SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Faux is to bona fide as __________.

Possible Answers:

fraudulent is to dishonest

book is to tome

vault is to spring

faux pas is to mistake

gregarious is to unsociable

Correct answer:

gregarious is to unsociable

Explanation:

“Faux” is an adjective that means imitative, fake, or false, while “bona fide” is an adjective that means authentic. “Faux” and “bona fide” are thus antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of antonyms. While “faux pas is to mistake” might look like a potentially correct answer because, like the example, it includes the word “faux,” “faux pas” and “mistake” are synonyms, not antonyms, so “faux pas is to mistake” cannot be the correct answer. Similarly, while “fraudulent is to dishonest” might look like a potentially correct answer, “fraudulent” and “dishonest” are synonyms, not antonyms, so “fraudulent is to dishonest” cannot be the correct answer either; however, “gregarious” is an adjective that can mean sociable, and “unsociable” is an adjective that can mean not sociable. Because “gregarious” and “unsociable” are antonyms just as “faux” and “bona fide” are antonyms, “gregarious is to unsociable” is the correct answer.

Example Question #42 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Create is to destroy as brazen is to __________.

Possible Answers:

discreet 

foolhardy 

warrior

defense

courageous

Correct answer:

discreet 

Explanation:

To create something has the opposite effect of destroying something; therefore you know you are looking for an antonym. "Brazen" means bold or brash, so the best available antonym is "discreet," which means cautious or tactful.

Example Question #43 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Defensible is to untenable as enraged is to __________.

Possible Answers:

murderous

irritated

serene

generous

vexed

Correct answer:

serene

Explanation:

The word “defensible” can be thought of as meaning something like defendable, though it specifically means able to be justified. For instance, we would speak of “a defensible thesis,” meaning thereby that some argument is coherent and able to be defended against objections. When something is “tenable,” it is able to be “held” against objections. Thus, something “untenable” cannot be upheld (and is thereby indefensible). Thus, this analogy is one of antonyms. In contrast to being “enraged,” the best opposed word would be “serene.” Someone who is “serene” is not agitated at all but instead is at peace and is calm. This is quite different from the state of being enraged.

Example Question #44 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Inept is to capable as literal is to __________.

Possible Answers:

symbolic

strict

poetic

mathematical

scientific

Correct answer:

symbolic

Explanation:

Someone who is “inept” lacks skill or is without abilities (if the word is taken in its most negative sense). The word “aptitude” means natural ability in some regard or for some task. Thus, the word “capable” is an antonym to “inept,” meaning that this analogy requires you to find an antonym for “literal.” When something is described or interpreted in a literal manner, it is understood in its most basic sense without adding additional interpretation (such as symbolic or allegorical interpretations). Thus, the best option for an antonym among those provided is “symbolic,” which is quite opposite to a literal interpretation.

Example Question #45 : Antonyms

Analogies

SUBTLE : OBVIOUS

Possible Answers:

cold : friendly

dramatic : impractical

miserly : frugal

adoring : grateful 

fleeting : momentary 

Correct answer:

cold : friendly

Explanation:

Subtle means hard to detect or not immediately obvious.  Thus, it is the opposite of obvious.  

One definition of cold is unfriendly.  Thus, it is the opposite of friendly.

In both pairs, the first word is the opposite of the second word.    

Example Question #46 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Feral is to domesticated as desolate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

populous 

separate

empty 

vociferous

inane 

Correct answer:

populous 

Explanation:

Feral means wild and is an antonym of domesticated which describes an animal accustomed to living with humans, like a dog or cat. So to solve this analogy you have to find the best antonym for desolate. Desolate means empty, abandoned or isolated so the best antonym is “populous” which means inhabited or crowded. For clarification, "inane" means pointless; "vociferous" means vocal and loud.

Example Question #47 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Impervious is to susceptible as __________.

Possible Answers:

lucid is to clear

worry is to problem

cool is to chilly

humdrum is to stupendous

energy is to asleep

Correct answer:

humdrum is to stupendous

Explanation:

“Impervious” is an adjective that means “not allowing fluid to pass through,” or when followed by the word “to,” “unable to be affected by.” “Susceptible,” on the other hand, means “likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.” So, “impervious” and “susceptible” are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of antonyms. While “lucid is to clear” and “humdrum is to stupendous” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “lucid” is an adjective that means “expressed clearly; easy to understand,” so “lucid” and “clear” are synonyms, not antonyms, and “lucid is to clear” cannot be the correct answer. “Humdrum,” however, when used as an adjective, means “lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous,” while “stupendous” means “extremely impressive.” Because “humdrum” is an antonym of “stupendous” just as “impervious” is an antonym of “susceptible,” “humdrum is to stupendous” is the correct answer.

Example Question #48 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Abhor is to love as vengeful is to __________.

Possible Answers:

revenge 

like 

cancel 

forgiving 

merciless

Correct answer:

forgiving 

Explanation:

Abhor means detest or hate and is an antonym of love; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you must determine the best available antonym for "vengeful." This should lead you to the correct answer, which is “forgiving.”

Example Question #49 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Impudent is to respectful as lachrymose is to __________.

Possible Answers:

suspenseful 

tearful

fearful

superstitious

joyful

Correct answer:

joyful

Explanation:

"Impudent" means disrespectful and rude which are both antonyms of respectful; therefore in order to solve this analogy you must identify the best antonym for lachrymose. Lachrymose means tearful or very sad, so the correct antonym is “joyful.”

Example Question #50 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

 Bucolic is to urban as rural is to __________.

Possible Answers:

community

smooth

cosmopolitan

banish

feral

Correct answer:

cosmopolitan

Explanation:

Bucolic refers to the country and urban to the city. Similarly, rural is countrified, or unsophisticated, and cosmopolitan is of the city or sophisticated. 

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