SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Imperious is to subservient as meticulous is to __________.

Possible Answers:

merciless

arrogant 

nonchalant

mirthless 

careless 

Correct answer:

careless 

Explanation:

"Imperious" means dominant or authoritative and as such is an antonym of subservient. "Subservient" means accustomed to serving. To solve this analogy you have to identify the best available antonym for meticulous. To be "meticulous" means to be very careful and thorough, so the correct antonym is “careless.” For clarification, "nonchalant" describes someone who does not care; "mirthless" means without mirth, miserable; "merciless" means not showing mercy, vengeful.

Example Question #12 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Authentic is to fake as contradict is to __________.

Possible Answers:

support 

argue 

oppose 

demand 

most 

Correct answer:

support 

Explanation:

"Authentic" means genuine or real, so it is an antonym of "fake." To solve this analogy you need to identify the best antonym for contradict. To "contradict" someone is to argue with them, so the correct antonym is “support.”

Example Question #13 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Allay is to exacerbate as baneful is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Imaginative 

Creative 

Perplexing 

Confusing 

Destructive 

Correct answer:

Creative 

Explanation:

Allay means to make calmer or less severe; exacerbate means to make worse or more intense. They are antonyms. To solve this analogy you have to identify the best antonym of baneful. Baneful means destructive, so the correct antonym is “creative.” For clarification, perplexing and confusing are synonyms of one another.

Example Question #14 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Monitor is to ignore as detrimental is to __________.

Possible Answers:

helpless 

menacing 

tactless 

hurtful 

helpful 

Correct answer:

helpful 

Explanation:

If you "monitor" something you are paying close attention to it, as such it is an antonym of ignore. To solve this analogy you have to identify the best antonym for detrimental. "Detrimental" means hurtful, so the best antonym if “helpful.” For clarification, "tactless" means lacking concern about hurting people; "menacing" means threatening.

Example Question #15 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Tenuous is to certain as fortified is to __________.

Possible Answers:

elongated 

weakened 

shortened

reinforced

abridged 

Correct answer:

weakened 

Explanation:

Something that is "tenuous" is uncertain, so it is an antonym of "certain." In order to solve this analogy you need to find the best synonym for fortified. "Fortified" means reinforced or strengthened, so the correct antonym is “weakened.” For clarification, "elongated" means made longer; "abridged" is a synonym of "shortened."

Example Question #16 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Life is to death as healthy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Remorseful 

Hungry 

Verbose 

Ailing 

Mediocre 

Correct answer:

Ailing 

Explanation:

"Life" is an antonym of "death," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is an antonym of "healthy." The correct answer is “ailing,” a word that means sick or unwell. For clarification, "mediocre" means average, "remorseful" means full of regret and guilt, and "verbose" means lengthy or long-winded.

Example Question #17 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Terse is to lengthy as frigid is to ­__________.

Possible Answers:

Stifling 

Lukewarm 

Unreasonable 

Divisive 

Tepid 

Correct answer:

Stifling 

Explanation:

"Terse" means brief and is an antonym of "lengthy." Therefore, to solve this analogy, you have to identify the best antonym of "frigid." Frigid means very cold, so the answer choice that is its best antonym is “stifling,” which means very hot or restrictive. For clarification, "divisive" means troublesome or disruptive, and "lukewarm" and "tepid" are synonyms that mean of a moderate temperature that is not very hot or cold.

Example Question #18 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Egress is to enter as zany is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Normal 

Crazy 

Substandard

Dalliance

Wacky 

Correct answer:

Normal 

Explanation:

"Egress" means to exit or an exit and is an antonym of "enter." To solve this analogy, you need to identify the best antonym of "zany." "Zany" means wacky, crazy, or abnormal, so the best antonym is “normal," and "normal" is the correct answer. For clarification, a dalliance is a fling or a brief affair.

Example Question #19 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Infinite is to finite as brazen is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Brash 

Inherent 

Impudent

Bold 

Timid 

Correct answer:

Timid 

Explanation:

"Infinite" means eternal and is an antonym of "finite," which means limited, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym of "brazen." "Brazen" means bold or brash, so the correct answer is “timid,” a word which means shy or fearful. For clarification, "inherent" means naturaluntaught, or innate, "impudent" means impertinent, and "brash" is a synonym of "brazen."

Example Question #20 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Outlaw is to upstanding citizen as banished is to __________.

Possible Answers:

excluded

nostalgic

deluded

welcomed

ostracized

Correct answer:

welcomed

Explanation:

An "outlaw" is a fugitive criminal, and an "upstanding citizen" is someone who never breaks the law and does the right thing. The two are antonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym of "banished." "Banished" means sent away, excluded, or ostracized, so the best antonym for "banished" is “welcomed,” which means included or appreciated. For clarification, "deluded" means believing something that is false to be true, and "nostalgic" means thinking about fond memories of the past.

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