In the following question, select the word that is opposite in meaning to the given word: Supple.

Introduction / Context:

Antonym questions help you understand subtle differences between words that describe physical properties or character traits. The word supple is often used to talk about materials, bodies, or movements that are easily bent and gracefully flexible. To find its opposite, you need a word that expresses stiffness or a tendency to break rather than bend.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The keyword is Supple.

- The options are Flexible, Brittle, Pliable, and Bending.

- Only one option should capture the opposite meaning to supple.

- We assume the common physical sense of supple as easily bent without breaking.

Concept / Approach:

Supple describes something that is easily bent, soft, and elastic, such as a supple leather belt or a supple dancer's body. Therefore, the antonym should describe something that does not bend easily and instead tends to crack or snap. Brittle means hard but likely to break or shatter when bent or under pressure, which directly contrasts with supple. Flexible, pliable, and bending all carry meanings close to supple rather than opposite, since they also indicate ease of movement or bending.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Use each option in a contrasting sentence. For example, The gymnast had a supple body that allowed her to perform difficult moves can be contrasted with The dry twig was so brittle that it snapped in two with slight pressure. This contrast pairs supple with brittle naturally. If we try to contrast supple with flexible or pliable, the opposition disappears because both sides indicate similar properties. Bending is more a description of action than a property and does not stand as an opposite idea.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Flexible is wrong because it practically repeats the meaning of supple, indicating ease of bending. Pliable is wrong because it also denotes flexibility and ease of shaping. Bending is wrong because it describes a movement or process that goes along with flexibility rather than contradicting it. None of these options introduces the idea of fragility and tendency to break that characterise the opposite of supple.

Common Pitfalls:

A common pitfall is to mistake similar words for antonyms when the exam asks for the opposite. This happens when candidates rush and select the first familiar word without checking whether it really contrasts in meaning. A helpful habit is to first decide clearly whether the stem word is positive or negative and then search for an option that reverses that quality, rather than one that merely repeats it.

Final Answer:

The word that is opposite in meaning to supple is Brittle.