Solved Examples Set 3 (Antonyms)

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. REDUNDANT

   1. Insufficient
   2. Expanded
   3. Profound
   4. Numerous
   5. Verbose

   (A. Insufficient) Redundant means superfluous, extra, unneeded. But insufficient means not enough.

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. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

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. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. MODERATE

    1. calm
    2. reason
    3. whisper
    4. intensify
    5. lead

    (D. intensify.) Moderate means to make less intense. Choice D intensify means to make more intense.

19. RECONDITE

    1. obvious
    2. plane
    3. fit
    4. cryptic
    5. cabalistic

    (A. obvious) Recondite means mystical or profound. Obvious means apparent. Plane means flat. Fit means trim. Ambiguous means cryptic. Cabalistic means abstruse or incomprehensible.

20. 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.

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