.
Example: Please give only relevant details.
Option 3: auspicious — Incorrect. Auspicious means promising success; it is a synonym of propitious, not an antonym.
Example: The new year began on an auspicious note.
| Synonyms (Propitious) | Antonyms (Propitious) |
|---|---|
| auspicious | unfavourable |
| favourable | inauspicious |
| promising | unpromising |
| opportune | adverse |
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| propitious | 14-05 S1 | – | – | – | – |
| amicable | 25-05 S1 | 21-05 S2 24-05 S1 | – | 30-05 S1 | – |