Solved Examples Set 2 (Antonyms)

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. HERETICAL

   1. skeptical
   2. orthodox
   3. unorthodox
   4. ethereal
   5. insincere

   (B. orthodox) Heretical means challenging conventional beliefs. Choice A skeptical means inclined not to believe. Choice B orthodox means to accept conventional beliefs. Choice C unorthodox means unconventional. Choice D ethereal means light and delicate or heavenly. Choice E insincere means hypocritical, not sincere.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. LABYRINTHINE

   1. flowery
   2. direct
   3. amazing
   4. dark
   5. towering

   (B. direct) Labyrinthine means mazelike. The best opposite is direct, which means straightforward.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. DOWDY

   1. slovenly
   2. out of date
   3. stylish
   4. above average
   5. seasonal

   (C. stylish) Dowdy means drab or out of date. Choice A slovenly means untidy.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. INFIRM

    1. ailing
    2. hospitalized
    3. robust
    4. recovering
    5. firm

    (C. robust.) Infirm means weak, especially from illness or old age. Choice C robust means very healthy.

15. 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.

16. REDUNDANT

    1. verbose
    2. irrelevant
    3. prosaic
    4. excessive
    5. insufficient

    (E. insufficient.) Redundant means superfluous, extra, unneeded. Choice A verbose means using too many words. Choice C prosaic means dull or ordinary. Choice E insufficient means not enough.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. PROCEED

    1. secede
    2. succeed
    3. impede
    4. lead
    5. recede

    (E. recede.) Proceed means move forward, go ahead as planned. Choice E recede means to move backward. Choice A secede means to withdraw or quit. Choice C impede means to slow down.

20. 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.

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