ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)Word Knowledge (WK)Medium
Which word is an antonym for <b>mercurial</b>?
- Acapricious
- Bstable
- Cfickle
- Dvolatile
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. stable
The word 'mercurial' describes someone prone to sudden and unpredictable changes of mood or mind. Therefore, 'stable,' meaning not likely to change, is its antonym.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 'Capricious' is a synonym for mercurial, meaning given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.
- C. 'Fickle' is a synonym for mercurial, meaning changeable.
- D. 'Volatile' is a synonym for mercurial, meaning liable to change rapidly and unpredictably.
Mercurial
Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
- Often used to describe a person's temperament.
- Refers to the Roman god Mercury, known for his swiftness and unpredictability.
- Implies instability and changeability.
Memory trick: Mercurial moods are like 'Mercury' zipping around; the opposite is 'solid' and 'stable'.