Antonyms

'Sanctimonious' describes someone hypocritically pious or self-righteous. 'Impious' means lacking reverence or dutifulness, making it the antonym. Pietistic and pharisaical are synonyms, while piety is the quality being mocked.

Ersatz is a German loanword meaning artificial, imitation, or fake (usually as an inferior substitute). The antonym (opposite) would therefore be 'natural' or genuine. 'Artificial', 'substitute', and 'imitation' are all synonyms or related concepts, not antonyms.

Soporific means causing drowsiness or sleepiness (sedative, sleep-inducing). The antonym is therefore 'active' or 'stimulating' - something that keeps you awake rather than putting you to sleep. 'Sedative', 'sleepy', and 'narcotic' are all synonyms, not antonyms.

Ostracize means to exclude someone from a society or group, essentially to banish or cast out. It comes from the ancient Athenian practice of sending citizens into exile. "Encourage" and "increase" are antonyms.

Repudiate means to refuse to accept, recognize, or be associated with something, and to deny the validity or authority of. Option C 'deny' is the correct answer as it captures the essence of rejection and refusal.

Belabor primarily means to discuss something excessively or at length, but literally means to attack or beat someone physically. The modern meaning is about over-explaining or repeating arguments. Distractors include beneficiary, bent (determined), and bereaved (deprived through death).

Ham-fisted means clumsy, awkward, or lacking skill in physical movements. Adroit means skillful, clever, or dexterous - the opposite of ham-fisted. Bungling and bumbling are synonyms (clumsy), while left-handed refers to direction.

Sulfurous literally means containing sulfur, but figuratively means harsh, bitter, or caustic (like sulfuric acid). Pleasant means agreeable and enjoyable - the direct opposite. Virulent, vitriolic, and blistering all suggest harshness or severity.

Sceptred means invested with authority or sovereignty (from 'scepter' - the ceremonial staff held by monarchs). Unauthorised means without official permission or authority - the direct opposite. Empowered, sovereignty, and ruling power all relate to having authority.

Scabrous means rough to the touch, scaly, or harsh in texture. Smooth means even and free from roughness - the direct opposite. Lepidote means covered with scales, while scurfy means rough or scaly.

Scurrilous means abusive, insulting, or offensive in language. Inoffensive means not causing offense or hurt feelings - the direct opposite. Abusive and opprobrious (abusive/shaming) are similar to scurrilous, while hatred is a related negative concept.

Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Options A, B, C, and E are all true antonym pairs: impassive (emotionless) vs ardent (passionate), phlegmatic (calm) vs zealous (fervent), vehement (furious) vs listless (lethargic), and fervid (intense) vs apathetic (uninterested). However, 'lukewarm' and 'indifferent' are NOT opposites - both suggest a lack of enthusiasm or passion. They're similar in meaning, making this the non-antonymous pair.

Inscrutable means difficult to understand or interpret, not easily deciphered. Lucid means clear, comprehensible, and easy to understand, making it the direct antonym. Abstruse and esoteric both mean difficult to understand (synonyms, not antonyms), and incomprehensible means not able to be understood (also a synonym).

Rancour means bitterness, resentfulness, or ill will toward someone. Friendliness (option A) is the direct opposite as it conveys warmth, goodwill, and pleasant demeanor rather than hostility or lingering resentment. Bitterness (option B) is actually a synonym, not an antonym.

Evanescent describes something that briefly appears and then quickly disappears. ENDURING directly contradicts this by suggesting longevity and permanence. Both TRANSIENT and FLEETING are synonyms that reinforce the original word's meaning of rapid disappearance.