SSC Selection Post 2025 PYQ — Question 55

Correct Answer

Cheerful

Explanation

The question asks to identify the correct antonym (opposite meaning) for the word 'Morbid'. To solve vocabulary questions quickly on an exam, you can group the options by emotional tone to find the odd one out.

The adjective morbid describes an unhealthy, abnormal interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death, disease, or decay (e.g., a morbid curiosity). It can also relate to a sickly or diseased physical state. It carries a highly negative, dark, and depressing connotation.

Let's look at the options provided to differentiate the synonyms from the antonym:

Cheerful means full of happiness, optimism, and good spirits. This is a bright, positive word and acts as the direct opposite of a dark, death-focused mindset, making it the correct antonym.

Grim means forbidding, uninviting, dark, or depressing. This is a synonym.

Gloomy means feeling distressed, dark, or deeply pessimistic. This is a synonym.

Sickly means unhealthy, weak, or connected to illness. This is a synonym.

Because "grim," "gloomy," and "sickly" all reinforce the dark, unhealthy theme of morbid, "cheerful" stands out as the only positive option and the true antonym. This makes Option 1 the correct choice.

Key Points

The word "morbid" originates from the Latin word morbidus, which translates directly to "sickly" or "diseased" (derived from morbus, meaning disease).

In modern English, it is most frequently used to describe a psychological fascination with macabre topics rather than physical sickness itself.