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

Introduction / Context:
This antonym question checks your understanding of musical vocabulary and sound quality. Melody refers to a sequence of musical notes that is pleasant and tuneful to the ear. The opposite idea would be harsh, jarring, or unpleasant sound. To select the correct antonym, you must distinguish between words connected to music that still have pleasant or neutral connotations and a term that specifically suggests noise or discord.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: melody.
• Options: Chant, Lyric, Cacophony, Inflection.
• We use the meaning of melody as a harmonious, pleasing sequence of musical tones.

Concept / Approach:
Cacophony denotes a mixture of harsh, discordant, and unpleasant sounds. It is often used for noisy traffic, clashing instruments, or any loud and jarring mixture of noises. This stands in clear contrast to melody, which implies harmony and pleasantness. Chant can be a repeated rhythmic phrase, lyric refers to the words of a song, and inflection relates to changes in pitch or tone of the voice, none of which are opposite in meaning to melody.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Define melody as a tuneful and harmonious musical line that is pleasant to hear. Step 2: Look for the option that refers to unpleasant or clashing sounds. Step 3: Recognise that cacophony describes a jumble of harsh and discordant noises. Step 4: Notice that chant, lyric, and inflection all relate to organised or meaningful sound in some way, not necessarily to unpleasant sound. Step 5: Conclude that cacophony is the correct antonym of melody.

Verification / Alternative check:
Construct two contrasting sentences: The violin solo was a beautiful melody that calmed everyone and The construction site produced a constant cacophony that disturbed the whole neighbourhood. The first sentence highlights pleasant sound; the second highlights unpleasant, chaotic sound. Substituting melody with chant or lyric does not give an opposite effect. Inflection refers to changes in pitch, but does not necessarily imply ugliness or beauty, so it is not a true opposite.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Chant, refers to a repeated phrase or tune, often used in religious or sports contexts, and can itself be melodic. Option B, Lyric, indicates the words of a song or a short poem and is not opposite in meaning to melody. Option D, Inflection, refers to variations in pitch or tone, especially in speech, and has a technical sense in linguistics rather than a direct quality of pleasant versus unpleasant sound. None of these contradict melody the way cacophony does.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse any technical sounding word with an antonym, or they may overthink the relationship between music and lyrics. Others may pick chant because it sounds less musical to them, but chant is still structured sound and not inherently unpleasant. The key is to focus on the pleasant versus unpleasant contrast; melody is pleasant and tuneful, while cacophony is harsh and jarring.

Final Answer:
The word that is opposite in meaning to melody is Cacophony.