Antonyms

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SSAT Middle Level Verbal › Antonyms

Questions 1 - 10
1

Complete this analogy.

Impartial is to __________ as assertive is to meek.

biased

hospitable

voluminous

ambivalent

noisome

Explanation

"Assertive" means confident, demonstrating confidence in one's own opinions. "Meek" means lacking confidence, shy. These two words are antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answers has the opposite meaning to "impartial." "Impartial" means objective, not biased, fair. The correct answer is therefore "biased," which means predisposed to preferring one thing over another, subjective. Additionally, "hospitable" means welcoming, able to be lived in; "voluminous" means large; "ambivalent" means not feeling strongly one way or another; "noisome" means possessing an unpleasant smell, smelling very badly.

2

Complete this analogy.

Surge is to plummet as __________.

catch is to release

wood is to flammable

dye is to cloth

nail is to trim

test is to cheat

Explanation

"Surge" is a verb that can mean a large and sudden increase while "plummet" is verb that can mean a large and sudden decrease. So, "surge" and "plummet" are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of words that are antonyms. Because "catch" and "release" are the only pair of antonyms listed as a possible answer choice, "catch is to release" is the correct answer, because just as "surge" is the opposite of "plummet," "catch" is the opposite of "release."

3

Complete this analogy.

Feasible is to impractical as __________ is to ungainly.

nimble

covetous

wizened

succinct

garrulous

Explanation

"Feasible" means realistic, likely to be able to be accomplished, practical. It is therefore an antonym of "impractical" (unrealistic, not likely to be able to be accomplished). So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "ungainly." Well, "ungainly" means (of movement) clumsy, not graceful. So, the correct answer is "nimble" which means agile, sure-footed, graceful. Additionally, "covetous" means desiring, greedy, envious; "wizened" means wrinkled with age; "succinct" means brief and 'to the point'; "garrulous" means overly talkative.

4

Complete this analogy.

Fruitless is to successful as __________ is to forgiving.

vindictive

flippant

tenacious

opulent

reckless

Explanation

"Fruitless" means not achieving the desire result, unsuccessful. It is an antonym of "successful," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "forgiving." The correct answer is "vindictive," which means having a strong desire to enact cruel revenge. Additionally, "opulent" means luxurious, lavish, grand, magnificent; "reckless" means acting rashly, doing something without considering the consequences; "flippant" means acting disrespectful; "tenacious" means determined, hard-working.

5

Complete this analogy.

Jumble is to organize as __________ is to yell.

murmur

scream

converse

ignore

allow

Explanation

"Jumble" means to disorganize something, to put something out of order, to make a mess. It is therefore an antonym of "organize" because these words have opposite meanings. Which of these words is an antonym of "yell?" The correct answer is "murmur," which means whisper, talk quietly. Additionally, "converse" means talk with someone.

6

Complete this analogy.

Ineffectual is to successful as innocuous is to __________.

malignant

benign

benevolent

awesome

absent

Explanation

"Ineffectual" means not having the desired effect, unsuccessful. It is therefore an antonym of "successful." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "innocuous." Well, "innocuous" means harmless, not hurtful, not serious. This is opposite in meaning to "malignant" which means deadly, harmful. Additionally, "benign" means innocuous, not harmful; "benevolent" means good-natured, kind; "absent" means not present; "awesome" means deeply impressive, great.

7

Complete this analogy.

Unbelievable is to plausible as robust is to __________.

unhealthy

sleepy

healthy

energetic

depressed

Explanation

"Unbelievable" is an antonym of plausible, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best antonym for robust. "Robust" means in good shape, healthy, so the correct antonym is unhealthy.

8

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Slothful is to energetic as isolated is to __________.

Accessible

Jocular

Temerity

Saintly

Fortunate

Explanation

"Slothful" means lazy and is an antonym of "energetic," which means full of energy. To solve this analogy, you need to identify the best available antonym of "isolated." "Isolated" means inaccessible, remote, or cut-off, and the best antonym is therefore “accessible," an adjective that means able to be reached. For clarification, "jocular" means funny, "temerity" means boldness, "saintly" means pious or religious, and "fortunate" means lucky.

9

Complete this analogy:

Borrow is to lend as __________.

brighten is to fade

clumsy is to crippled

beg is to steal

donate is to manipulate

steal is to make

Explanation

When you lend an object, you give it to someone temporarily, when you borrow an object, you take it temporarily. Thus, borrow and lend are antonyms. Similarly, brighten means to make brighter, while fade means to make less bright.

None of the other analogies have this relationship.

Steal means to illegally take an object, while make means to create something.

Donate means to provide something desirable free of charge, while manipulate means to either physically use one's hands on an object, or to influence a person or situation.

Beg means to ask for money or food, while steal means to illegally take something.

Clumsy means ungainly, or moving in an awkward uncontrolled manner, while crippled means unable to walk or unable to move, due to an ailment.

10

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Inflate is to deflate as suitable is to __________.

unsuitable

suited

credible

whirlwind

conform

Explanation

"Inflate" means to swell up or fill with air while "deflate" means to reduce or release air from. They are antonyms, just like “suitable” and “unsuitable.” To further help you, “credible” means easy to believe or information you can rely on; “conform” is to become similar or the same; “suited” means appropriate, fitting.

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