Solved Examples Set 2 (Antonyms)

1. PRETERNATURAL

   1. customary
   2. naturalistic
   3. adventitious
   4. unnatural
   5. pernicious

   (A. customary) Preternatural means extraordinary. Customary means normal or regular. Naturalistic means based on natural desires or events. Adventitious means fortuitous. Unnatural means artificial or abnormal. Pernicious means harmful or wicked.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. ELEVATED

   1. Suspended
   2. Moody
   3. Subterranean
   4. Grounded
   5. Excited

   (C. Subterranean) Elevated means above the ground. "Grounded" means connected to the earth. "Subterranean" means beneath the surface.

5. ELOQUENT

   1. lucid
   2. ministerial
   3. wise
   4. graceful
   5. inarticulate

   (E. inarticulate.) Eloquent means articulate. Choice A lucid means clear. Choice B ministerial pertains to a minister. Choice E inarticulate means not eloquent.

6. 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.

7. TACITLY

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

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

8. INTERCEDE

   1. intercept
   2. disrupt
   3. supersede
   4. intervene
   5. question

   (B. disrupt) Intercede means to mediate, to help two sides reach an agreement. Choice A intercept means to take something away. Choice B disrupt means to push apart. Choice C supersede means to replace or overrule. Choice D intervene means to intercede.

9. CHAOTIC

   1. Immersive
   2. Orderly
   3. Hectic
   4. Nervous
   5. Embarrasing

   (B. Orderly) Chaotic is a negative word that means in a state of complete confusion or disorder. Orderly is the positive word that is the best opposite.

10. MANDATORY

    1. dispassionate
    2. obligatory
    3. voluntary
    4. inveterate
    5. disconsolate

    (C. voluntary) Mandatory means obligatory, ordered. Choice A dispassionate means impartial. Choice D inveterate means deep-seated. Choice E disconsolate means cheerless, unhappy.

11. 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.

12. DISCRIMINATING

    1. racist
    2. gourmet
    3. crass
    4. popular
    5. segregated

    (C. crass) Discriminating means being able to make fine distinctions. Choice C crass means gross, being unable to make fine distinctions.

13. 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.

14. BOMB

    1. inception
    2. task
    3. divot
    4. storm
    5. hit

    (E. hit) A bomb is American theater terminology for a failure, the opposite of hit.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. ABSTEMIOUS

    1. self-indulgent
    2. on the dole
    3. self-sacrificing
    4. off the mark
    5. self-satisfied

    (A. self-indulgent) Abstemious means self-denying, temperate.

19. 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.

20. RESILIENT

    1. elastic
    2. resinous
    3. resolute
    4. inflexible
    5. malleable

    (D. inflexible.) Resilient means elastic, easily regaining its original shape. Choice B resinous means composed of resins (particular kinds of particles). Choice C resolute means determined. Choice D inflexible means stiff or rigid. Choice E malleable means moldable or flexible.

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