Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, and Progress

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HSPT Language Skills › Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, and Progress

Questions 1 - 7
1

Accede is the opposite of __________.

disallow

acquiesce

subscribe

endorse

Explanation

"Acquiesce," "endorse," and "subscribe" are all synonyms of "accede." "Accede" means to give consent, approval, or adherence.

"Disallow" means to refuse to permit, or reject.

2

An antonym for tame is __________.

wild

caged

frightening

terror

carnivorous

Explanation

A number of the options provided for answers are likely tempting. When something is not tame, it likely must be caged. Similarly, it is a terror and frightening. Indeed, something “carnivorous” (meat eating) might be thought not to be tame; however, in all of these cases, the words do not directly oppose the notion of being tame. Only “wild” adequately opposes the notion of being “tame” in the sense of being “domesticated,” that is, “house broken” (like a pet). While the others are not unrelated, they are not sufficient antonyms either.

3

An antonym of "sanction" is ___________.

proscribe

levy

incarcerate

reduce

corrupt

Explanation

The word "sanction" can have two meanings when it is used as a verb. On the one hand, it can mean to threaten with a penalty. On the other hand, it can also mean to approve. Luckily, none of the wrong answers are an antonym for the meaning of threatening with a penalty. Therefore, we must assume that it means to approve. In contrast to this, to "proscribe" can mean to outlaw or to forbid.

4

An antonym of "impede" is __________.

facilitate

destroy

accept

diminish

crescendo

Explanation

When something is impeded, it is prevented from doing its activity. The word literally comes from the Latin roots meaning to place something on the foot. (The word "pedestrian" has the same "pede_"_ in it.) An antonym for impede would express the activity of helping something on its way. Among the options provided, the best such word is "facilitate," meaning to make easier. The "facil-" prefix means easy, as in "facile."

5

An antonym of "waver" is __________.

persist

bemoan

belittle

straighten

militate

Explanation

The word "waver" is derived from the physical act of moving in a wave pattern. However, it most often indicates the psychological state of going "back and forth" between two options without being able to make a decision. Often too, a wavering person is filled with doubt. In contrast to this, a person who persists shows a sureness that is quite the opposite of the phenomenon of wavering. Among the options provided, this is the best option for an antonym.

6

An antonym of "corrupt" is __________.

ameliorate

distance

misuse

approve

exalt

Explanation

We tend to think of corruption in terms of moral decay. This is a true use of the word, but it is a restricted meaning. Primarily, the term indicates the deterioration of something from a state of purity. In contrast to such corruption, the "bettering" of something would be an excellent antonym. The word "ameliorate" indicates just such improvement. It comes from the Latin "melior," meaning better. It literally means to make better.

7

Abstemious means the opposite of __________.

gluttonous

abstinent

restrained

frugal

Explanation

"Frugal," "constrained," and "abstinent" mean the same as abstemious. "Abstemious" means sparing or moderate in eating and drinking. "Gluttonous" means tending to eat or drink excessively.

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