Question:hard

Choose the option that is most opposite in meaning (antonym) to the word given below.
JOCUND

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Watch out for "Jocular," it sounds similar to jocund and means almost the same thing; the true opposite is a word for sadness.
Updated On: Jul 21, 2026
  • Brash
  • Jocular
  • Square
  • Melancholic
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests whether you know that "jocund" means cheerful and merry, and asks for its antonym, the word with the opposite meaning.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Since jocund describes a happy, lighthearted mood, its antonym must describe a sad, low mood. Options describing unrelated traits like boldness or old fashioned attitudes can be ruled out first, and any option too close in meaning to jocund itself must be rejected since the question wants the opposite, not a synonym.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
"Brash" means rudely bold or overconfident, a personality trait, not a mood, so it does not oppose jocund.
"Square" is slang for someone conventional or old fashioned, again unrelated to mood.
"Jocular" is a common trap here because it means playful and joking, almost a synonym of jocund, so picking it would be the opposite mistake.
"Melancholic" means sad, gloomy, and low spirited, which is the exact emotional opposite of cheerful jocund.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The antonym of "jocund" is "Melancholic," corresponding to option (D).
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