SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #81 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Haggard is to __________ as juvenile is to mature.

Possible Answers:

incidental

adequate

facile

reluctant

energetic

Correct answer:

energetic

Explanation:

"Juvenile" means immature, childish. It is an antonym of "mature," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words is an antonym of "haggard." Well, "haggard" means showing the physical signs of exhaustion, looking very tired. So, the best available antonym is "energetic." Additionally, "facile" means easy; "adequate" means good enough; "reluctant" means unwilling, not wanting to do something; "incidental" means minor, not serious.

Example Question #82 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Cushy is to __________ as feckless is to responsible.

Possible Answers:

obnoxious

complicit

toxic

fulsome

arduous

Correct answer:

arduous

Explanation:

"Feckless" means unreliable, irresponsible, useless. It is an antonym of "responsible." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "cushy." Well, "cushy" is used to refer to a job or task that is easy to accomplish. This is an antonym of "arduous" which means extremely difficult and requiring much hard work. Additionally, "obnoxious" means rude and arrogant; "toxic" means poisonous; "complicit" means guilty due to being involved in the illegal actions of others; "fulsome" means excessively complimentary, flattering.

Example Question #83 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Jumble is to organize as __________ is to yell.

Possible Answers:

ignore

allow

scream

converse

murmur

Correct answer:

murmur

Explanation:

"Jumble" means to disorganize something, to put something out of order, to make a mess. It is therefore an antonym of "organize" because these words have opposite meanings. Which of these words is an antonym of "yell?" The correct answer is "murmur," which means whisper, talk quietly. Additionally, "converse" means talk with someone.

Example Question #84 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Impotent is to powerful as lean is to __________.

Possible Answers:

adequate

lustrous

mediocre

sullen

stout

Correct answer:

stout

Explanation:

"Impotent" means powerless, and is therefore an antonym of "powerful." So, which of these words has the opposite meaning to "lean?" Well, "lean" means slender, skinny, not fat. So, the correct answer is "stout." Additionally, "lustrous" means shining, gleaming; "adequate" means good enough; "sullen" means bad-tempered and miserable, gloomy and depressed; "mediocre" means average in a bad way.

Example Question #85 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Fitting is to inappropriate as __________ is to lenient.

Possible Answers:

senile

dynamic

aloof

loquacious

intolerant

Correct answer:

intolerant

Explanation:

"Fitting" means suitable, appropriate, right for the circumstances. It is therefore an antonym of "inappropriate" because these two words have opposite definitions. To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite definition to "lenient." Well, "lenient" means tolerant, not strict. So, the correct answer is "intolerant." Additionally, "aloof" means distant, reserved, not interacting with others; "dynamic" means forceful, energetic; "loquacious" means talkative, chatty.

Example Question #86 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Humid is to __________ as murky is to bright.

Possible Answers:

dry

wet

cloudy

hot

sunny

Correct answer:

dry

Explanation:

"Murky" means dark, gloomy, not allowing much light. This is an antonym of "bright." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "humid." Well, "humid" means (of air) markedly filled with water vapor. So, the correct answer is "dry."

Example Question #87 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Ineffectual is to successful as innocuous is to __________.

Possible Answers:

awesome

benevolent

absent

malignant

benign

Correct answer:

malignant

Explanation:

"Ineffectual" means not having the desired effect, unsuccessful. It is therefore an antonym of "successful." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "innocuous." Well, "innocuous" means harmless, not hurtful, not serious. This is opposite in meaning to "malignant" which means deadly, harmful. Additionally, "benign" means innocuous, not harmful; "benevolent" means good-natured, kind; "absent" means not present; "awesome" means deeply impressive, great.

Example Question #88 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Merge is to divide as __________ is to pacify.

Possible Answers:

calm

conciliate

enrage

appease

soothe

Correct answer:

enrage

Explanation:

"Merge" means to bring or come together. It is therefore an antonym of "divide." Which of these words has the opposite meaning to "pacify." Well, "pacify" means make no longer angry, calm. So, the correct answer is "enrage," which means make angry. Additionally, all the other answer choices are synonyms of "pacify."

Example Question #89 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Moderate is to inordinate as hidebound is to __________.

Possible Answers:

reactionary

liberal

conservative

obstinate

reclusive

Correct answer:

liberal

Explanation:

"Inordinate" means excessive, unreasonably large. It is therefore an antonym of "moderate." So, which of these words has the opposite meaning to "hidebound?" Well, "hidebound" means conservative, stubbornly opposed to change. So, the correct answer is "liberal." Additionally, "reactionary" means so conservative as to be prone to violence; "reclusive" means avoiding the company of others and remaining distant; "obstinate" means stubborn, refusing to change one's mind.

Example Question #90 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Impartial is to __________ as assertive is to meek.

Possible Answers:

biased

voluminous

hospitable

noisome

ambivalent

Correct answer:

biased

Explanation:

"Assertive" means confident, demonstrating confidence in one's own opinions. "Meek" means lacking confidence, shy. These two words are antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answers has the opposite meaning to "impartial." "Impartial" means objective, not biased, fair. The correct answer is therefore "biased," which means predisposed to preferring one thing over another, subjective. Additionally, "hospitable" means welcoming, able to be lived in; "voluminous" means large; "ambivalent" means not feeling strongly one way or another; "noisome" means possessing an unpleasant smell, smelling very badly.

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