Antonyms

An antonym is a word that is the opposite meaning

of another. It comes from the Greek words "anti"
for opposite and "onym" for name. Since language
is complex, people may at times, disagree on what
words are truly opposite in meaning to other words.
CATEGORIES OF ANTONYMS
There are three categories of antonyms:
1. GRADED ANTONYMS
Graded Antonyms deal with levels of the meaning of
the words, like if something is not "good", is may
still not be "bad." There is a scale involved with
some words, and besides good and bad there can be
average, fair, excellent, terrible, poor, or satisfactory.
Example:
 Last and first
 Foolish and wise
 Abundant and scarce
 Dark and light
 Dangerous and safe
  Clever and foolish
 Early and late
 Empty and full
 Smart and dumb
 Risky and safe
 Bad and good
 Pretty and ugly
 Best and worst
 Rich and poor
 Cool and hot
 Wet and dry
 Late and early
 Ignorant and educated
 Big and small
 Optimistic and pessimistic
 Excited and bored
 Dull and interesting

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2. COMPLEMENTARY ANTONYMS
Complementary antonyms have a relationship where
there is no middle ground. There are only two
possibilities, either one or the other.
Example:
 Dead and alive
  Off and on
 Day and night
 Absent and present
 Exit and entrance
 Sink or float
 True or false
 Input and output
 Interior and exterior
 Exhale and inhale

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3. RELATIONAL ANTONYMS
Relational antonyms are sometimes considered a
subcategory of complementary antonyms. With these
pairs, for there to be a relationship, both must exist.
Example:
 Doctor and patient
 Buy and sell
 Predator and prey
 Above and below
 Teach and learn
 Instructor and pupil
 Servant and master
 Borrow and lend
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AN EXAMPLE
Choose the best antonym:
Example:
Restive:
A) Patient B) Rigorous C) Deceptive D) Active E) C
autious
Solution:
The word, restive, is tricky, because it sounds like it
has something to do with rest. Therefore, option (D)
active would be the best antonym. However, this is a
trick. Restive actually means restless. So, the correct
answer is patient, a good antonym for restless.
TIPS TO SOLVE ANTONYM QUESTIONS
Take note of positively and negatively charged
answer choices. It is possible to associate a negative
or positive charge with almost any given word. Try
to discern whether each word in the following list
has a positive (+), negative (-), or neutral (=) charge.
Choose the appropriate antonym from the options
given below:-
Q1. Heartfelt
A. humorous

B. loving
C. insincere
D. unhealthy
Q2. Secret

A. friendly

B. overt
C. hidden
D. ample
Q3. Withdraw

A. dislike

B. need
C. advance
D. want
Q4. Impartial

A. hostile

B. need
C. biased
D. worried
Q5. Talent

A. silent

B. show
C. confine
D. inability
Q6. Expect

A. attend

B. regret
C. despair
D. loathe
Q7. Peaked

A. lack

B. ruddy
C. tired
D. pointy
Q8. Common

A. strange

B. fast
C. easy
D. quick
Q8. Common

A. strange

B. fast
C. easy
 D. quick
Q10. Continue

A. curve

B. pause
C. carry
D. argue
Q12. Famous

A. talent

B. boring
C. obscure
D. poor
Q13. Detain

A. release

B. silence
C. forget
 D. prosper
Q14. Flaunt

A. regard

B. sink
C. hide
D. propose
Q15. Heal

A. foot

B. hope
C. save
D. maim
Q16. Labour

A. amuse

B. rest
C. strive
 D. survive
Q17. Assure

A. alarm

B. reassure
C. quiet
D. sure
Q18. Cursed

A. swore

B. pious
C. lucky
D. clear
Q19. Pivotal

A. turning

B. wavy
C. unimportant
 D. clear
Q20. Pacify

A. excite

B. foot
C. coddle
D. unhand
Q21. Ecstasy

A. hate

B. agony
C. langour
D. fatigue
Q22. Enigmatic

A. healthy

B. attractive
C. obvious
 D. mysterious
Q23. Astute

A. careful

B. fantasy
C. cold
D. gullible
Q24. Knowing

A. wasteful

B. clumsy
C. fast
D. dense
Q25. Severe

A. cautious

B. join
C. false
 D. lenient
Q26. Imaginative

A. playful

B. dull
C. small
D. written
Q26. Imaginative

A. playful

B. dull
C. small
D. written
Q28. Popular

A. empty

B. uncommon
C. famous
 D. fiesty
Q29. Rough

A. tumble

B. fast
C. sleek
D. distant
Q30. Concede

A. sit

B. withstand
C. dismiss
D. elaborate
Q31. Stamina

A. sullen

B. dry
C. clear
 D. weakness
Q32. Tragic

A. boring

B. mysterious
C. comic
D. incredulous
Q33. Able

A. wilful

B. inept
C. careful
D. feasible
Q34. Haste

A. delay

B. frugal
C. debauchery
 D. solemnity
Q35. Tireless

A. exhausted

B. unfailing
C. broke
D. driving
Q35. Tireless

A. exhausted

B. unfailing
C. broke
D. driving
Q37. Attain

A. crave

B. lose
C. harbour
 D. credit
Q38. Plain

A. lovely

B. abandon
C. ugly
D. meadow
Q39. Licsense

A. allow

B. join
C. gather
D. restriction
Q40. Spare

A. pacify

B. restriction
C. pure
 D. rotund
Q41. Contrary

A. unpleasant

B. despicable
C. agreeable
D. urbane
Q42. Forced

A. quick

B. solid
C. trusting
D. natural
Q43. Ample

A. complete

B. insufficient
C. quiet
 D. supple
Q44. Abolish

A. vote

B. punish
C. avoid
D. estabilish
Q45. Luminous

A. clear

B. dim
C. brittle
D. low
Q46. Malodorous

A. pungent

B. delicious
C. fragrant
 D. acrid
Q47. Abate

A. augment

B. free
C. provoke
D. wane
Q48. Abridge

A. shorten

B. extend
C. stress
D. easy
Q49. Meagre

A. kind

B. copious
C. generous
 D. hate
Q50. Fatuous

A. sensible

B. inane
C. frugal
D. crafty
Q51. Zenith

A. past

B. apex
C. worst
D. nadir
Q52. Philistine

A. novice

B. pious
C. intellectual
 D. pray
Q53. Supercilious

A. unimportant

B. relevant
C. seroius
D. meek
Q54. Irascible

A. reasonable

B. determined
C. placid
D. piliant
Q55. Quiescent

A. active

B. dull
C. simple
 D. strong
Q56. Colossal

A. easy

B. tiny
C. graceful
D. roof
Q57. Fallacious

A. accidental

B. truthful
C. credit
D. clean
Q58. Candid

A. unkind

B. blunt
C. valid
 D. dishonest
Q59. Obtuse

A. slim

B. acute
C. thick
D. opaque
Q60. Banal

A. extraordinary

B. trustworthy
C. wealthy
D. sincere
Q61. Parsimony

A. clan

B. verbosity
C. generosity
 D. sincere
Q62. Doleful

A. empty

B. full
C. vivacious
D. witty
Q63. Extravagant

A. unknown

B. homebody
C. punctual
D. moderate
Q64. Tacit

A. grand

B. illicit
C. money
 D. dictated
Q65. Pristine

A. free

B. sullied
C. wide
D. thorough
Q66. Adroit

A. clumsy

B. left
C. diplomatic
D. predict
Q67. Felicitous

A. morbid

B. boorish
C. inopportune
 D. delightful
Q68. Austere

A. unfavourable

B. light
C. devout
D. lavish
Q69. Placate

A. appease

B. strip
C. uncommon
D. enrage
Q70. Mite

A. weakness

B. tend
C. bulk
 D. drive
Q71. Insipid

A. cold

B. brave
C. exciting
D. bashful
Q72. Prodigal

A. thrifty

B. secondary
C. distant
Squalid
D.

Q73. Nebulous

A. dim

B. distinct
 C. desirable
D. cloudy
Q74. Wean

A. flourish

B. flush
C. strengthen
D. addict
Q75. Malice

A. goodwill

B. bitterness
C. frugal
D. coddle
Q76. Frivolous

A. pious

B. serious
 C. inexpensive
D. contemptuous
Q77. Taint

A. cheer

B. clear
C. purify
D. worry
Q78. Denounce

A. covert

B. blame
C. deplore
D. condemn
Q Belittle
79.

A. detract

B. torment
 C. magnify
D. plain
Q80. Glower

A. prairie

B. smile
C. raise
D. throw
Q81. Tedious

A. unwavering

B. frightening
C. horrible
D. pleasurable
Q82. Ductile

A. unfeeling

B. arrogant
 C. precious
D. rigid
Q83. Abdicate

A. deny

B. usurp
C. blame
D. renounce
Q84. Indolent

A. complimentary

B. industrious
C. native
D. curb
Q85. Curtail

A. calm

B. prolong
 C. obscure
D. remain
Q86. Eminent

A. imminent

B. obscure
C. retire
D. unsure
Q87. Expansive

A. generous

B. honest
C. narrow
D. trouble
Q88. Prudent

A. simple

B. verbose
 C. rapid
D. foolish
Q89. Foster

A. discourage

B. heal
C. brag
D. believe
Q90. Deviant

A. winding

B. careful
C. normal
D. sad
Q91. Venerable

A. constant

B. sophomoric
 C. impervious
D. infirm
Q92. Daunt

A. calm

B. accord
C. dispel
D. inspirit
Q93. Dexterous

A. clumsy

B. saline
C. cunning
D. precious
Q94. Forsake

A. shun

B. break
 C. craft
D. embrace
Q95. Paucity

A. excess

B. certainity
C. timidity
D. beauty
Q96. Heedless

A. unaware

B. speedy
C. attentive
D. heartless
Q97. Waive

A. imprison

B. retain
 C. snub
D. display
Q98. Procrastinate

A. lengthen

B. hurry
C. demolish
D. soothe
Q99. Docile

A. unreachable

B. intelligent
C. unruly
D. pale
Q100. Callow

A. kind

B. urbane
 C. sensitive
D. gentle

Answers:-

1. c 11. B 21. B 31. D 41. C 51. d

2. b 12. C 22. C 32. C 42. D 52. c
3. c 13. A 23. D 33. B 43. B 53. d
4. c 14. C 24. D 34. A 44. D 54. c
5. d 15. D 25. D 35. A 45. B 55. a
6. c 16. B 26. B 36. C 46. C 56. b
7. b 17. A 27. C 37. B 47. A 57. b
8. a 18. C 28. B 38. A 48. B 58. d
9. d 19. C 29. C 39. D 49. B 59. b
10. b 20. A 30. B 40. D 50. A 60. A

61. c 71. C 81. D 91. b

62. c 72. A 82. D 92. d
63. d 73. B 83. b
64. d 74. D 84. b
65. b 75. A 85. b
66. a 76. B 86. b
67. c 77. C 87. c
68. d 78. A 88. d
69. d 79. C 89. a
70. c 80. B 90. c