Select the correct antonym of the adjective genteel, which means polite, refined, and well mannered.

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks you to choose an antonym for the word genteel. In English, genteel describes people or behaviour that is polite, refined, and often associated with high social class or good breeding. Antonym questions require you to identify a word that expresses the opposite quality. Understanding such pairs is very important for reading literature, newspaper editorials, and social commentary where nuance about manners and class is common.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The word to be matched is genteel.

Options are uncivilized, stuffy, urbane, and prim.

We must pick the option that most clearly represents a lack of refinement or polite manners, which is opposite in meaning to genteel.

Concept / Approach:
Genteel suggests a polished, cultivated, and well mannered character, sometimes even excessively so. The opposite would be rough, crude, or lacking in social refinement. The word uncivilized carries this sense strongly, implying behaviour that does not follow accepted social norms or standards of civility. Stuffy means overly formal, narrow minded, or boring in manner, which is not opposite but rather a different kind of social behaviour. Urbane means suave, courteous, and refined, and is almost a synonym of genteel. Prim means very proper and formal in behaviour, again close in tone to genteel rather than opposite. Therefore, uncivilized is the only option that functions as a clear antonym in this set.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of genteel as polite, refined, and associated with good social manners. Step 2: Identify the opposite quality as rude, rough, or lacking in cultured behaviour. Step 3: Examine uncivilized, which directly suggests lack of civilised manners, rough behaviour, or absence of refinement. Step 4: Compare this with stuffy, which describes someone who is overly formal or old fashioned in manners, not someone without manners. Step 5: Consider urbane and prim, both of which describe refined or very proper behaviour, making them similar in tone to genteel rather than opposite.

Verification / Alternative check:
Use each word in a sentence alongside genteel. A genteel family behaves with grace and politeness, while an uncivilized family behaves rudely and ignores social norms. This contrast shows a true antonym relationship. A genteel host and an urbane host both sound polished and refined, so urbane cannot be an antonym. A genteel lady and a prim lady both suggest proper, conservative behaviour. A genteel atmosphere might even be described as somewhat stuffy if it feels too formal. Thus, stuffy, prim, and urbane are either similar or overlapping in meaning with genteel rather than opposite. This confirms that uncivilized is the correct antonym.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B stuffy implies excessive formality or narrow minded respectability, which is not opposite to genteel but may coexist with it. Option C urbane describes someone smooth, polished, and sophisticated in manner and is nearly a synonym of genteel. Option D prim means very precise, formal, or easily shocked by improper behaviour, which again overlaps with genteel rather than opposing it.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often choose words that simply feel negative or unusual without carefully considering whether they are truly opposite in meaning. With genteel, many of the distractor options are near synonyms, which can confuse candidates who rely only on vague impressions. Another pitfall is to confuse social formality with lack of manners; in fact, genteel, urbane, and prim all describe different shades of proper or refined behaviour. To avoid such mistakes, always start by clearly defining the given word in your own mind, then look for the option that best matches the reverse of this definition rather than just a random negative sounding word.

Final Answer:
uncivilized