Question

which word is an antonym for the word gaunt?
the mountain climbers returned from their long, treacherous journey looking gaunt and exhausted.
scrawny energetic desolate plump

Explanation:

First, we need to understand the meaning of "gaunt". "Gaunt" means very thin, especially because of illness, hunger, or suffering. Now let's analyze each option:

• "Scrawny" means very thin and bony, which is similar in meaning to "gaunt", so it's a synonym, not an antonym.
• "Energetic" means having or showing a lot of energy, which is related to energy level, not the opposite of "gaunt" (which is about physical appearance - thinness).
• "Desolate" means a place that is empty and not pleasant, or a person who is very sad and lonely, which has nothing to do with the opposite of "gaunt".
• "Plump" means having a pleasantly soft, rounded body or shape, which is the opposite of being thin (gaunt). So "plump" is the antonym of "gaunt".

Answer:

plump