Jeff_999 Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Antonym/bent
BENT:
A. symmetry
B. rigidity
C. ineptitude
D. nonchalance
E. trustworthiness
(Choose a lettered word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in the capital letters.)
Why it’s C, not B?!!!!! Bent doesn't mean competent, skillful or whatever. If "ineptitude" here means ungraceful, awkward or clumsy behavior, it may probably be fine to be the opposite to "bent". But there's no reason to exclude "rigidity" which suggests un-bent (i.e. not flexible).
Thank you.
A. symmetry
B. rigidity
C. ineptitude
D. nonchalance
E. trustworthiness
(Choose a lettered word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in the capital letters.)
Why it’s C, not B?!!!!! Bent doesn't mean competent, skillful or whatever. If "ineptitude" here means ungraceful, awkward or clumsy behavior, it may probably be fine to be the opposite to "bent". But there's no reason to exclude "rigidity" which suggests un-bent (i.e. not flexible).
Thank you.
Top answer
Hi, You're thinking about the wrong meaning of 'bent'. You're thinking of it as an adjective. As a noun, if 'I have a bent for music', it means I'm good at it, I have a talent for it.
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Hi,
You're thinking about the wrong meaning of 'bent'. You're thinking of it as an adjective. As a noun, if 'I have a bent for music', it means I'm good at it, I have a talent for it. That's why the answer is given as C.
Clive
You're thinking about the wrong meaning of 'bent'. You're thinking of it as an adjective. As a noun, if 'I have a bent for music', it means I'm good at it, I have a talent for it. That's why the answer is given as C.
Clive
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The "bent" you are thinking of is an adjective, so its opposite cannot be any of those nouns. Its opposite would be "straight". You need a definition of "bent" as a noun.
bent: An individual tendency, disposition, or inclination. The natural bent of my mind was to science. (Thomas Paine)
ineptitude: awkwardness, clumsiness, incompetence You wou
bent: An individual tendency, disposition, or inclination. The natural bent of my mind was to science. (Thomas Paine)
ineptitude: awkwardness, clumsiness, incompetence You wou
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Thank you both. I am so grateful. 
But is "bent" the antonym of "rigid"?
But is "bent" the antonym of "rigid"?
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Hi,
As adjectives, I'd say something like
bent -----> straight
flexible -----> rigid
Clive
As adjectives, I'd say something like
bent -----> straight
flexible -----> rigid
Clive
00
Thank you, Clive. So "bent" doesn't convey the meaning of "flexible"?!
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Hi,
So "bent" doesn't convey the meaning of "flexible"?! No, not at all. In fact, it sounds like 'it' is not flexible.
Clive
So "bent" doesn't convey the meaning of "flexible"?! No, not at all. In fact, it sounds like 'it' is not flexible.
Clive
00