Choose the word which is nearly opposite in meaning to the given word. The target word is "sceptic", used for a person who habitually doubts or questions accepted beliefs or claims.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Believer

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This antonym question focuses on the noun sceptic (also spelled skeptic), referring to someone who doubts, questions, or is reluctant to accept claims without strong evidence. To find the opposite, you must think of a word that describes a person who accepts or has faith in particular ideas or doctrines rather than constantly doubting them.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    The word to be contrasted is "sceptic".
    We assume the standard meaning: a person inclined to doubt or question accepted opinions, beliefs, or reported facts.
    The correct antonym should describe someone who accepts or believes, especially without persistent doubt.
    The options contain words of different parts of speech and meanings, including cryptic, believer, support, eminent, and follower.


Concept / Approach:
A sceptic questions whether claims are true, while a believer accepts them, often based on faith, trust, or confidence. Thus, believer is the natural opposite in everyday English. Cryptic means mysterious, not a type of person; support is usually a verb or noun indicating backing, not the person themself; eminent describes greatness or high status; follower describes someone who follows another person but does not necessarily indicate belief. Among the options, believer most directly contrasts with sceptic as a label for a person.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Restate sceptic as one who doubts or questions beliefs or claims. Step 2: Look for a word that names a person inclined to accept or believe rather than to doubt. Step 3: Option B Believer clearly refers to someone who believes, especially in a doctrine, religion, or idea. Step 4: Option A Cryptic is an adjective meaning mysterious or difficult to understand, not a person. Step 5: Option C Support is generally a verb or an abstract noun and does not directly label a person opposite to sceptic. Step 6: Option D Eminent refers to someone famous, respected, or distinguished; this is unrelated to belief or doubt. Step 7: Option E Follower may describe someone who follows a leader or trend, but a sceptic can also be a follower; it is not the clear opposite of doubter.


Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine a debate about a new theory. On one side, you have sceptics, who demand more evidence; on the other side, you might have believers, who already accept the theory or have faith in it. If we describe someone as a strong believer in astrology, we mean the opposite of a sceptic of astrology. Meanwhile, calling someone a follower of astrology does not necessarily say whether they are critical or unquestioning. This reinforces that believer is the correct antonym of sceptic in this context.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A Cryptic describes language or signals, not a person, and does not relate to doubt or belief.
Option C Support is not a person-type label and can even be given by both sceptics and believers in different situations.
Option D Eminent indicates high status or recognition, which can apply equally to sceptics or believers and does not express an opposite meaning.
Option E Follower indicates someone who follows a leader or fashion and could be either critical or uncritical; it is not the precise opposite of a doubter.


Common Pitfalls:
Some test takers pick follower because they think of sceptics as independent minds and followers as the opposite. However, the question is asking for a word that contrasts belief with doubt, not independence with dependence. The closest direct opposite of sceptic in this sense is believer. Keeping the core dimension of meaning in mind—doubt versus belief—will help you avoid such traps.


Final Answer:
The word nearly opposite in meaning to "sceptic" is believer.

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