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

Introduction / Context:
This antonym question tests understanding of a formal noun used to describe attitude or feeling towards a person or object. Veneration is commonly used in religious, cultural, and moral contexts to indicate deep respect or reverence. To answer correctly, the candidate must identify which option expresses the opposite emotional attitude, that is, strong disrespect or dislike instead of respect and honor.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Key word: Veneration.
• Options: Adoration, Contempt, Reverence, Admiration.
• We assume standard dictionary meanings and usage in moral or religious contexts.
• The task is to find the direct opposite, not just a different or unrelated word.

Concept / Approach:
Veneration means great respect, reverence, or awe, often directed toward saints, elders, leaders, or sacred objects. Its core idea is a high degree of positive regard. Therefore, the antonym must express strong negative regard. Contempt is a noun that denotes a feeling that someone or something is worthless, beneath consideration, or deserving of scorn. The other options, Adoration, Reverence, and Admiration, are all words that describe respect or love; they are synonyms or near synonyms of veneration, not opposites. Thus, the correct method is to group positive feeling words together and choose the single negative attitude word.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that veneration means deep respect or reverence.Step 2: Examine Adoration. This means intense love and respect, often towards a deity or beloved person. It is clearly similar to veneration.Step 3: Examine Reverence. This is almost a direct synonym of veneration, meaning deep respect and awe.Step 4: Examine Admiration. This means respect and warm approval, again positive in tone.Step 5: Examine Contempt. This is a strong feeling that a person or thing is beneath consideration or deserves scorn. This is the emotional opposite of veneration, so Contempt is the correct antonym.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine sentences that use these words. One may feel veneration for a saint, reverence for an elder, adoration for a deity, and admiration for a brave person. In each case the attitude is positive and respectful. If one feels contempt for a corrupt official, that attitude is the complete opposite of respect. Replacing veneration with contempt in any positive sentence reverses the meaning entirely. This confirms that contempt is the antonym we are looking for in this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Adoration: This is an even stronger form of love and respect, especially in religious contexts, and is therefore a synonym, not an antonym. Reverence: This word shares nearly the same meaning as veneration and is often used interchangeably in religious or formal texts. Admiration: This indicates approval and respect, which again belongs to the same positive semantic field. Choosing any of these would mean confusing synonyms with antonyms.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes rush and choose any familiar word without checking whether the question is asking for a synonym or an antonym. Another pitfall is confusing admiration and adoration because they appear frequently in exam passages and may feel overused. A safe strategy is to first decide whether the base word expresses a positive or negative emotion, and then pick the option that clearly expresses the opposite polarity. Here veneration is strongly positive, and contempt is strongly negative.

Final Answer:
The word that is opposite in meaning to veneration is Contempt.