SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Messy is to organized as awake is to __________.

Possible Answers:

bewildered

asleep

dreary

poignant

tired

Correct answer:

asleep

Explanation:

Since "messy" is the opposite of "organized," we need to pick out an answer choice that is the opposite of "awake." While "asleep" and "tired" may both look like potentially correct answers, "asleep" is the better answer, because the opposite of tired would be a word like "energetic," not "asleep." Since "asleep" is an antonym of "awake," just like "messy" is an antonym of "organized," "asleep" is the correct answer.

Example Question #42 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Love is to hate as __________.

Possible Answers:

friend is to enemy

cold is to temperature 

small is to medium

boy is to man

cruel is to weak

Correct answer:

friend is to enemy

Explanation:

"Love" and "hate" are opposites, meaning that they are completely different from each other. An "enemy" is someone with whom there is antagonism, while a "friend" is someone with whom there is a shared closeness. Therefore, a "friend" is the opposite of an "enemy." Hence, "friend is to enemy" is the correct answer.

Example Question #43 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Wide is to narrow as brief is to __________.

Possible Answers:

slim

paper

large

lengthy

certain

Correct answer:

lengthy

Explanation:

"Wide" and "narrow" are opposites, or antonyms, so you need to pick out a word that means the opposite of "brief." "Brief" means lasting for a short amount of time, or short when referring to a written work. So, the answer choice that means the opposite of "brief" is "lengthy," which means lasting for a long time, or long when referring to a written work.

Example Question #44 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Harsh is to kind as repulsive is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sudden

embarrassing

outlawed

descending

attractive

Correct answer:

attractive

Explanation:

Someone who is "harsh" is not kind, so, to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is the antonym (which means the opposite) of "repulsive." "Repulsive" means disgusting or pushing or driving things away, so the best antonym is "attractive," which mean pretty or appealing.

Example Question #43 : Antonyms

Complete the analogy.

Distracted is to attentive as grimy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

clean

happy

gritty

funny

dirty

Correct answer:

clean

Explanation:

"Distracted" and "attentive" are antonyms. "Grimy" means dirty, and the opposite of dirty is "clean."

Example Question #45 : Antonyms

Complete the analogy.

Safe is to risky as bravery is to __________.

Possible Answers:

daring

cowardice

daredevil

genius

courage

Correct answer:

cowardice

Explanation:

"Safe" and "risky" are antonyms, so the answer must be an antonym of "bravery." "Courage" and "daring" are synonyms of "bravery," and a "daredevil" is someone who may show bravery. A "genius" has nothing to do with the word "bravery." "Cowardice" is the only antonym of bravery.

Example Question #46 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Beneficial is to useless as ripe is to __________.

Possible Answers:

harmful

helpful

fresh

perilous

rotten

Correct answer:

rotten

Explanation:

Something that is "beneficial" is helpful, useful. So, "beneficial" is an antonym of "useless." An "antonym" is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word, like "bad" and "good." To solve this analogy you have to determine which one of these words has the opposite meaning to "ripe." "Ripe" means fresh, ready to be eaten. So the best antonym is "rotten" which means no longer fresh. To provide further help, "perilous" means dangerous

Example Question #47 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Diminish is to enhance as relaxed is to __________.

Possible Answers:

playful

anxious

merry

calm

settled

Correct answer:

anxious

Explanation:

"Diminish" means to make smaller, whereas "enhance" means to make larger. These words are antonyms of one another because they have opposite meanings. To solve this analogy then you need to determine which of these answer choices has the opposite meaning of "relaxed." The correct answer is "anxious," which means stressed, worried, nervous. To provide further help, "merry" means happy.

Example Question #48 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Honest is to corrupt as damp is to __________.

Possible Answers:

drenched

lost

soaked

dry

burned

Correct answer:

dry

Explanation:

To begin with "corrupt" means dishonest, showing a willingness to abuse one's power in exchange for money. So, "corrupt" and "honest" are antonyms of one another. An "antonym" is a word that has the opposite meaning to another word. To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "damp," which means a little wet. The correct answer is "dry." Additionally, "drenched" and "soaked" are synonyms, both words mean made very wet.

Example Question #49 : Antonyms

Complete the analogy.

Dull is to sharp as ____________.

Possible Answers:

dark is to light

hairy is to monkey

dusty is to dirty

quiet is to calm

clean is to spotless

Correct answer:

dark is to light

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you must determine the relationship between the first two words. "Dull" and "sharp" are antonyms, or opposites, so the answer must be two antonyms. "Dark" is the opposite of light, so that must be the correct answer.

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