Select the antonym (opposite in meaning) of the word “avid”, which describes someone who is very enthusiastic or keen.

Introduction:
This question tests your ability to identify the antonym of the adjective avid. The word avid is used to describe a person who is extremely eager, keen, or enthusiastic about something, such as an avid reader or an avid sports fan. To find the antonym, you must locate the option that suggests a lack of interest or enthusiasm.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Target word: avid. - Options: apathetic, desirous, devoted, fanatical. - Avid has a strongly positive, energetic meaning of eagerness.

Concept / Approach:
Avid describes intense interest and enthusiasm. Apathetic, on the other hand, describes a person who shows little or no interest, enthusiasm, or concern. These two words lie on opposite ends of an enthusiasm scale. Desirous, devoted, and fanatical all describe various degrees of strong interest or commitment, and therefore move in the same direction as avid rather than the opposite.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that an avid reader is someone who reads eagerly and frequently. Step 2: Think of what the opposite would be: a person who does not care much about something and shows little interest. Step 3: Examine apathetic, which means lacking interest, enthusiasm, or concern. Step 4: Check desirous, which means wanting something strongly, so it is close to eager. Step 5: Consider devoted, which suggests strong loyalty or dedication. Step 6: Look at fanatical, which means excessively enthusiastic, even more intense than avid. Step 7: Conclude that apathetic is the only word that is opposite in meaning to avid.

Verification / Alternative check:
Use the words in contrast: She is an avid environmentalist versus She is apathetic about environmental issues. The first sentence shows strong commitment, while the second shows lack of concern, clearly opposite attitudes. Replacing avid with desirous, devoted, or fanatical changes the degree or focus of enthusiasm but does not reverse it, confirming that they are not antonyms.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Desirous conveys strong desire and therefore matches the sense of eagerness rather than opposing it. Devoted describes loyalty and commitment, which often accompany avid interest. Fanatical suggests extreme enthusiasm or obsession, going even beyond avid in intensity. None of these options express disinterest or lack of enthusiasm, which are essential for an antonym of avid.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may pick fanatical thinking that its extremeness makes it the opposite of ordinary enthusiasm. However, the question is not about moderation versus excess, but about presence versus absence of interest. When answering antonym questions, always ask whether the chosen word would be used for a person who genuinely does not care, if the original describes someone who cares a lot. In this case, only apathetic satisfies that test.

Final Answer:
apathetic is the correct antonym of avid.