Antonyms for competitive examinations

  Sample Questions

Format I

Select from amongst the four alternatives, marked a–d, the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word given in capital letters:

 

1. ABSTAIN

(a) refuse (b) oppose (c) permit (d) run away

 

2. CANDID

(a) useless (b) misleading (c) worthless (d) legal

 

3. IMPLICIT

(a) satire (b) baseless (c) unexplained (d) definite

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers

1.     (c) 2. (b) 3. (d)

 

 

Explanation

1. ‘Abstain’ means to withhold oneself from an action or self- indulgence, whereas ‘permit’ refers to the act of not preventing, i.e. opposite in meaning.

 

2. ‘Candid’ refers to revealing or expressing one’s true thoughts or feelings, whereas ‘misleading’ means something that is apt to give a false or mistaken impression.

 

3. ‘Implicit’ refers to something that is not revealed in words but can be inferred from the evidence, whereas ‘definite’ refers to expressions unclouded by any ambiguity.

 

 

 

 

 

Workout 2

Each of the following questions consists of a word printed in capital letters, followed by four words or phrases. Select the word or phrase that is most closely opposite in meaning to the capitalised word.

 

1. INDOLENT

(a) apathetic (b) casual (c) industrious (d) heedless

 

2. DETERRENT

(a) incitement (b) confinement (c) disincentive (d) intervention

 

3. FINESSE

(a) elegance (b) neglect (c) proposition (d) clumsiness

 

4. GENIALITY

(a) warmth (b) hostility (c) reciprocity (d) amenities

 

5. PREAMBLE

(a) preface (b) commencement (c) postscript (d) tender

 

6. ANARCHY

(a) destruction (b) Indiscipline (c) relaxation (d) order

 

7. INSOUCIANCE

(a) indifferent (b) composure (c) interest (d) slumber

 

8. DISSOLUTION

(a) suspension (b) inauguration (c) partition (d) withdrawal

 

9. AVARICE

(a) cupidity (b) conservation (c) indulgence (d) generosity

 

10. CONVEX

(a) concave (b) u-shape (c) bent (d) arched

 

11. GLIB

(a) apparent (b) strong (c) superficial (d) hesitant

(e) convincing

 

12. INTRACTABLE

(a) wayward (b) abstinent (c) bleak (d) easygoing

 

13. METICULOUS

(a) careless (b) particular (c) calculated (d) planned

 

14. PLETHORA

(a) profusion (b) current (c) balance (d) shortage

 

15. FACILITATE

(a) assist (b) expiate (c) impede (d) further

 

16. DORMANT

(a) latent (b) active (c) indolent (d) powerless

 

17. AMENABLE

(a) agreeable (b) bound (c) submissive (d) unwilling

 

18. PIETY

(a) docility (b) seriousness (c) wickedness (d) faithfulness

 

19. DENOUEMENT

(a) start (b) issue (c) stop (d) reaction

 

20. INTRANSIGENCE

(a) obstinacy (b) protection (c) flexibility (d) firmness

 

 

 

 

Answers

1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (c) 

6. (d) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (d) 10. (a) 

11. (d) 12. (d) 13. (a) 14. (d) 15. (c) 

16. (b) 17. (d) 18. (c) 19. (a) 20. (d)