SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Antonyms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : Antonyms

Cold is to hot as . . .

Possible Answers:

star is to sky

cold is to snow

bear is to forest

light is to lightbulb

day is to night

Correct answer:

day is to night

Explanation:

Since "cold" and "hot" are opposites, we're looking for an answer choice in which the two words are opposites. Since "day" is the opposite of "night," "day is to night" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms

Myth is to fact as reject is to

Possible Answers:

turn away

turn down

none of the other answers

refuse

accept

Correct answer:

accept

Explanation:

Both sets of words are antonyms.  

Example Question #3 : Antonyms

Temporary is to permanent as veteran is to

Possible Answers:

none of the other answers

novice

seasoned

expert

experienced

Correct answer:

novice

Explanation:

Both sets of words are antonyms. 

Example Question #4 : Antonyms

Loose is to tight as deep is to

Possible Answers:

none of the other answers.

heavy

shallow

sound

far

Correct answer:

shallow

Explanation:

Both of the sets are antonyms.  

Example Question #1 : Antonyms

Hungry is to full as . . .

Possible Answers:

music is to dancing

exhausted is to energetic

leaf is to tree

quiet is to indoors

sleepy is to bed

Correct answer:

exhausted is to energetic

Explanation:

Since "hungry" and "full" are opposites, we need to pick out another pair of words which are also opposites. Since "exhausted" ("very tired") is an opposite of "energetic," "exhausted is to energetic" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms

Welcome is to excluded as prepared is to . . .

Possible Answers:

burdened

beautiful

ready

limited

unready

Correct answer:

unready

Explanation:

"Welcome," when used as an adjective, means "of a guest or new arrival: gladly received," and "excluded" is an adjective that means "deny (someone) access to or bar (someone) from a place, group, or privilege," so the two words are antonyms. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two antonyms. "Ready" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "ready" is a synonym, not an antonym, of "prepared." "Unready," however, is an antonym of "prepared," just like "welcome" is an antonym of "excluded," so "unready" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms

Friend is to enemy as . . .

Possible Answers:

confidence is to shyness

ponder is to think

quiet is to silent

justice is to fairness

wriggle is to writhe

Correct answer:

confidence is to shyness

Explanation:

“Friend” and “enemy” are nouns that are opposites, or antonyms, so we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two nouns which are also opposites. While “confidence is to shyness” and “justice is to fairness” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “justice” is a noun that means “the quality of being fair and reasonable,” so “justice” and “fairness” are synonyms, not antonyms, and “justice is to fairness” cannot be the correct answer. “Confidence,” however, is a noun that means “a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities,” while “shyness” is a noun that means “the quality of feeling nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people.” So, because “confidence” is an antonym of “shyness” just as “friend” is an antonym of “enemy,” “confidence is to shyness” is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Active is to inactive as amateur is to  __________. 

Possible Answers:

employed 

professional

income 

lazy 

taxes 

Correct answer:

professional

Explanation:

"Active" means energetic and lively and is an antonym of "inactive." To solve this analogy, you need to figure out the best available antonym of "amateur." Someone who is an "amateur" is not paid for their work, so the only acceptable antonym is “professional.” None of the other answer choices are antonyms of "amateur": "employed" means having a paid job, "income" is the money one earns by working; and "taxes" are the portion of money that the government takes from your income.

Example Question #4 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Remember is to forget as prevent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

enigmatic

fix

allow

mysterious

forbid

Correct answer:

allow

Explanation:

"Remember" is an antonym of "forget." So, to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym of "prevent." "Prevent" means to stop someone from doing something, so the best antonym is “allow,” which means to let someone do something. To help you, "enigmatic" means mysterious, and "forbid" means the same thing as "prevent", or in other words, they are synonyms.

Example Question #5 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Cowardly is to brave as ignorant is to __________.

Possible Answers:

vulnerable 

wise 

strong 

meek 

timid 

Correct answer:

wise 

Explanation:

"Cowardly" is an antonym of "brave," so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym of "ignorant." Someone who is "ignorant" is stupid, and does not know very much. The word that is the best opposite of "ignorant" is “wise,” which means very intelligent. To help you, "vulnerable" means in danger, and "timid" and "meek" both mean shy.

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