In the following question, out of the given four alternatives, select the one that is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the word “Distress”.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Pleasure

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This antonym question checks your understanding of emotional vocabulary in English. The word “distress” is very common in news reports, psychology articles and everyday conversation when describing suffering, mental pain or extreme worry. Identifying its opposite helps you interpret whether a situation is positive or negative in reading comprehension passages.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The target word is “Distress”.
  • Given options are: Concern, Pleasure, Anxiety, Discomfort.
  • Only one option should express the opposite emotional state.
  • Standard English meanings are assumed.


Concept / Approach:
“Distress” means severe pain, sorrow, suffering, or extreme anxiety. It describes a strongly negative emotional or physical state. The opposite must therefore express a clearly positive feeling such as happiness, delight or comfort. Among the given options, “Pleasure” refers to a feeling of happiness, enjoyment or satisfaction, which is directly opposed to distress. The other options refer to milder or related forms of worry and discomfort, not opposites.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Recall the meaning of “distress”: extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.Option A – “Concern”: a feeling of worry or care; this is somewhat similar to distress, though usually less intense.Option B – “Pleasure”: a feeling of happiness, satisfaction, or enjoyment; a clear positive emotion.Option C – “Anxiety”: nervousness and worry; strongly related to mental distress.Option D – “Discomfort”: mild physical or mental uneasiness; again in the same negative direction, though weaker.The only option that stands on the positive side of the emotional scale is “Pleasure”, so it is the correct antonym.


Verification / Alternative check:
Use the words in opposite sentences: “The news of his success was a great pleasure to his parents” versus “The news of his failure caused great distress to his parents.” The emotional effect is completely reversed. We can clearly see that “distress” and “pleasure” describe opposite emotional reactions to events.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Concern”, “anxiety” and “discomfort” all describe forms of negative feeling. They differ in intensity, but they do not represent a positive or happy state. Because an antonym must reverse the meaning, and not just be less strong, these options cannot be correct. They are closer to synonyms of “distress” than opposites.


Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes students confuse “concern” with a caring attitude and treat it as positive, but in vocabulary tests it usually refers to a worried feeling. Similarly, “discomfort” may sound milder, but it is still negative. When looking for an antonym of a strongly negative word like “distress”, always look for a clearly positive word like “pleasure” rather than a weaker negative word.


Final Answer:
The antonym of “Distress” is Pleasure.

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