Antonym of COURAGEOUS.

**The reasoning** An antonym is a word with the **opposite meaning**. "Courageous" means having courage — being brave and willing to face fear or danger. The opposite of this quality is being afraid to take risks or confront challenges. That's exactly what "cowardly" means: lacking courage, being timid or fearful. So **C) Cowardly** is the direct opposite. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **A) Brave** and **B) Bold** are actually *synonyms* (similar words) of courageous, not antonyms. They all describe fearlessness. This is the classic trap — picking what sounds related instead of what means the opposite. - **D) Wise** is unrelated to courage. You can be wise and cowardly, or wise and courageous. They're different qualities entirely. This tests if you're reading carefully. **Quick takeaway** For antonym questions, think: "What's the **complete opposite feeling or action**?" — if courageous means "facing fear," cowardly means "running from fear."