In the following question, out of the given four alternatives, select the one which is opposite in meaning to the given word "Vagrant".

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Settled

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This antonym question tests your understanding of the word "vagrant". The word is frequently used to describe people who have no fixed home and move from place to place, often in poverty. Choosing the correct opposite helps you understand contrast in descriptions, especially in legal, social, and literary contexts.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    The target word is "vagrant".
    We assume the most common meaning: a person who wanders from place to place without a settled home or regular work; by extension, something wandering or moving irregularly.
    The options are idle, roving, settled, wanderer, and nomadic.


Concept / Approach:
"Vagrant" characterises wandering, rootless existence. The opposite idea would be of someone or something that is fixed, stable, and not moving about. Among the given options, "settled" best expresses this stability. Idle describes laziness, roving and wanderer are near synonyms of vagrant, and nomadic also refers to a lifestyle involving constant movement. So "settled" is the clear antonym.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Restate "vagrant" as "wandering, without a permanent home". Step 2: Option C "Settled" means having a fixed home or permanent residence and being stable. Step 3: Option A "Idle" means lazy or not working, which may or may not involve wandering. Step 4: Option B "Roving" means travelling from place to place, similar to wandering. Step 5: Option D "Wanderer" is a noun for someone who wanders and is almost a direct synonym for a vagrant person. Step 6: Option E "Nomadic" describes a lifestyle of moving from place to place, especially in tribes, again close to vagrant rather than opposite.


Verification / Alternative check:
Consider phrases: "vagrant population" versus "settled population". Many social studies texts contrast these two groups: those who move from place to place versus those who have permanent homes. Similarly, "vagrant lifestyle" is contrasted with "settled lifestyle". If we tried to contrast vagrant with "idle" or "roving", the contrast would disappear, as both can be wandering or inactive. Thus, "settled" is the only option that clearly reverses the core meaning of vagrant.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A Idle describes not working or being lazy; a person can be both vagrant and idle, so it is not an opposite.
Option B Roving contains the same wandering sense as vagrant and is a close synonym, not an antonym.
Option D Wanderer is a direct noun form for one who wanders and again is a synonym, not opposite.
Option E Nomadic refers to moving around rather than staying in one place, which aligns with vagrant behaviour rather than opposing it.


Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may think "idle" is opposite because they associate vagrants with certain kinds of activity, but the main axis of meaning here is movement and stability, not work versus laziness. Always focus on the central feature of the word you are given. For "vagrant", that feature is lack of permanent settlement, so you must choose an option like "settled" that clearly implies a fixed place of living.


Final Answer:
The word opposite in meaning to "Vagrant" is "Settled".

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