Solved Examples Set 3 (Antonyms)

1. CAPTIOUS

   1. eager
   2. deprived
   3. indulgent
   4. free
   5. anxious

   (C. indulgent) Captious means quick to find fault, carping. The opposite is indulgent.

2. HIDEBOUND

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

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

3. 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.

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. 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 out of date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   (C. stylish) Dowdy means drab or out of date.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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. EUPHORIA

    1. mandate
    2. intoxicant
    3. life
    4. euthanasia
    5. gloom

    (E. gloom.) Euphoria means a feeling of well-being or elation. Choice A mandate means an order or command. Choice B intoxicant means a mind-altering substance. Choice D euthanasia means mercy killing. Choice E gloom means sadness or depression.

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. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. PALLID

    1. resplendent
    2. lackluster
    3. enervated
    4. impaled
    5. impervious

    (A. resplendent) Pallid means drab or colorless. Choice A resplendent means bright or brilliant. Choice B lackluster means drab or colorless. Choice C enervated means frail or feeble. Choice D impaled means pierced. Choice E impervious means impenetrable.

17. 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.

18. GARRULOUS

    1. Barren
    2. Funnel
    3. Censored
    4. Deaf
    5. Notable

    (D. Deaf) Garrulous means talking too much. Only Deaf; who cannot speak is the right answer.

19. 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.

20. 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.

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