The word “elite” is related to the word “elect,” which means “select or chosen.” Such people are either the best in a group or at least believe themselves to be. In contrast to such people, one finds the mere “common run of humanity”—those ordinary people who are not members of the elect. While such persons might be forgotten, the best antonym for “elite” is “common,” which captures the sense of “not elite, chosen, select, grand, and / or talented.” Do not be tempted to select “aristocratic” or “regal.” These are trying to trick you into choosing potential synonyms.

Someone who is “emaciated” is extremely thin, perhaps because of malnutrition. Although it is somewhat simple, “plump” is the best antonym for this, as it is the only option that is opposed to the sense of being extremely thin.

Something that is “disproportionate” is either too large or small in comparison with something else. For instance, one could say, “The growth of the stock price was disproportionately higher than the growth in the company’s profit, which was increasing in very humble increments.” Among the options provided, the best contrast to such “disproportion” is “equality,” or “equal.”

When something is enlightening, it gives knowledge or insight into a topic. To “enlighten” is to give such knowledge. In contrast to this, “to confound” someone is to cause confusion. The word comes from the Latin for “to mix with.” The “con-” prefix means “with” and the “-found” portion of this word is related to the “-fus-” portion of “confuse” or “confusion.”

Something that is bizarre is very unusual, as when one says, “He has the most bizarre opinions of anyone I know. They are so extraordinary that they make no sense to me at all.” This is quite the opposite from “ordinary,” which is a suitable antonym.

Betrayal is an act of breaking the trust that someone has placed in you. This is quite the opposite of being faithful. “Fidelity” is the character trait of faithfulness. The word is taken from the Latin for “faith” and is found in the Marines’ motto: “Semper fidelis”—“Always faithful.”

When someone is critical, he or she disapproves of something. For instance, “Kevin was extremely critical of his coworkers, always judging something to be wrong in their work.” This is quite the opposite of “accepting,” which means “to affirm, validate, or approve.”

Someone who is effective is able to produce desired outcomes—desired effects. Such a person could be called successful, efficacious, or powerful. (The word “effective” can also be used in the sense of meaning “convincing” as in an “effective argument” and also “in force” as in “the policy that is now effective”). The only option that functions as an antonym is “unproductive,” which is the opposite of someone who is effective. Unsurprisingly, an unproductive person is someone who is unable to produce outcomes with any particular efficacy.

A deferential person is humble and inclined to submit to the wishes and the demands of others. (The word actually is a construction derived from “defer”—to submit to another humbly. This could be used as in, “Since he was aware of his ignorance on the topic, Peter deferred to John, who was a known expert”). This is quite the opposite character trait to “disobedient,” meaning “unlikely to obey” or “not given to expressing obedience.”

When circumstances are called “dire,” they are such that there is little hope they will resolve in a positive manner. They generally imply urgency and danger, as in “dire poverty,” which threatens to lead to the death of those who are so impoverished. The answer “hopeful” is quite opposed to such hopelessness.