Solved Examples Set 2 (Antonyms)

1. LABYRINTHINE

   1. flowery
   2. direct
   3. amazing
   4. dark
   5. towering

   (B. direct) Labyrinthine means mazelike. The best opposite is direct, which means straightforward.

2. NADIR

   1. ebb tide
   2. positron
   3. mean
   4. median
   5. zenith

   (E. zenith) Nadir is the bottom, the lowest point. Choice A ebb tide means a period or state of decline. Choice B positron means an electrically charged particle. Choice C mean means the average. Choice D median means the middle point. Choice E zenith means topmost or highest point.

3. KUDOS

   1. reward
   2. regrets
   3. obloquy
   4. freedom
   5. glorification

   (C. obloquy) Kudos is a singular noun meaning glory, fame, or prestige. The opposite of kudos is obloquy, which means disgrace, discredit, or dishonor.

4. TACITLY

   1. thoughtlessly
   2. carelessly
   3. coherently
   4. openly expressed
   5. mildly amused

   (D. openly expressed) Tacitly means silently, without being openly expressed.

5. ALTRUISTIC

   1. selfish
   2. below sea level
   3. interdisciplinary
   4. nonalcoholic
   5. self-reliant

   (A. selfish) Altruistic means benevolent, generous, or unselfishly concerned for others. Choice A is the best opposite.

6. PROFUNDITY

   1. depth
   2. shallowness
   3. profanity
   4. perfidy
   5. complexity

   (B. shallowness) Profundity means having great depth of understanding or importance. Choice B shallowness means not deep, or an incapability of having deep feelings. Choice C profanity means coarse or irreverent speech. Choice D perfidy means treachery.

7. PALLID

   1. resplendent
   2. lackluster
   3. enervated
   4. impaled
   5. impervious

   (A. resplendent) Pallid means drab or colorless. Choice A resplendent means bright or brilliant. Choice B lackluster means drab or colorless. Choice C enervated means frail or feeble. Choice D impaled means pierced. Choice E impervious means impenetrable.

8. NOVEL

   1. fictional
   2. poetic
   3. ordinary
   4. narrative
   5. peerless

   (C. ordinary) Novel means new or unique. Fictional means made up or fabricated. Poetic means elegant or musical. Ordinary means common or everyday. Narrative means related to a story. Peerless means unique.

9. TRAVAIL

   1. fetters
   2. repose
   3. smear
   4. illumination
   5. remainder

   (B. repose) The noun travail means toil, hard labor; its opposite here is repose, which means to rest.

10. ENIGMATIC

    1. explicit
    2. cryptic
    3. implicit
    4. syntactic
    5. impolitic

    (A. explicit) Enigmatic means puzzling, unclear, obscure. Explicit means clear and direct. Cryptic means puzzling. Implicit means indirect. Syntactic means having to do with sentence structure. Impolitic means unwise.

11. EXHUME

    1. expel
    2. exit
    3. infer
    4. refer
    5. inter

    (E. inter) Exhume means to remove from the grave. Expel means to force out, eject. Exit means to depart. Infer means to conclude or deduce. Refer means to relate. Inter means to bury a dead body.

12. INANE

    1. foolish
    2. serious
    3. mature
    4. nameless
    5. contrary

    (B. serious.) Inane means silly or empty. Choice B serious means important or solemn.

13. ORNERY

    1. with many faults
    2. odorless
    3. agreeable in disposition
    4. fetid
    5. highly decorated

    (C. agreeable in disposition) Ornery means disagreeable, mean, crotchety. The adjective fetid, choice D, means noisome, stinking.

14. PALPABLE

    1. pliable
    2. facetious
    3. evident
    4. intangible
    5. careful

    (D. intangible) Palpable means easily perceived, obvious, tangible. Choice A pliable means flexible, easily influenced. Choice B facetious means intending to be funny. Choice D intangible means not tangible.

15. BOMBASTIC

    1. Creative
    2. Selfish
    3. Artistic
    4. Polite
    5. Overbearing

    (D. Polite) Bombastic is a very strong word that means boastful. Notice that it simply sounds like a strong word. The best opposite here is Polite.

16. PATHOLOGICAL

    1. Sick
    2. Healthy
    3. Unrealizable
    4. Selective
    5. Chemicals

    (B. Healthy) Pathological here refers to a negative characteristic, the correct choice is positive, Healthy.

17. DOWDY

    1. slovenly
    2. out of date
    3. stylish
    4. above average
    5. seasonal

    (C. stylish) Dowdy means drab or out of date. Choice A slovenly means untidy.

18. PROCEED

    1. secede
    2. succeed
    3. impede
    4. lead
    5. recede

    (E. recede.) Proceed means move forward, go ahead as planned. Choice E recede means to move backward. Choice A secede means to withdraw or quit. Choice C impede means to slow down.

19. APPROBATION

    1. probation
    2. guilt
    3. disapproval
    4. disavowal
    5. disaffected

    (C. disapproval) Approbation means approval. Choice A probation is a period of time for examination or evaluation. Choice C disapproval means objection, and is the opposite of approbation. Choice D disavowal means a denial of responsibility. Choice E disaffection means discontent.

20. EUPHORIA

    1. mandate
    2. intoxicant
    3. life
    4. euthanasia
    5. gloom

    (E. gloom.) Euphoria means a feeling of well-being or elation. Choice A mandate means an order or command. Choice B intoxicant means a mind-altering substance. Choice D euthanasia means mercy killing. Choice E gloom means sadness or depression.

Solved Examples Set 1
Solved Examples Set 2
Solved Examples Set 3