The question asks us to find the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word 'fickle' in the sentence "Sachin is very fickle in his behaviour."

Understanding the Underlined Word: Fickle Behaviour

The word 'fickle' describes someone or something that changes frequently, especially in their attitudes, loyalties, or feelings. A person who is fickle might change their mind often or be unreliable because their interests or affections shift suddenly and unpredictably. The sentence suggests Sachin's behaviour is prone to sudden changes.

Analysing the Options for the Antonym of Fickle

Let's look at the meanings of the given options:

• (a) stable: This word means not likely to change or fail; firmly established. It implies consistency and reliability.
• (b) capricious: This means given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour. This is very similar in meaning to 'fickle'.
• (c) mercurial: This describes someone subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind. This is also very close in meaning to 'fickle'.
• (d) vacillating: This means to alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; to be indecisive. While related to changeability, it focuses more on indecision than broad changes in behaviour or loyalty. However, it shares the concept of not being firm or constant.

Identifying the Correct Opposite of Fickle

We are looking for the word that is opposite to 'fickle'. 'Fickle' implies inconsistency, changeability, and unpredictability. We need a word that means the opposite: consistency, reliability, and steadfastness.

Comparing the options:

• 'Capricious', 'mercurial', and 'vacillating' all describe forms of changeability or inconsistency, making them synonyms or related terms to 'fickle', not antonyms.
• 'Stable', on the other hand, means not changing or failing, being firmly established and reliable. This is the direct opposite of being changeable and unpredictable like someone who is fickle.

Therefore, 'stable' is the word opposite in meaning to 'fickle'.

Revision Table: Fickle and Antonyms

Additional Information on Vocabulary and Antonyms

Understanding antonyms is a key part of building strong vocabulary. Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. For example, 'hot' is an antonym of 'cold', and 'up' is an antonym of 'down'. Synonyms, on the other hand, are words that have similar meanings, like 'happy' and 'joyful'.

When you encounter an unfamiliar word, try to understand its context in the sentence. Then, if asked for an antonym or synonym, consider the core meaning of the word and look for options that either express the opposite idea (antonym) or a similar idea (synonym).

For 'fickle', the core idea is frequent, unpredictable change. The opposite idea is lack of change, predictability, and reliability, which is captured by the word 'stable'.