Solved Examples Set 2 (Antonyms)

1. FERVENT

   1. intermittent
   2. parietal
   3. bland
   4. resonant
   5. sublime

   (C. bland) The adjective fervent means ardent, intensely felt, the opposite of bland, which means dull or tasteless. Choice A intermittent means periodic or recurrent. Choice B parietal means pertaining to a wall. Choice D resonant means resounding or vibrant. Choice E sublime means elevated, outstanding, or lofty.

2. 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.

3. HERETICAL

   1. skeptical
   2. orthodox
   3. unorthodox
   4. ethereal
   5. insincere

   (B. orthodox) Heretical means challenging conventional beliefs. Choice A skeptical means inclined not to believe. Choice B orthodox means to accept conventional beliefs. Choice C unorthodox means unconventional. Choice D ethereal means light and delicate or heavenly. Choice E insincere means hypocritical, not sincere.

4. OVERWROUGHT

   1. relaxed
   2. restrained
   3. underutilized
   4. flawed
   5. underestimated

   (A. relaxed.) Overwrought means overcome by nervous agitation or being overexcited. Choice A relaxed means an absence of tension or tightness.

5. LABYRINTHINE

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

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

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. IMBROGLIO

   1. imbibition
   2. proviso
   3. fracas
   4. clarification
   5. settlement

   (E. settlement) Imbroglio means a noisy fight or a dispute. Choice E settlement is the best opposite. Choice A imbibition means to absorb ideas into the mind. Choice B proviso means something insisted on as part of an agreement, with each side giving up some of its demands. Choice C fracas is also a noisy dispute or brawl.

8. HIDEBOUND

   1. liberal
   2. dishonorable
   3. honorable
   4. conservative
   5. leathery

   (A. liberal) Hidebound means narrow-minded. Choice A liberal means openminded.

9. LOUCHE

   1. inflexible
   2. manifest
   3. reputable
   4. wolflike
   5. gloomy

   (C. reputable) Louche means shady, disreputable. Choice B manifest means evident. Choice C reputable means having a good reputation.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. EMPATHY

    1. compassion
    2. lack of feeling for others
    3. lack of religious certainty
    4. lack of credit
    5. recalcitrance

    (B. lack of feeling for others) Empathy means feeling for others, sympathy. Choice E recalcitrance means disobedience, noncompliance.

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. CAPTIOUS

    1. eager
    2. deprived
    3. indulgent
    4. free
    5. anxious

    (C. indulgent) Captious means quick to find fault, carping. The opposite is indulgent.

15. UBIQUITOUS

    1. obsequious
    2. cantankerous
    3. rare
    4. intermittent
    5. omnivorous

    (C. rare) Ubiquitous means omnipresent, everywhere. Choice A obsequious means excessively or sickeningly respectful. Choice B cantankerous means bad-tempered. Choice C rare means seldom found or occurring. Choice D intermittent means occurring at intervals, not continuous. Choice E omnivorous means feeding on both plants and animal flesh.

16. REDUNDANT

    1. verbose
    2. irrelevant
    3. prosaic
    4. excessive
    5. insufficient

    (E. insufficient.) Redundant means superfluous, extra, unneeded. Choice A verbose means using too many words. Choice C prosaic means dull or ordinary. Choice E insufficient means not enough.

17. DISPARATE

    1. dissimilar
    2. similar
    3. disconcerted
    4. contrite
    5. desperate

    (B. similar.) Disparate means different. Choice A dissimilar means different. Choice B similar means the same or nearly the same. Choice C disconcerted means bewildered or confused. Choice D contrite means repentant.

18. SCRUTINIZE

    1. skim
    2. devour
    3. elaborate
    4. comprehend
    5. question

    (A. skim.) Scrutinize means to examine something thoroughly and carefully. Choice A skim means to glance at or read quickly. Choice B devour means to hungrily or greedily consume.

19. 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.

20. 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.

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