SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Antonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Unsystematic is to orderly as fruitful is to __________.

Possible Answers:

domesticated

fecund

cogent

feral

abortive

Correct answer:

abortive

Explanation:

To begin with "unsystematic" and "orderly" are antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices has the opposite meaning to "fruitful." "Fruitful" means productive, prolific, producing many things. So, the best available antonym is "abortive" which means not productive, not successful. Additionally, "cogent" means (of an argument) convincing and reasonable; "feral" means wild, untamed; "domesticated" means tamed, not wild, made into a pet; "fecund" means fertile, abundant, producing a lot of life.

Example Question #312 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Incisive is to vague as __________ is to composed.

Possible Answers:

alluring

outlandish

irascible

obfuscating

pretentious

Correct answer:

irascible

Explanation:

To begin with "vague" means hazy and unclear due to a lack of detail or analysis. And "incisive" means keen, astute, sharp-witted, able to penetrate to the most important point due to the right amount of detail and analysis. These two words are antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices is the best available antonym for "composed" which means calm and under control in a potentially stressful situation. The correct answer is therefore "irascible" which means hot-tempered, quick to anger, neither calm nor composed, petulant, crabby. Additionally, "pretentious" means disingenuous and self-important; "alluring" means tempting, attractive; "obfuscating" means obscuring, confusing, designed to conceal the truth through confusion; "outlandish" means bizarre, weird, excessively eccentric and showy, idiosyncratic.

Example Question #62 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Bind is to separating as ________________.

Possible Answers:

stir is to melting

banish is to returning

engulf is to covering

surge is to failing

reject is to seeming

Correct answer:

banish is to returning

Explanation:

To "bind" is to tie together. If you "bind" something, you do  so to keep it from separating.

Do you "banish" something (or someone) to keep it from returning? Yes. To "banish" is to send something away or to force someone to leave a country.

If something "surges," is it to keep it from failing? No. And there really isn’t much of a connection. (You could say that if there is a power surge, your electrical items might fail to function, but that’s a long-shot and not the same connection as that of bind and separating.

If you "engulf" something, do you do it to keep it from covering? No. To "engulf" means to cover completely, as in “The house was engulfed in flames in a matter of moments.”

Do you stir something to keep it from melting? Probably not. You might stir something that is melting to keep it from burning or sticking.

Example Question #314 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Garrulous is to taciturn as ______________.

Possible Answers:

excessive is to verbose

previous is to prior

impervious is to penetrable

average is to standard

spontaneous is to whim

Correct answer:

impervious is to penetrable

Explanation:

"Garrulous" means very talkative,  while "taciturn" means saying few words. So these are antonyms (opposites).

Is impervious the opposite of penetrable? Yes. "Impervious" means not allowing entrance or passage, like a castle that is impervious to attack. "Penetrable" means allowing things to pass through or penetrate. So "impervious is to penetrable" is the answer.

Is "excessive" the opposite of "verbose"? No. There is a connection: "verbose" means using an excessive number of words to say what could be said in a simpler manner. But they aren’t antonyms.

Are "previous" and "prior" antonyms? No, they’re synonyms, both meaning happening at an earlier time.

Are "spontaneous" and "whim" antonyms? No. "Spontaneous" means occurring without previous thought or planning. ("Our last minute trip to the beach was a spontaneous decision.") A "whim" is a sudden desire or change of mind. (I planned to go shopping, but I had a whim to go to the beach so I changed my plans at the last minute.) "Spontaneous" and "whim" have a connection, but it isn’t that they’re opposites.

"Average" and "standard" are close in meaning, not opposites. 

Example Question #215 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Habitable is to __________ as opaque is to transparent.

Possible Answers:

tertiary 

drastic 

inhospitable

menacing 

fragrant

Correct answer:

inhospitable

Explanation:

"Opaque" means not transparent, not clear, and not allowing light to pass through. "Transparent" means see-through, or in other words, allowing light to pass through. These two words are therefore antonyms, and to solve this analogy, you need to determine which of these words has a meaning opposite that of "habitable." "Habitable" means able to be lived in or able to be inhabited. One might refer to undeveloped land that someone is considering building a house on as being habitable. Which of the answer choices has a meaning that is most clearly the opposite of this one? The correct answer is "inhospitable." You can figure out what this term means by considering its prefix, "in-," which means not. "In-hospitable" means not hospitable, or not welcoming and not able to be inhabited. You might refer to rugged terrain that offers little food, water, or shelter as being "inhospitable." Note that since "habitable" and "hospitable" are close in meaning, the "in-" in "inhospitable" is very helpful in identifying the term as an antonym of "habitable."

Additionally, "menacing" means threatening or suggesting danger; "fragrant" means having a scent that people find pleasant; "drastic" means extreme; and "tertiary" means coming third in a list of something, occurring third.

Example Question #63 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Forthright is to evasive as __________ is to ebullient.

Possible Answers:

excited 

lugubrious

merry 

jaunty 

buoyant 

Correct answer:

lugubrious

Explanation:

"Forthright" means honest, open, and willing to discuss something truthfully and openly. "Evasive" means dishonest or not willing to discuss something openly and instead trying to avoid talking about that issue. These two words are therefore antonyms, so to solve this analogy, you need to determine which of the answer choices has a meaning opposite that of "ebullient." "Ebullient" means enthusiastic, excited, cheerful, and bubbly. So, the correct answer is "lugubrious," which means mournful, gloomy, and sorrowful. Additionally, all the other answer choices are loose synonyms of "ebullient." 

Example Question #64 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Cognizant is to __________ as irritable is to carefree.

Possible Answers:

oblivious

unstoppable

salient

wanton

kooky

Correct answer:

oblivious

Explanation:

"Irritable" means easily annoyed, easily angered and "carefree" means having few concerns, feeling happy and not easily angered. These two words are therefore antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words is an antonym of "cognizant." Well, "cognizant" means aware of, having knowledge of. The correct answer is therefore "oblivious," which means not aware of, not having knowledge of. Additionally, "salient" means relevant, of greater significance; "kooky" means wacky, crazy, zany, quirky; "wanton" means reckless and randomly destructive; "unstoppable" means not capable of being stopped, relentless.

Example Question #65 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Heyday is to nadir as abundance is to __________.

Possible Answers:

libation

lethargy

paucity

commode

repose

Correct answer:

paucity

Explanation:

"Heyday" means a period of an individual's life when they were most successful or prosperous, a high point of a person's life. "Nadir" means low point. So, these two words are antonyms. Which of these answer choices has the opposite meaning to "abundance?" Well, "abundance" means having a plentiful supply of, having more than enough of something. So, the correct answer is "paucity," which means being in scarce supply, having too little of something. Additionally, "lethargy" is a lack of energy and enthusiasm; a "commode" is a room, particularly a bathroom; "repose" means rest, lying down; a "libation" is a religious offering, a liquid offering

Example Question #66 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Consecrate is to desecrate as demonize is to ________________.

Possible Answers:

netherworld

solidify

deify

penitentiary

vilify

Correct answer:

deify

Explanation:

"Consecrate" means make holy, make sacred and "desecrate" means to take something holy and make it no longer, to destroy or besmirch something holy. So, these two words are antonyms, which of these words has the opposite meaning to "demonize." Well, "demonize" means "vilify," to make someone out as a villain, to portray someone or something as evil. The best available antonym is therefore "deify," which means to make someone out as holy, to praise someone to the extent of making them seem like a God. Additionally, "solidify" means harden, become or make solid; "netherworld" means hell; "penitentiary" means prison, particularly a prison for felons who have committed serious crimes

Example Question #67 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Superficial is to methodical as _________________ is to depressed.

Possible Answers:

funereal

collision

frivolous

pugilist

jovial

Correct answer:

jovial

Explanation:

"Superficial" means not having much depth, focused only on surface issues, not "methodical." "Methodical" means done in such a manner as to be considered deep and complete, orderly and systematic. These two words are therefore antonyms. To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "depressed." The correct answer is "jovial," which means cheerful. Additionally, "collision" means accident, a moment when a crash or impact occurs; "pugilist" means fighter, boxer; "funereal" means having the somber and serious atmosphere of a funeral; "frivolous" means pointless, having little value or purpose.

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