Question

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

Explanation:

First, define "gaunt": it means thin and bony, often from hunger, illness, or hardship (as seen in the context of tired climbers). Next, analyze each option:

1. "desolate" means barren or lonely, unrelated to body shape.
2. "scrawny" means thin, which is a synonym of gaunt.
3. "energetic" means full of energy, which contrasts with exhausted but not the core meaning of gaunt.
4. "plump" means full and rounded in shape, the direct opposite of thin/gaunt.

Answer:

plump