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Question

The speech given by him seemed to be INNOCUOUS but there were undercurrents that implied the contrary:-
The ANTONYM of the word INNOCUOUS is:

The correct answer is
Harmful

Understanding the Antonym of INNOCUOUS

The question asks us to find the antonym, which means the opposite meaning, of the word INNOCUOUS as used in the provided sentence.

Analyzing the Sentence Context

The sentence is: "The speech given by him seemed to be INNOCUOUS but there were undercurrents that implied the contrary:-"

  • The word "INNOCUOUS" describes how the speech initially appeared.
  • The word "but" indicates a contrast between the appearance and the reality.
  • The phrase "implied the contrary" tells us that the undercurrents suggested something opposite to the initial appearance.

Therefore, if the speech seemed harmless (INNOCUOUS), the "contrary" undercurrents must have suggested something harmful or dangerous.

Defining INNOCUOUS

The word INNOCUOUS means something that is not harmful, injurious, or offensive. It describes something or someone as harmless.

Evaluating the Options

Let's look at the meaning of each option:

  • 1. Inoffensive: This means not causing offense or unpleasantness. It is very similar in meaning to INNOCUOUS, making it a synonym, not an antonym.
  • 2. Harmful: This means causing or able to cause harm or damage. This is the direct opposite of being harmless (INNOCUOUS).
  • 3. Gentle: This means having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character. While related to being non-aggressive, it's not the direct opposite of causing harm.
  • 4. Insightful: This means having or showing an accurate and deep understanding. This relates to the content or quality of understanding, not whether something is harmful or not.

Conclusion

Based on the definition of INNOCUOUS and the context provided ("implied the contrary"), the word that means the opposite of harmless is Harmful.

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Important Questions from Synonyms or Antonyms

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    Whether the rewards arein commensurate withthe efforts or not, a society will always have workaholics and the shirk workgroups.

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

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

    The writer’seruditionin science is revealed in every page of the book.

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