SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Prone is to standing as __________.

Possible Answers:

up is to down

toast is to bread

chicken is to egg

seedling is to tree

likely is to probable

Correct answer:

up is to down

Explanation:

Since one meaning of "prone" is "lying flat, especially face downward," the first pair of words is a pair of antonyms, since "lying flat" and "standing" are opposites. We need to pick out another pair of words that form a pair of opposites. Since "up is to down" is the only answer choice that consists of a pair of opposites, it is the correct answer.

Example Question #52 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Paltry is to significant as harangue is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Notorious 

Detrimental 

Praise 

Pompous 

Permit 

Correct answer:

Praise 

Explanation:

"Paltry" means insignificant or very small. To solve this analogy, you have to determine the best antonym of "harangue." "Harangue" means rebuke or scold, so “praise" is the best antonym and the correct answer. For clarification, "detrimental" means harmful, "notorious" means infamous, "pompous" means arrogant and pretentious, and "permit" means allow.

Example Question #53 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Graceful is to clumsy as irredeemable is to ___________.

Possible Answers:

Outlawed 

Itinerant 

Determined 

Curable 

Radical 

Correct answer:

Curable 

Explanation:

"Graceful" means possessing good balance or elegant, and "clumsy" means not having good balance or uncoordinated. To solve this analogy, you have to identify the best available antonym of "irredeemable." "Irredeemable" means not able to be saved or forgiven, and as such, the word that is its best antonym is “curable.” For clarification, "outlawed" means banned, "itinerant" means wandering or without a home, "radical" means total or revolutionary, and "determined" means strong-willed or resolute.

Example Question #54 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Dawn is to dusk prologue is to ___________.

Possible Answers:

index

synopsis

glossary

epilogue

rewind

Correct answer:

epilogue

Explanation:

“Dawn” is means sunrise and “dusk” means sunset, so they are opposites. The opposite of a “prologue” is an “epilogue.” A “prologue” is an introduction to a piece of literature and an “epilogue” is a conclusion. To clarify, a “glossary” is where you find explanations to terms within a book; an “index” is where you can search for terms or items which occur in a book; a “synopsis” is the short description found on the back cover of a book and is often called a "blurb."

Example Question #55 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Product is to knockoff as innovator is to __________.

Possible Answers:

mentor

copycat

rival

predecessor

fan

Correct answer:

copycat

Explanation:

“Knockoff” is a noun that means a less-expensive imitation of a specific product, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes someone who is an imitator of an innovator. While both “fan” and “copycat” might look like potentially correct answers, “fan” in this context means admirer or devotee, and makes no mention of the fan copying the person they admire, whereas “copycat,” when used as a noun, means a person who copies something, especially someone else's mannerisms. So, because a copycat imitates an innovator just as a knockoff is an imitation of a product, “copycat” is the correct answer.

Example Question #56 : Antonyms

Plain is to decorated as stark is to __________.

Possible Answers:

opulent

ornate

luxurious

pretty

delicate

Correct answer:

ornate

Explanation:

“Plain” is an adjective that means not decorated or elaborate, so the words are antonyms. “Stark” is an adjective that means bare or without decoration, so we’re looking for the word that has the closest meaning to “decorated.” While things that are “decorated” may also be “pretty” or “delicate,” the words aren’t close synonyms. The same applies to “luxurious” and “opulent.” “Ornate” is an adjective that means elaborately decorated.

Of the answer choices, “ornate” is the best choice.

Example Question #57 : Antonyms

False is to true as fake is to __________.

Possible Answers:

accurate

honest

authentic

moral

original

Correct answer:

authentic

Explanation:

As we all know, “true” and “false” are direct antonyms. “Fake” is an adjective that means not genuine, so we’re looking for the word that has the closest meaning to “genuine.” “Authentic” is an adjective that means genuine and true, not fake.

Of the answer choices, “authentic” is the best choice.

 

Example Question #462 : Analogies

Physical is to intangible as __________.

Possible Answers:

simple is to complex

None of these options accurately reflects the relationship.

real is to fake

concrete is to abstract

substantial is to unimportant

Correct answer:

concrete is to abstract

Explanation:

“Intangible” is an adjective that means not able to be touched or sensed. Since “physical” is an adjective that means perceived through the senses, the words are antonyms. We’re looking for a pair of words that are antonyms, and that have the closest meaning to “physical” and “intangible.”

“Real” is an adjective that means actually existing, not imagined or supposed. “Fake” is an adjective that means not genuine. Neither word relates specifically to the senses. We can rule out this choice.

 “Simple” and “complex” aren't specifically related to the senses either, so we can rule out this choice.

“Substantial” is an adjective that can mean either real and tangible or of considerable importance, size, or worth. Since the second word in this pair is “unimportant,” we can rule out this choice.

 “Concrete” is an adjective that means existing in material or physical form. “Abstract” is an adjective that means not having a physical existence.

 Of the answer choices, “CONCRETE is to ABSTRACT” is the best choice.

Example Question #58 : Antonyms

Complete the analogy:

Emaciated is to obese as __________.

Possible Answers:

towering is to dwarf

water is to dry

messy is to dirty

tall is to short

clever is to absent-minded

Correct answer:

tall is to short

Explanation:

"Emaciated" and "obese" are both physical descriptions, and they are opposites. "Emaciated" means unhealthily thin, while "obese" means unhealthily fat. "Tall" and "short" are both physical descriptions, and they are opposites.

None of the other analogies have a similar relationship:

Clever and absent-minded are both personality descriptions, but they are not directly opposed in meaning. Dirty and messy are both states of cleanliness, and they are not opposites. Water is not a physical description, although dry is; water and dry are not opposites, wet and dry are opposites. Towering is a physical description, but dwarf is a noun that means a mythical creature who is short.  

Example Question #59 : Antonyms

Complete the analogy:

Agitated is to calm as __________.

Possible Answers:

joyful is to miserable

joyful is to scared

anger is to passion

empty is to full

lake is to ocean

Correct answer:

joyful is to miserable

Explanation:

"Agitated" and "calm" are both mental states of being, and they are opposites. "Joyful" and "miserable" are both mental states of being, and they are opposites as well.

None of the other analogies have this relationship:

Anger and Passion are both mental states of being, but they are not opposites.

Similarly, joyful and scared are both mental states of being, but they are not opposites.

Lake and ocean are not mental states of being.

Empty and full are opposites, but are not mental states of being.

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