Solved Examples Set 3 (Antonyms)

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. MATRICULATE

   1. articulate
   2. speculate
   3. divorce
   4. impart
   5. graduate

   (E. graduate) Matriculate means to sign up, to register for or join, especially for college. Choice A articulate means to express ideas clearly. Choice B speculate means to form opinions without definite knowledge. Choice E graduate means to be awarded a diploma for a course of study or to conclude school successfully.

4. 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.

5. CHIVALROUS

   1. gallant
   2. discourteous
   3. civilized
   4. armored
   5. vainglorious

   (B. discourteous.) Chivalrous means positive or high-minded. Choice A gallant means brave or courageous. Choice B discourteous means not courteous. Choice E vainglorious means marked by excessive pride and vanity.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. PURITANIC

   1. controlled by hand
   2. making fast
   3. imposing
   4. freewheeling
   5. obtuse

   (D. freewheeling) The adjective puritanic means excessively strict in morals. The most nearly opposite choice here is choice D freewheeling. Choice E obtuse means dull-witted, dense, or ignorant.

9. SUCCULENT

   1. harshly astringent
   2. axiomatic
   3. quietly reclusive
   4. parched
   5. highly spiced

   (D. parched) Succulent means full of juice, juicy. Choice D parched means dried out. Choice B axiomatic means self-evident.

10. 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.

11. PROFUSE

    1. extravagant
    2. antinatural
    3. immodest
    4. sparse
    5. refutable

    (D. sparse) Profuse means lavish, lush, or abundant. Choice A extravagant means going beyond what is reasonable. Choice B antinatural means against nature. Choice C immodest means lacking in modesty or indecent. Choice D sparse means not thickly grown. Choice E refutable means able to be proved wrong.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. SYNCHRONIZED

    1. Arrhythmic
    2. Resonating
    3. Harmonized
    4. Bough
    5. Chronological

    (A. Arrhythmic) Synchronized means occuring at the same time or occurring together. The best opposite would be Arrhythmic.

20. 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.

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