SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Incriminate is to vindicate as __________.

Possible Answers:

color is to red

leave is to remain

help is to assist

claw is to paw

frighten is to terrify

Correct answer:

leave is to remain

Explanation:

“Incriminate” is a verb that means make someone appear guilty of committing a crime, and “vindicate” is a verb that can mean remove blame or suspicion from someone. “Incriminate” and “vindicate” are thus antonyms, or opposites, and we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two verbs which are antonyms of each other. That means that neither “frighten is to terrify” nor “help is to assist” can be the correct answer, because each of those answer choices consists of a pair of synonyms, not antonyms. “Leave” is an antonym of “remain,” however, just as “incriminate” is an antonym of “vindicate,” so “leave is to remain” is the correct answer.

Example Question #42 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Surge is to plummet as __________.

Possible Answers:

nail is to trim

catch is to release

dye is to cloth

test is to cheat

wood is to flammable

Correct answer:

catch is to release

Explanation:

"Surge" is a verb that can mean a large and sudden increase while "plummet" is verb that can mean a large and sudden decrease. So, "surge" and "plummet" are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of words that are antonyms. Because "catch" and "release" are the only pair of antonyms listed as a possible answer choice, "catch is to release" is the correct answer, because just as "surge" is the opposite of "plummet," "catch" is the opposite of "release."

Example Question #43 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Ornate is to plain as __________.

Possible Answers:

bird is to egg

sleep is to dream

conniving is to naive

noise is to shush

dull is to uninteresting

Correct answer:

conniving is to naive

Explanation:

“Ornate” is an adjective that means adorned with a complicated design, so “ornate” and “plain” are antonyms, or opposites, and we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of two antonyms. While “conniving is to naive” and “dull is to uninteresting” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “dull” is an adjective that can mean boring, so it is a synonym, not an antonym, of “uninteresting,” and “dull is to uninteresting” cannot be the correct answer. “Conniving,” however, is an adjective that means conspiring to accomplish bad things, while “naive” can mean innocent when describing a person. So, because “conniving” is an antonym of “naive” just as “ornate” is an antonym of “plain,” “conniving is to naive” is the correct answer.

Example Question #44 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Ravenous is to satiated as __________.

Possible Answers:

balloon is to helium

just is to fair

nimble is to spry

facetious is to serious

proposed is to suggested

Correct answer:

facetious is to serious

Explanation:

Since "ravenous" means very hungry and "satiated" means very full, the two words are antonyms. So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the two words are opposites. While "nimble is to spry" might look like a good answer, "nimble" means agile and "spry" means lively and agile, the two words are synonyms, so "nimble is to spry" cannot be the correct answer. "Facetious is to serious," however, consists of a pair of antonyms: "facetious" means flippant and not treating important issues seriously. Because "facetious" is an antonym of "serious" just as "ravenous" is an antonym of "satiated," "facetious is to serious" is the correct answer.

Example Question #45 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Volatile is to stable as boisterous is to __________.

Possible Answers:

challenging 

lively 

energetic 

calm 

unstable 

Correct answer:

calm 

Explanation:

"Volatile" means unstable or dangerous and is an antonym of "stable," which means reliable or unvarying. To solve this analogy, you have to determine the best antonym of "boisterous." "Boisterous" means loud, wild, and energetic, so the best antonym is “calm,” which means peaceful or tranquil. For clarification, "lively" and "energetic" both mean full of energy, "challenging" means presenting difficulties, and "unstable" means unsteady or likely to change.

Example Question #46 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Inflate is to deflate as suitable is to __________.

Possible Answers:

credible

suited

whirlwind

unsuitable

conform

Correct answer:

unsuitable

Explanation:

"Inflate" means to swell up or fill with air while "deflate" means to reduce or release air from. They are antonyms, just like “suitable” and “unsuitable.” To further help you, “credible” means easy to believe or information you can rely on; “conform” is to become similar or the same; “suited” means appropriate, fitting

Example Question #47 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Honest is to deceptive as humble is to ___________.

Possible Answers:

oblique

typical

brave

arrogant

mumble

Correct answer:

arrogant

Explanation:

If someone is “deceptive," they are dishonest, so "deceptive" and "honest" are antonyms because they have opposite meanings. The opposite of “humble,” which means not proud, is “arrogant,” which means proud and feeling superior. To clarify the other terms, “oblique” means not direct or not straightforward; “typical” means commonplace; “mumble” means to talk quietly or unclearly.

Example Question #48 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Colossal is to minuscule as __________.

Possible Answers:

night is to day

pan is to cook

flower is to stem

fragrance is to smell

kindle is to flame

Correct answer:

night is to day

Explanation:

"Colossal" is an adjective that means "very big," and "minuscule" an adjective that means "very small," so the two words are antonyms, or opposites, and we need to pick out another pair of words that are also antonyms. Because "night is to day" is the only answer choice in which the two words are opposites, "night is to day" is the correct answer.

Example Question #49 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Recalcitrant is to obedient as pedantic is to __________.

Possible Answers:

delirious 

resourceful 

interesting 

boring 

insightful 

Correct answer:

interesting 

Explanation:

"Recalcitrant" means unruly and disobedient, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym for "pedantic." "Pedantic" means boring in paying too much attention to unimportant details, so the best antonym is "interesting." For clarification, someone who is "insightful" is discerning, someone who is "resourceful" is capable, and "delirious" means crazy or feverish.

Example Question #50 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Congenial is to disagreeable as debilitating is to __________.

Possible Answers:

impressive 

weakening 

strengthening 

underwhelming 

diabolical 

Correct answer:

strengthening 

Explanation:

"Congenial" means agreeable, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym of "debilitating." "Debilitating" means greatly weakening, so the best antonym is “strengthening.” For clarification, "diabolical" means evil

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