Solved Examples Set 2 (Antonyms)

1. 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.

2. 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.

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. 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.

5. PRECURSOR

   1. sequel
   2. pointer
   3. tyro
   4. claimant
   5. afterthought

   (A. sequel) A precursor is a thing or person that precedes, but a sequel, choice A, is something that comes after. A tyro, choice C, is a novice or beginner. A claimant, choice D, is one who makes a claim.

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. NEBULOUS

   1. astronomical
   2. distinct
   3. eccentric
   4. hopeful
   5. moribund

   (B. distinct) Nebulous means vague or hazy. Choice B distinct means clear, single, particular, or discrete. The adjective moribund, choice E, means dying.

8. FERVOR

   1. an unfortified place
   2. patriotism
   3. drollery
   4. merrymaking
   5. nonchalance

   (E. nonchalance) Fervor means zeal or warmth of feeling, and choice E nonchalance is cool indifference. Choice C drollery is something amusing.

9. IRASCIBLE

   1. iridescent
   2. cooperative
   3. irregular
   4. commensurate
   5. devilish

   (B. cooperative) Irascible means quarrelsome or hot-tempered. Choice A iridescent means giving off a rainbow glow. Choice B cooperative means agreeable or easygoing. Choice D commensurate means proportionate. Choice E devilish means evil or sinister.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. HUGGER-MUGGER

    1. incarcerate
    2. eat heartily
    3. dance wildly
    4. keep watch
    5. publicize

    (E. publicize) As a verb, hugger-mugger means to hush up. Choice E publicize means to announce, promote, or advertise. To incarcerate, choice A, is to imprison.

13. HIDEBOUND

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

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

14. 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.

15. BOMBASTIC

    1. Creative
    2. Selfish
    3. Artistic
    4. Polite
    5. Overbearing

    (D. Polite) Bombastic is a very strong word that means boastful. Notice that it simply sounds like a strong word. The best opposite here is Polite.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. PUNGENT

    1. acrid
    2. piquant
    3. harmonious
    4. untenable
    5. insipid

    (E. insipid) Pungent means sharply affecting the organs of taste, or a strong sour or bitter taste. Choice E insipid means tasteless. Choices A and B are synonyms of pungent. Choice D untenable means implausible or unreasonable.

20. 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.

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