There was fierce competition to win the contract, which promised to be quite
1
lucrative
2
sardonic
3
motley
4
poignant
1. lucrative - This term means highly profitable or financially rewarding. In the given context, the competition for the contract is expected to bring significant financial gain to the winning party.
2. sardonic - This term means mocking or cynical. However, it does not fit well in the context of the sentence, as it does not convey the idea of competition or the potential profitability of the contract.
3. motley - This term means diverse or varied. It does not accurately reflect the competitiveness or profitability of the contract.
4. poignant - This term means deeply moving or emotionally intense. While the competition for the contract may bring emotions and intense feelings, it does not necessarily imply that winning the contract would be emotionally significant or profound.