The opposite of 'public' is 'private'. 'Public' refers to something that is open, accessible, or shared by all, such as public spaces or public opinions. On the other hand, 'private' denotes something that is not open to the general public or is kept secret or exclusive. The words 'publicity', 'popular', and 'published' do not convey opposition to 'public'. 'Publicity' pertains to the act of disseminating information, while 'popular' and 'published' lack the exclusive nature of 'private'.
