- FRUGAL
Answer: thrifty
'Frugal' describes someone who is careful with money and avoids waste. 'Thrifty' is the best synonym. 'Expensive' describes the high cost of an item, not a person's habits. 'Generous' can be seen as an opposite trait, as it involves spending money on others. 'Simple' is a related idea but is not limited to money; a person can live a simple life without being frugal.
- SCARCE
Answer: rare
'Scarce' means there is very little of something available. 'Rare' is the best synonym. 'Abundant' is an antonym, meaning plentiful. 'Broken' is an unrelated condition. 'Cheap' relates to cost, while scarce relates to availability.
- PROHIBIT
Answer: forbid
To 'prohibit' means to formally prevent or forbid something. 'Forbid' is a direct synonym. 'Allow' is an antonym. 'Demonstrate' means to show or explain. 'Suggest' is a much weaker term that means to propose an idea, not to ban it.
- PONDER
Answer: consider
To 'ponder' means to think about something carefully. 'Consider' is the best synonym, as it also means to think carefully. 'Answer' is a response to a question, not the process of thinking. 'Ignore' is an antonym, meaning to not pay attention. 'Speak' means to talk, which is different from thinking.
- BENEVOLENT
Answer: kind
'Benevolent' means well-meaning and kind. 'Kind' is a direct synonym. 'Angry' is an opposite emotion. 'Beautiful' is a positive quality but relates to appearance, not character. A 'wealthy' person might be benevolent, but the word itself does not mean wealthy.
- OBSTACLE
Answer: barrier
An 'obstacle' is something that blocks one's way or prevents progress. A 'barrier' is the closest synonym. An 'advantage' is an antonym, something that helps progress. A 'path' is what an obstacle might block. A 'solution' is what overcomes an obstacle.
- ABANDON
Answer: desert
To 'abandon' something is to leave it behind permanently. 'Desert' is the best synonym in this context. 'Adopt' is an antonym, meaning to take something as one's own. 'Announce' means to make a public statement. 'Assist' is an antonym, meaning to help.
- EAGER
Answer: keen
'Eager' means strongly wanting to do or have something. 'Keen' also means very enthusiastic or eager. 'Bored' is an antonym. 'Calm' and 'doubtful' describe emotional states that are different from eagerness.
- ADVERSARY
Answer: opponent
An 'adversary' is someone one competes against. 'Opponent' is the closest synonym. An 'advisor' is someone who gives advice. A 'friend' is an antonym, meaning an ally. A 'judge' is a neutral person in a conflict, not a participant.
- MUTTER
Answer: mumble
To 'mutter' is to say something in a low or barely audible voice, especially in dissatisfaction. 'Mumble' is the closest synonym. 'Listen' is the act of hearing, not speaking. 'Question' is a type of sentence. 'Shout' is an antonym in terms of volume.
- CUNNING
Answer: sly
'Cunning' means having skill in achieving one's goals by deceit or evasion. 'Sly' is the closest synonym. 'Clumsy' is an antonym in terms of skillfulness. 'Fast' describes speed, which is unrelated. 'Honest' is an antonym in terms of character.
- COMPREHEND
Answer: understand
To 'comprehend' means to grasp the meaning of something. 'Understand' is the best synonym. To 'argue' is to express a different opinion. To 'confuse' is an antonym, meaning to fail to understand. To 'listen' is an action one might take to comprehend something spoken, but it is not the act of understanding itself.
- MEAGER
Answer: scant
'Meager' means lacking in quantity or quality. 'Scant' also means a very small or insufficient amount. 'Abundant' is an antonym, meaning plentiful. 'Average' means a normal or typical amount, which is more than meager. 'Tall' describes height, which is unrelated to quantity.
- TRANQUIL
Answer: peaceful
'Tranquil' means free from disturbance; calm. 'Peaceful' is a direct synonym. 'Boring' can be a negative interpretation of a tranquil setting, but it is not the definition. 'Chaotic' is an antonym. 'Tired' describes a person's physical state, not a quality of a place or situation.
- VAST
Answer: immense
'Vast' means of very great extent or quantity; immense. 'Immense' is the best synonym. A vast space might be 'empty', but the word vast describes its size, not its contents. 'Heavy' describes weight, not size. 'Tiny' is an antonym.
- CONCEAL
Answer: hide
To 'conceal' something means to keep it from being seen. 'Hide' is a direct synonym. 'Decorate' means to make something look more attractive. 'Find' is what happens when something is no longer concealed. 'Reveal' is an antonym, meaning to make something known or seen.
- RELUCTANT
Answer: unwilling
To be 'reluctant' means to be hesitant or unwilling to do something. 'Unwilling' is a direct synonym. 'Agreeable' and 'excited' are antonyms. 'Forgetful' is an unrelated character trait.
