SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Antonyms

Novelty is to outdatedness as dull is to __________.

Possible Answers:

gull

sharp

tedious

ennui

warp

Correct answer:

sharp

Explanation:

Since "novelty" means "the quality or state of being new, different, and interesting," and "outdatedness" means "the quality of no longer being useful, acceptable, modern, or current," "novelty" and "outdatedness" are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that is the opposite of "dull." While "ennui" may look like a good answer choice, "ennui" means "a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or interest," so while one might feel ennui at the prospect of doing something dull, "ennui" does not mean the opposite of "dull," so it can't be the correct answer. "Sharp," however, is an antonym of "dull" when "dull" is used to mean "having an edge or point that is not sharp," so "sharp" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms

Generous is to miserly as incorrigible is to . . .

Possible Answers:

verdant

incipient

corrugated

correctable

legible

Correct answer:

correctable

Explanation:

Since someone who is generous is not miserly ("hating to spend money"), the two words are antonyms, so we need to pick out a word that means the opposite of "incorrigible." "Incorrigible" is an adjective that refers to people or their tendencies, and means "not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed." While "corrugated" sounds somewhat like "incorrigible," "corrugated" means "shaped into alternate ridges and grooves" and is used with materials, surfaces, and structures. Since "corrugated" is not an opposite of "incorrigible," it can't be the correct answer. "Correctable," however, means the opposite of "incorrigible," so "correctable" is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Antonyms

Candor is to falsehood as __________.

Possible Answers:

anger is to fury

distance is to map

genius is to brilliant

happiness is to misery

dirty is to soiled

Correct answer:

happiness is to misery

Explanation:

"Candor" is a noun that means "the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness," so it is an antonym of "falsehood." That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of antonyms. While "anger is to fury" might look like a potentially correct answer, "anger" and "fury" are synonyms, not antonyms, so it cannot be the correct answer. "Happiness is to misery," however, is the correct answer, because just as "candor" is an antonym of "falsehood," "happiness" is an antonym of "misery."

Example Question #4 : Antonyms

Hazy is to clear as livid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sad

worried

confused

mad

pleased

Correct answer:

pleased

Explanation:

"Hazy" and "clear" are antonyms, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is an antonym of "livid." "Livid" is an adjective that means "furiously angry." So, "mad" cannot be the correct answer, because while "mad" and "livid" are synonyms, we are not looking for synonyms, but antonyms. "Pleased," however, is an adjective that means "feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction, esp. at an event or a situation," and because "pleased" is the answer choice that is most nearly an antonym of "livid," "pleased" is the correct answer.

Example Question #5 : Antonyms

Doubt is to trust as __________.

Possible Answers:

heal is to wound

hop is to jump

hurry is to hustle

howl is to yowl

dig is to ditch

Correct answer:

heal is to wound

Explanation:

“Doubt” is a word that when used as a verb can mean “ feel uncertain about,” “question the truth or fact of (something),” or “disbelieve (a person or their word).” “Trust,” on the other hand, when used as a verb, means “believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of.” So, “doubt” and “trust” are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which consists of a pair of antonyms. While “hurry is to hustle” might look like a potentially correct answer choice, “hurry” means “move or act with haste; rush” when used as a verb, and “hustle” can be used as a verb that means “hurry; bustle,” so the two words are synonyms, not antonyms, and “hurry is to hustle” cannot be the correct answer. “Heal is to wound,” however, consists of a pair of antonyms, because “wound” can mean “inflict an injury on (someone)” whereas heal can mean “cause (a wound, injury, or person) to become sound or healthy again” when used of a person or treatment. So, because “heal” and “wound” are opposites just as “doubt” and “trust” are opposites, “heal is to wound” is the correct answer.

Example Question #6 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy

Corpulent is to skinny as comely is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fat

ugly 

tall

small

cute 

Correct answer:

ugly 

Explanation:

"Corpulent" means fat, so it is an antonym of skinny. In order to solve this analogy you have to determine the best available antonym for comely. "Comely" means cute, so the best antonym is “ugly.”

Example Question #7 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Penurious is to generous as feral is to __________.

Possible Answers:

uncertain 

domesticated 

wild

natural

untamed 

Correct answer:

domesticated 

Explanation:

"Penurious" means stingy or not very generous and is an antonym of "generous." To solve this analogy you have to identify the most accurate antonym for feral. "Feral" means wild, untamed, so the correct antonym is “domesticated,” which means house-trained; a dog is an example of a domesticated animal.

Example Question #8 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Unbelievable is to plausible as robust is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sleepy 

depressed 

healthy 

unhealthy 

energetic 

Correct answer:

unhealthy 

Explanation:

"Unbelievable" is an antonym of plausible, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best antonym for robust. "Robust" means in good shape, healthy, so the correct antonym is unhealthy.

Example Question #9 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Novice is to expert as subjective is to __________.

Possible Answers:

objective 

youthful

wizened 

predictive 

invective

Correct answer:

objective 

Explanation:

A "novice" is the opposite of an "expert," so to solve this analogy you have to find the opposite of subjective. An opinion or feeling based on individual thoughts or perception is "subjective;" an opinion based on facts and evidence is "objective." For clarification, "invective" means criticism or tirade; "wizened" means old and wise.

Example Question #10 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Insipid is to fascinating as hovel is to __________.

Possible Answers:

hillside 

port 

mansion 

hamlet 

forest 

Correct answer:

mansion 

Explanation:

"Insipid" means boring and as such is an antonym of fascinating. To solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best antonym for hovel. "Hovel" means a small house, a shack, so the best antonym is “mansion.” For clarification, a "port" is a harbor.

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