Select the antonym of the word demure, which describes a person who is modest, shy, or reserved in behaviour and appearance.

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks you to select the antonym of the word demure. Demure is often used to describe someone, usually a woman or girl, who is quietly modest, shy, and reserved in manner or dress. To find the antonym, you must choose the word that best expresses the opposite personality trait: someone who is confident, forward, or unreserved.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: demure.
• Options: humble, bold, coy, sober.
• We focus on the typical behavioural meaning of demure: modest and reserved, sometimes to the point of shyness.
• The correct antonym should suggest lack of shyness, confidence, or even assertiveness.

Concept / Approach:
Demure characterises someone who avoids drawing attention and behaves in a quiet, often conservative way. The opposite of such behaviour is boldness: willingness to take risks, speak out, or attract attention without embarrassment. Coy is actually quite close in meaning to demure, as it also suggests shyness or pretended shyness. Humble is about modesty in status or attitude but does not directly oppose demure. Sober relates to seriousness or lack of showiness, not to boldness versus shyness.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of demure: modest, shy, reserved, and often quiet in dress and behaviour. Step 2: Examine humble. A humble person does not boast and does not think of themselves as important, but they may still be quiet or bold; humble does not directly oppose demure. Step 3: Examine bold. A bold person is confident, willing to take risks, and not shy about expressing themselves, which contrasts strongly with the reserve of a demure person. Step 4: Examine coy. Coy means shy or pretending to be shy in a flirtatious way; it is similar to demure, not opposite. Step 5: Examine sober. Sober can mean not drunk or serious in manner and appearance; a sober person might even be demure, so it is not an antonym. Step 6: Conclude that bold is the word that best expresses the opposite of demure.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider the sentence: She used to be demure, but now she is quite bold on stage. This clearly sets bold as the opposite of demure in terms of behaviour. In contrast, sentences like She is both humble and demure show that humble can coexist with demure. Similarly, She gave a sober and demure performance also sounds natural. However, saying She is both demure and bold would sound contradictory, confirming that these words represent opposing traits.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Humble is wrong because it refers to modesty in status or self importance, not necessarily to shyness or reserve in public behaviour. Coy is wrong because it is near synonymous with demure, especially when describing shy, flirtatious behaviour. Sober is wrong because it focuses on seriousness or restraint, which is compatible with demure, not its opposite.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to choose humble because learners associate both humble and demure with modesty. However, antonyms must be direct opposites in the specific dimension being tested. Another pitfall is misunderstanding coy as a completely different concept, when in fact it often overlaps with demure. Always check whether the candidate antonym really contradicts the original word in ordinary usage.

Final Answer:
The antonym of demure is bold.