In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the word that is opposite in meaning to the given word. Churlish.

Introduction / Context:
This is an antonym question built around the word “churlish”. Antonym questions test not only your direct vocabulary but also your understanding of social behaviour and tone in English. The word “churlish” is often used in formal writing to describe rude, ill-mannered or surly behaviour. To answer correctly, you must first be clear about what “churlish” means and then pick the option that expresses the opposite quality of politeness and good manners.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The target word is “churlish”.
The options are “courteous”, “belittle”, “fervent” and “uncouth”.
You must choose the option that is opposite in meaning to “churlish”.
The context is likely social behaviour or manners.

Concept / Approach:
“Churlish” describes someone who is rude, ill-mannered, boorish or lacking in courtesy. For example, “It was churlish of him not to thank his hosts.” The opposite of such behaviour is polite, well-mannered and considerate of others. The word “courteous” means polite and respectful in behaviour, exactly the opposite of “churlish”. The other options either describe different ideas (such as zeal or the act of insulting) or are actually close in meaning to “churlish” rather than opposite to it.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of “churlish”: rude, ill-mannered, boorish. Step 2: Now think of an opposite quality: polite, refined, courteous. Step 3: Check the options: “courteous” means polite and showing good manners. Step 4: “Belittle” is a verb meaning to put someone down or make them seem unimportant; it is not a direct opposite of “churlish”. Step 5: “Fervent” means passionate or intensely enthusiastic, which is unrelated to manners or politeness. Step 6: “Uncouth” actually means rough, crude or lacking good manners, and is similar, not opposite, to “churlish”. Step 7: Therefore, the correct antonym is “courteous”.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine a situation: A host invites guests. A churlish host would ignore them or speak rudely; a courteous host would greet them warmly and make them comfortable. This scenario clearly shows that “courteous” and “churlish” describe opposite types of behaviour. If you tried replacing “churlish” with “uncouth” in a sentence, you would find they convey similar negativity, which confirms that “uncouth” cannot be the antonym. Similarly, “fervent” and “belittle” are about enthusiasm and insulting behaviour respectively, not about manners in a direct opposite way.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Belittle: This verb focuses on insulting or undervaluing someone; it does not stand as the opposite of rude behaviour, and in some contexts it can even be part of churlish behaviour.
Fervent: This means having or showing intense passion; a person can be fervent and still be either polite or rude, so it is unrelated to the core meaning of “churlish”.
Uncouth: This adjective means crude, lacking refinement or poor in manners; it is actually close in meaning to “churlish”, not its opposite.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical mistake is to pick a word that “sounds” sophisticated instead of focusing on meaning. Another pitfall is to choose “uncouth” because it appears in similar contexts, but “uncouth” reinforces the same negative idea of bad manners rather than opposing it. To handle antonym questions well, always start by clearly defining the central meaning of the given word in simple language (for example, “churlish = rude”) and then look for the direct opposite (for example, “polite = courteous”). This simple mental step makes many vocabulary items much easier to handle under exam pressure.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: courteous.