Antonym Analogies
Help Questions
SSAT Upper Level: Verbal › Antonym Analogies
Ancient is to modern as:
historic is to famous
old is to new
past is to memorable
antique is to valuable
Explanation
Ancient and modern are antonyms representing opposite time periods. Similarly, old and new are antonyms representing opposite states of age or time. Historic/famous are not opposites but related concepts. Antique/valuable are not opposites; antiques can be valuable. Past/memorable are not opposites; past events can be memorable.
Ascend is to descend as:
elevate is to higher
soar is to gracefully
climb is to mountain
rise is to fall
Explanation
Ascend and descend are antonyms representing opposite directions of movement. Rise and fall are also antonyms representing opposite directions. Climb/mountain are not opposites; one is an action, the other a location. Elevate/higher are not opposites but related concepts. Soar/gracefully are not opposites; one is an action, the other an adverb.
Expand is to contract as:
enlarge is to bigger
grow is to shrink
increase is to multiply
stretch is to flexible
Explanation
Expand and contract are antonyms representing opposite actions of size change. Grow and shrink are antonyms representing opposite changes in size or amount. Increase/multiply are synonymous concepts, not opposites. Stretch/flexible are not opposites; flexibility enables stretching. Enlarge/bigger are not opposites but related concepts of size increase.
Rigid is to flexible as:
hard is to metallic
solid is to heavy
stiff is to bendable
firm is to stable
Explanation
Rigid and flexible are antonyms describing opposite physical properties of materials. Stiff and bendable are antonyms describing opposite abilities to change shape. Hard/metallic are not opposites; metals can be hard. Firm/stable are synonymous concepts, not opposites. Solid/heavy are not opposites; solids can vary in weight.
Include is to exclude as:
embrace is to reject
welcome is to greet
involve is to participate
contain is to hold
Explanation
Include and exclude are antonyms describing opposite actions regarding membership or participation. Embrace and reject are antonyms describing opposite responses to ideas, people, or opportunities. Contain/hold are synonymous concepts, not opposites. Involve/participate are related concepts, not opposites. Welcome/greet are related concepts; greeting can be part of welcoming.
Transparent is to opaque as:
clear is to cloudy
light is to bright
visible is to obvious
glass is to window
Explanation
Transparent and opaque are antonyms describing opposite properties of how light passes through materials. Clear and cloudy are antonyms describing opposite states of visibility or transparency. Visible/obvious are synonyms, not antonyms. Glass/window are not opposites; glass is a material used to make windows. Light/bright are not opposites but related concepts of illumination.
Smooth is to rough as:
flat is to level
soft is to comfortable
even is to bumpy
polished is to shiny
Explanation
Smooth and rough are antonyms describing opposite surface textures or qualities. Even and bumpy are antonyms describing opposite surface characteristics or regularity. Soft/comfortable are related positive concepts, not opposites. Polished/shiny are related concepts; polishing creates shine. Flat/level are synonymous concepts describing horizontal surfaces.
Innocent is to guilty as:
naive is to simple
young is to experienced
pure is to corrupt
clean is to spotless
Explanation
Innocent and guilty are antonyms describing opposite states of moral or legal culpability. Pure and corrupt are antonyms describing opposite moral states or conditions. Young/experienced are not true opposites; young people can be experienced. Naive/simple are synonymous concepts, not opposites. Clean/spotless are synonymous concepts describing different degrees of cleanliness.
Abundant is to scarce as:
plentiful is to rare
wealthy is to prosperous
rich is to expensive
numerous is to countable
Explanation
Abundant and scarce are antonyms describing opposite quantities or availability. Plentiful and rare are antonyms describing opposite levels of abundance or frequency. Numerous/countable are not opposites; numerous things can still be countable. Wealthy/prosperous are synonyms, not antonyms. Rich/expensive are not opposites; rich describes wealth while expensive describes cost.
Construct is to demolish as:
create is to artistic
make is to manufacture
assemble is to together
build is to destroy
Explanation
Construct and demolish are antonyms describing opposite actions regarding buildings or structures. Build and destroy are antonyms describing opposite actions of creation and elimination. Create/artistic are not opposites but related concepts. Make/manufacture are synonymous concepts of production, not opposites. Assemble/together are not opposites; assembling brings things together.