The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is Principled.
This question is an analogy that requires you to identify the relationship between the first pair of words and then find a word that creates the same relationship with the third word. The analogy is structured as A is to B as C is to D.
First, let’s analyze the relationship between “verbose” and “concise”. The word verbose describes communication that uses more words than necessary; it means being wordy or long-winded. In contrast, “concise” describes communication that is brief and to the point, yet comprehensive. Therefore, verbose and concise are antonyms, meaning they have opposite meanings. The relationship is one of direct opposition.
To solve the analogy, we need to find the antonym for the word “unscrupulous” from the given options. An unscrupulous person is someone who lacks moral principles or a conscience. They are not honest or fair and are willing to act unethically to get what they want. The core of the word is a lack of scruples, which are feelings of doubt or hesitation about the morality of an action.
Now let’s examine the options:
- Wicked, immoral, and dishonest are all synonyms or closely related concepts to unscrupulous. An unscrupulous person’s actions could be described as wicked. Their behavior is, by definition, immoral. They often achieve their goals by being dishonest. These words describe what an unscrupulous person is, not what they are the opposite of.
- Principled is the correct answer because it is the direct antonym of unscrupulous. A principled person is someone who consistently acts in accordance with strong moral principles and has a well-developed sense of right and wrong. While an unscrupulous person ignores moral guidelines, a principled person is guided by them.
Just as concise is the opposite of verbose, principled is the opposite of unscrupulous.
