In the following vocabulary question, choose the word that is opposite in meaning to "Lambency," which refers to a soft, gentle radiance or glow.

Introduction / Context:
This antonym question assesses your understanding of the word "lambency." "Lambency" refers to a soft, gentle, or flickering light—a kind of mild radiance. To find its opposite, you need to think about what word would describe the absence of such glow or brightness. The options include words related to brightness and others related to lack of brightness or different concepts altogether.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: "Lambency."
• Meaning: soft, gentle light or radiance; a mild glow.
• Options: "Effulgence," "Dullness," "Gusto," and "Phosphorescence."
• The question asks for the opposite in meaning (an antonym).

Concept / Approach:
If lambency denotes a soft glow or brightness, its opposite would describe darkness or lack of brightness. "Dullness" fits this idea, as it refers to something that is not bright, not vivid, or lacking in shine. "Effulgence" and "phosphorescence" both relate to forms of brightness, while "gusto" refers to enthusiasm or zeal and is unrelated to light. Therefore, "Dullness" is the antonym that best contrasts with lambency.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Fix the meaning of "lambency" in your mind: a soft, luminous glow. Step 2: Look for a word that clearly indicates the absence or opposite of brightness. Step 3: Recognise that "dullness" means lack of brightness, shine, or vividness. Step 4: Note that "effulgence" and "phosphorescence" both imply light or radiance and are therefore similar, not opposite. Step 5: Choose "Dullness" as the correct antonym.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider how each word would fit in a sentence: "The lambency of the candlelight" describes a gentle glow. If the candle gave off no glow, we might say "the dullness of the room" or "the room was dull and dark." By contrast, "the effulgence of the sun" and "the phosphorescence of the plankton" highlight even stronger or distinct kinds of light, reinforcing the idea of brightness, not opposing it. "Gusto" relates to enthusiasm and cannot be meaningfully contrasted with a light based term. This confirms "Dullness" as the best choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Effulgence: Means intense brightness or radiance; it is a stronger cousin of "lambency," not its opposite.
• Gusto: Refers to enthusiasm or hearty enjoyment, unrelated to light or brightness.
• Phosphorescence: Describes a kind of glowing light emitted without heat, again similar in idea to lambency, not opposite.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical mistake is to pick a word that simply "sounds" unfamiliar, assuming it must be the opposite, or to confuse "lambency" with "languor," which has a different meaning. Another trap is selecting "effulgence" or "phosphorescence" because they are also about light, forgetting that the question asks specifically for an opposite. Always check whether an option describes more of the same quality or its absence before deciding in antonym questions.

Final Answer:
The word opposite in meaning to "Lambency" is Dullness.