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Question

A sentence with an underlined word is given below. Select the most appropriate antonym for the underlined word.

There was amammothgathering to listen to the leader.

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2017 General Knowledge Previous Year Paper (05-Feb-2017)
The correct answer is

Tiny

Finding the Antonym of Mammoth

The question asks for the most appropriate antonym for the underlined word "mammoth" in the sentence: "There was a mammoth gathering to listen to the leader."

First, let's understand the meaning of the word "mammoth".

Definition of Mammoth:

  • Mammoth means extremely large, enormous, or huge. It suggests something of immense size or scale. In the context of a "gathering", it means a very large crowd of people.

Now let's look at the given options and their meanings:

  • Negligible: So small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant.
  • Tiny: Extremely small.
  • Poor: Lacking sufficient money to live at a comfortable standard; or of a low standard; not good.
  • Large: Of considerable or relatively great size, extent, or capacity.

We are looking for an antonym, which is a word opposite in meaning to "mammoth". Since "mammoth" means extremely large, its opposite should mean very small.

Let's evaluate the options:

  • "Negligible" suggests insignificance, which can be related to size or importance, but "tiny" focuses specifically on size.
  • "Tiny" directly means extremely small, which is the opposite of extremely large.
  • "Poor" relates to wealth or quality, not size.
  • "Large" is a synonym or similar in meaning to "mammoth", not an antonym.

Comparing the meanings, "tiny" is the most direct and appropriate antonym for "mammoth" in the context of size.

Analyzing Antonym Options for Mammoth

Let's compare how well each option serves as an antonym for 'mammoth':

Word Meaning Relation to 'Mammoth' (Extremely Large)
Mammoth Extremely large; enormous Original word
Negligible Insignificant; very small (in amount or importance) Could be an antonym in some contexts, but less focused on physical size than 'tiny'.
Tiny Extremely small Direct antonym focusing on physical size.
Poor Lacking money or quality Unrelated to size. Not an antonym.
Large Of great size Synonym, not antonym.

Based on the analysis, "tiny" is the best antonym for "mammoth".

The sentence "There was a mammoth gathering..." implies a very large gathering. An antonym would describe a very small gathering.

Therefore, the most appropriate antonym for "mammoth" is "tiny".

Revision Table: Antonym of Mammoth

Word Antonym
Mammoth (Extremely large) Tiny (Extremely small)

Additional Information on Antonyms and Synonyms

Understanding antonyms and synonyms is crucial for vocabulary building and comprehension.

  • Antonym: A word opposite in meaning to another word. For example, 'hot' is an antonym of 'cold'.
  • Synonym: A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. For example, 'happy' is a synonym of 'joyful'.

Sometimes, a word can have multiple antonyms depending on the specific context it is used in. However, for "mammoth" when referring to size, words meaning "very small" are the primary antonyms.

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