SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy 

Mirthless is to amused as jaunty is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Jest 

Nondescript 

Troubled 

Jumbled 

Unabashed 

Correct answer:

Troubled 

Explanation:

Mirthless means not happy or amused and is therefore an antonym of amused. To solve this analogy you must therefore identify the best antonym for jaunty. Jaunty means carefree or without worries so the best answer choice is “troubled.” For clarification unabashed means shameless; nondescript means unremarkable; jumbled means mixed-up; something done in jest is something done for a joke.

Example Question #12 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy

Serendipitous is to unfortunate as upbraid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Praise

Unhinged 

Unimagined 

Chastise 

Reproach 

Correct answer:

Praise

Explanation:

Serendipitous is an antonym for unfortunate so to solve this analogy you must find the best available antonym for upbraid. Upbraid means scold, chastise or reproach so the best antonym is “praise.”

Example Question #13 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Tropical is to frigid as polar is to __________.

Possible Answers:

inspired 

hot 

tepid 

lukewarm 

cold 

Correct answer:

hot 

Explanation:

"Tropical" is a type of climate that would generally be very hot, and frigid means very cold; to solve this analogy you are looking for the opposite of the type of temperatures that would be associated with a polar climate. A polar climate would likely be very cold, so the correct answer is the antonym of cold, “hot.”

Example Question #386 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Doleful is to jubilant as tentative is to __________.

Possible Answers:

surprised 

sad

sure 

happy 

unsure 

Correct answer:

sure 

Explanation:

"Doleful" means very sad, and "jubilant" means very happy, so to solve this analogy you know you must identify the best available antonym for "tentative," which means to be unsure and careful as a result of that uncertainty.

Example Question #14 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Inconspicuous is to obtrusive as glacial is to _________.

Possible Answers:

impressive 

frigid 

lukewarm 

very fast 

very slow 

Correct answer:

very fast 

Explanation:

"Inconspicuous" means difficult to notice which is an antonym for "obtrusive," which means highly noticeable. You must therefore identify the best available antonym for "glacial," which describes something very slow moving (like a glacier); thus the best antonym is “very fast.”

Example Question #15 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Prohibited is to encouraged as circumspect is to __________.

Possible Answers:

utopian 

extroverted

judicious 

wishful 

inconsiderate 

Correct answer:

inconsiderate 

Explanation:

"Prohibited" means forbidden and is an antonym of "encouraged;" therefore, you must identify the best available antonym for "circumspect," which means prudent, considerate and thoughtful, so the best antonym is “inconsiderate.” For clarification, "judicious" is a synonym for "circumspect;" "extroverted" means outgoing; "utopian" describes a vision or representation of an ideal of perfection.

Example Question #16 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Excessive is to minimalist as discordant is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ineligible 

harmonious 

ludicrous 

cantankerous

portentous

Correct answer:

harmonious 

Explanation:

Excessive and minimalist are antonyms. Excessive means to have or be too much; minimalist means providing only the least needed. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best available antonym for discordant. Discordant means in disagreement or incompatible. So the best antonym is “harmonious” which means in agreement or peaceful. For clarification, "cantankerous" means bad-tempered; "ineligible" means not allowed or qualified to do something; "portentous" means self-important; "ludicrous" means ridiculous.

Example Question #17 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Absence is to presence as conceal is to __________.

Possible Answers:

unreal 

consider 

reveal 

prevent 

avoid 

Correct answer:

reveal 

Explanation:

Absence is the antonym of presence so to solve this analogy you have to identify the best antonym of conceal. To "conceal" something is to hide it so the correct answer is “reveal” which means to show something.

Example Question #18 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Ebb is to flow as crest is to __________.

Possible Answers:

meander 

trough 

ramble 

circumvent

middle 

Correct answer:

trough 

Explanation:

Ebb and flow are antonyms usually used to describe the movement of waves and tides. They “flow” in towards land and “ebb” away from land. Crest is a term used to describe the top of a curve or wave so you have to identify which of the answer choices describes the bottom of a curve or wave. You might remember this from science class, but if not, the correct answer is “trough.” For clarification, "meander" means to move forward indirectly from side-to-side; "ramble" means to go on-and-on without purpose; "circumvent" means to avoid.

Example Question #19 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Burgeon is to dwindle as erroneous is to _________.

Possible Answers:

invalid

laidback 

forsaken 

mistaken 

correct 

Correct answer:

correct 

Explanation:

Burgeon means to grow or flourish and dwindle means to shrink or diminish. These are antonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you need to find the best available antonym for erroneous. Erroneous means untrue or incorrect; so in this instance the best antonym is “correct.” For clarification, "invalid" and "mistaken" are both synonyms of "erroneous;" "forsaken" means abandoned; "laidback" means relaxed.

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