English Vocabulary — Antonyms Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: The actor is well known both for his humility and courage. Target word: humility

Introduction / Context:
Vocabulary antonym questions assess whether you understand the precise sense of a word and can select the most accurate opposite from closely related choices. In the sentence, the highlighted trait is "humility," a moral quality frequently contrasted with self-importance. Selecting its opposite requires focusing on attitude toward oneself rather than on unrelated virtues like courage or honesty.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: humility.
• Context: a positive character assessment of an actor.
• Task: pick the single best antonym, not just any negative or different trait.

Concept / Approach:

Humility means modesty and a low estimation of one's own importance. Its semantic opposite is "pride" (in the sense of arrogance, haughtiness, or overweening self-regard). While the word "pride" can sometimes have a positive sense (self-respect), in value judgments about personality traits, "pride" typically contrasts with humility by signaling inflated self-importance. Therefore, among the options, "pride" is the crisp antonym that reverses the evaluative polarity of the target term.

Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Define humility: modest, unassuming attitude; absence of self-aggrandizement.2) Scan choices for a term that flips the same dimension of self-regard.3) "Pride" (in the negative moral sense) directly opposes humility.4) Disqualify options that refer to other character dimensions (e.g., honesty, gentleness) or to performance traits (e.g., determination).5) Confirm that "pride" yields the exact opposite evaluation in the sentence frame.

Verification / Alternative check:

Substitute the opposite into the sentence: "…well known both for his pride and courage" produces the inverse of the intended compliment and signals an antithetical attitude to humility, validating the selection.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

determination: Relates to persistence, not self-regard.honesty: Moral truthfulness; orthogonal to humility.gentleness: Manner of behavior; not antonymous to humility.confidence: Self-belief can coexist with humility; not a direct opposite.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing humility with timidity or lack of confidence leads to choosing "confidence" as an opposite, which is incorrect. The correct semantic axis is modesty vs arrogance, not courage vs fear or confidence vs doubt.

Final Answer:

pride