Which of the following options is the closest in meaning to the word below?
Ephemeral
A. effeminate B. ghostlike C. soft D. short-lived
GATE 2010 · General Aptitude · Synonyms · medium
Answer: D. short-lived
Define Ephemeral: 'Ephemeral' comes from Greek, meaning lasting only a day. It is now used more broadly to mean anything that lasts only a short time or is transient.
Evaluate options: A. Effeminate = qualities of a woman (applied to a man); relates to gender characteristics, not duration. B. Ghostlike = resembling a ghost; relates to appearance, not duration. C. Soft = not hard or firm; a texture/sensation word, not related to duration. D. Short-lived = lasting only a short time; directly matches the meaning of ephemeral.
Confirm answer: Option D (short-lived) is the correct synonym of 'Ephemeral'.