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. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. TACITLY

    1. thoughtlessly
    2. carelessly
    3. coherently
    4. openly expressed
    5. mildly amused

    (D. openly expressed) Tacitly means silently, without being openly expressed.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. PROFUNDITY

    1. depth
    2. shallowness
    3. profanity
    4. perfidy
    5. complexity

    (B. shallowness) Profundity means having great depth of understanding or importance. Choice B shallowness means not deep, or an incapability of having deep feelings. Choice C profanity means coarse or irreverent speech. Choice D perfidy means treachery.

15. 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.

16. DETACH

    1. Separate
    2. Pack
    3. Bottom line
    4. Scratch
    5. Ambulatory

    (B. Pack) Detach means to separate or unfasten. The best opposite is choice Pack.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

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