SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Useless is to useful as common is to __________.

Possible Answers:

miserable 

frequent

mediocre

acceptable 

infrequent 

Correct answer:

infrequent 

Explanation:

"Useless" is an opposite of "useful," so the two words are antonyms of one another. So, to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is an antonym, or opposite, of "common." "Common" can mean occurring often, so the best antonym is “infrequent," which means not often occurring To help you, "mediocre" means average when better quality is expected.

Example Question #22 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Captured is to free as essential is to _________.

Possible Answers:

useless

imperfect 

perfect 

useful 

tired

Correct answer:

useless

Explanation:

"Captured" is an antonym, or opposite, of "free," so to solve this analogy, you need to figure out which of the answer choices is the best available antonym of "essential." Essential means absolutely necessary, so the correct answer is “useless.”

Example Question #23 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Invisible is to visible as costly is to __________.

Possible Answers:

free

sizable

dirty

allowed

seen

Correct answer:

free

Explanation:

"Invisible" means not able to be seen and "visible" means able to be seen, so "invisible" is an antonym, or opposite, of "visible." So, to solve this analogy, you have to find the best available antonym of "costly." "Costly" means costing a lot of moneyexpensive, or damaging, so "free," which can be used to mean costing no money, is the correct answer.

Example Question #24 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Few is to many as __________.

Possible Answers:

temperature is to weather

remainder is to solution

little is to none

scarce is to ample

surplus is to deficiency

Correct answer:

scarce is to ample

Explanation:

Since "few" describes an amount less than "many," we are looking for an answer choice in which the first word is significantly less than the second word. The best answer is "scarce is to ample" because "scarce" means existing in small numbers or amounts, and "ample" means existing in large numbers or amounts.

Example Question #25 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Lost is to found as settled is to __________.

Possible Answers:

invaded

foreign 

occupied 

native 

unsettled

Correct answer:

unsettled

Explanation:

"Lost" is an antonym, or opposite, of "found." So, to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is an opposite of "settled." "Settled" means established and confident, and "unsettled" means nervous or disrupted, so "unsettled" is an antonym, or opposite, of "settled," and "unsettled" is the correct answer. To further help you, "invaded" means attacked, "foreign" means from another country, "native" means born in a specified country, and "occupied" means busy.

Example Question #251 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Powerful is to meek as skilled is to __________.

Possible Answers:

deft

brave 

timid 

useful

untrained

 

Correct answer:

untrained

 

Explanation:

"Meek" means shy and timid, and it is an opposite of "powerful." When two words are the opposite of one another, we call them antonyms. To solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym of "skilled." Someone who is "skilled" is good at something. So, the best antonym of "skilled" is "untrained." To help you, "deft" is a synonym of skilled, and "timid" means shy.

Example Question #26 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Obey is to disobey as allow is to __________.

Possible Answers:

imagine

desire 

forbid 

consume 

grant 

Correct answer:

forbid 

Explanation:

"Obey" means listen to an order or a set of directions, so it is an opposite, or antonym, of "disobey," which means do something different after being ordered or directed to do something specific. So, to solve this analogy, you have to find the best antonym of "allow." "Allow" means let something happen or permit; so, the best antonym of "allow" is "forbid," which means prohibit or ban. So, "forbid" is the correct answer. To help you, "grant" means give, "consume" means eat, and "desire" means want.

Example Question #253 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Small is to large as __________.

Possible Answers:

nine is to ninety

short is to long

yellow is to red

horrible is to horrendous

left is to car

Correct answer:

short is to long

Explanation:

"Small" and "large" are antonyms, so we are looking for an answer choice in which the two words have opposite meanings. The best answer choice is "short is to long," since "short" and "long" are antonyms.

Example Question #254 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Peace is to war as __________.

Possible Answers:

mountain is to summit

fly is to high

protect is to shield

jug is to water

ice is to fire

Correct answer:

ice is to fire

Explanation:

Peace and war are traditionally seen as opposites, just as ice and fire are, so "ice is to fire" is the correct answer.

Example Question #255 : Analogies

The following questions ask you to find relationships between words. Select the answer choice that best completes the meaning of the sentence.

High is to low as __________.

Possible Answers:

cow is to bull

steep is to yellow

slow is to sluggish

wide is to narrow

quick is to rapid

Correct answer:

wide is to narrow

Explanation:

High and low have opposite meanings, just as wide and narrow do.

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