Solved Examples Set 3 (Antonyms)

1. 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.

2. DETACH

   1. Separate
   2. Pack
   3. Bottom line
   4. Scratch
   5. Ambulatory

   (B. Pack) Detach means to separate or unfasten. The best opposite is choice Pack.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. INDIGENT

   1. inconsequential
   2. nonnative
   3. extraterrestrial
   4. affluent
   5. compliant

   (D. affluent) Indigent means needy, poor. Choice D affluent means rich, wealthy, or prosperous. Choice E compliant means obliging.

6. INVEIGH

   1. to lose weight
   2. to estimate
   3. to accept meekly
   4. to cherish fondly
   5. to retreat

   (C. to accept meekly) To inveigh is to protest strongly, to rail against. The opposite is choice C to accept meekly.

7. INFAMOUS

   1. eager for praise
   2. criminal
   3. with a good reputation
   4. heinous
   5. appearing often

   (C. with a good reputation) Infamous means having a bad reputation. The adjective heinous, choice D, means evil, abominable.

8. CONFIDANT

   1. assurance
   2. acquaintance
   3. enemy
   4. confession
   5. ally

   (C. enemy.) Confidant means a friend, a person you can confide in. Choice C enemy is the opposite of friend.

9. AFFECTION

   1. love
   2. aversion
   3. disaffection
   4. purity
   5. effect

   (B. aversion.) Affection means love or liking. Choice B aversion means strong dislike. Choice C disaffection means alienation or resentment. Choice D purity means cleanness, freedom from physical or moral pollution.

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. 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. 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. IRONIC

    1. literary
    2. figurative
    3. analogous
    4. mysterious
    5. literal

    (E. literal) Ironic means using words to express the opposite of their literal meaning. Choice B figurative means metaphoric, a kind of literary comparison. Choice C analogous means a resemblance between two things that are otherwise unlike. Choice E literal means exact or verbatim.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. ELEVATED

    1. grounded
    2. raised
    3. excited
    4. subterranean
    5. moody

    (D. subterranean.) Elevated means above the ground. Choice A grounded means connected to the earth. Choice D subterranean means beneath the surface.

18. TRUMPET

    1. fetch
    2. glut
    3. hone
    4. idle
    5. veil

    (E. veil) The verb trumpet means to announce loudly, to proclaim. The opposite is veil, which means to cover or conceal.

19. 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.

20. 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.

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