2.

6 ANTONYMS

An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning to another word. It refers to a word that ic
is
semantically different from another one. It comes from the Greek words "anti" for opposite and
onym" for name. Since language is complex, people may at times, disagree on what words are
are
truly opposite in meaning to other words. The opposite of an antonym is a synonym. Seldom ana
nd
often are antonyms, whereas seldom and rarely are synonyms. The following exercises and
practice sets will take us to a wider world of antonyms.
2.6.1 EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE 1: Here is a list of words whose antonyms are given:

LIST 1
wORD ANTONYMS WORD ANTONYMS
1. aberration x
normality 24. cynical x rational
2. abduct x deliver 25. contemptible x admirable
3. abandon x pursue 26. diligent x lazy
4. abate x increase 27. despise x admire
5. aberration x truth 28. diversity x
unity
6. abhor x like 29. dainty x coarsee
7. abject x
arrogant 30. enchant x disgust
8. abjure x accept 31. envious x content
9 abridge x expand 32. ebb x increase
10. abscond x present 33. evasion x defense
11. accumulate XScatter 34. greed xdisbelief
12. acquaintance xignorant 35. imminent x transcendent
13. ally x enemy 36. onerous x easy
14. abdsh x conceited 37. obscure x obvious
15. brusque x courteous 38. predicament x decision
16. bankrupt x
prosperous 39. privilege x inhibition
17. benevolence x cruelty 40. profess x conceal
18. calamity xprosperity 41. prohibit x authorize
19. conscientious x lethargic 42. prolong x shorten
20. celibate x marriéd 43. stimulus x hindrance
21. conscientious x disbelief 44. transient x permanernt
22. considerate x careless 45. tyranny x pity
23. contemptible x admirable 46. upbraid x
praise
LIST 2

WORD
ANTONYMS WORD ANTONYMS
1. allay worsen 39. diversity unify
repel 40. dreadful pleasing
allure x
2.
x limited 41. deyiate abide
3. ample
annihilate x establish 42. diligent lazy
4.
apparent x unclear 43 dissolve join
5.
ascend come down 44.
44. enchant disgust
6.
assent x disagree 45. extravagant economical
7.
x unfortunatee 46. encroach withdraw
8. auspicious
awkward x skilful 47. endanger protect
9.
x enlighten
48. exert x rest
10. bewilder
49. fanciful x real
11. bliss x s o r r o w
sensitive 50. feeblex strong
12. blunt x
51. filthy x clean
13. boost x hinder
52. foresight x short sight
14. brace x weaken
53. fundamental x secondary
15. brevity x enlarge
54. gorgeous x simple
16. calamity x prosperity
55. grasp x release
x intentional
17. casuality
56. hazard xsurety
18. clumsy x elegant
57. humid x dry
19. clutch x release
humorous x serious
58.
20. coarse x refined
59. hypocrisy x honesty
21. confine x extend
hypothesis x fact
60.
22. creed x disbelief
ignoble x noble
61.
23. compassion x cruel
62. imitate x original
24. compress x expand
63. imminent x unlikely
25. concord x discord x favourable
64. inclement
26. coherence x break x discourage
65. induce
27. combat peace x
insert x remoye
66.
28. cripple x able x dishonesty
67. integrity
29. crude x refined x decrease
68. intensify
30. dainty x coarse jest x serious
69. identical
31. deception xhonesty miscellaneous
x

70.
70.
32. decline x enhance modest x arrogant
71.
33. deed x passivity mourn
x rejoice
72.
34. denote conceal 73. nimble x slow

55. dependence x independence x truth

notion
74.
numerous x few
36.despair elation 75
37. despise admire OOze x pour
76.
38. delicacy x crudeness
77. obligatory x voluntary
93. solitary popular
94. stimulus hindrance
aware
78. oblivious
x

79. obscure x plain

95. scatter gather
96. scanty abundant
80. outbreak x order
97. scold praise
81. opaque s transparent
irritate
98. spiteful benign
82. pacify x

99. solemn cheerful

partial x
fair
83. 100. transparent obscure
84. peculiar x usual
85. prediction x conceal
101. treacherous faithful
86. premature x timely 102. transient permanent

87. queer x ordinary 103. tremble steady

88. radical xsuperficial 104. unanimous xdisagreement
89. remorse x exult 105. vehement mild
90. repentance x satisfaction 106. versatile x dull

91. riddle x solution 107. wavering steady

92. slander x praise 108. yoke x abandon

2.6.2 EXERCISES
EXERCISE I: Pick out the word that is nearly opposite in meaning to the words in capitals.

1. BLASÉ
a) excited b) casual c) indifferent d) lazy
2. BOMBASTIC
a) verbose b) blustering c) restrained d) explosive
3. BURY
a) conceal b) embedded c) allow d) exhume
4 CAPRICIOUS
a) cramped b) ample c) capable d) whimsical
5. CURE
a) rectify b) undo c) heal d) exacerbate
6. PROCELLOUS
a) special b) placid c) garrulous d) notorious
7. EVOCATIVE
a) eventful b) callous c) evoke d) charitable
8. INTERDICT
a) prohibit b) sanction c) interrupt d) interfere
9. INSOUCIANT
a) airy b) unconcerned c) sufficient d) anxious
10. LUSTROUS
a) dreary b) lust
c)lackadaisical d) polished
XERCISEIl: Pick out
Pick the word tha is nearly opposite in meaning to the words in
capitals.
BRAGGART

. b) fang c) cannon
a) humble
d) orator
V O L A T I L E

b) vocal c) frivolous
a) steadfast
d) voluminous
I M P E R V 1 O U S

B. a) animated b) flashy C)penetrable d) sensational

4. SANGUINE

4.
a) optimistic b) genuine c) pessimistic d) altruistic
DESULTORY

5. b) deserted c) fanciful
a) sultry d) motivated

6. MANDATE

b) ratify c) assent d) denial

a) approval

7. EXONERATED
7.
a) imprisoned b) expelled c) manipulate d) accused

8 PROBITY
a) belief b) deception c) possibility d) permit

9 EFFEMINACY
b) semi-tribal C) aggressiveness d) boorishness
a) manliness

10. INCENTIVE
c) intention d) sensation
a) deterrent b) bait

is farthest in meaning to the

word given.
EXERCISE III: Find the most suitable word which

. ACCOLADE
d) criticize e) honor
c) detest
a) warn b) praise
2 ADULATION e) encourage
c) make impure d) to putrety
a) admire b) vilification
3. ACERBIC e) smooth
d) bold
a) make worse b) bitter c) sharp
4 ADVERSARY d) challenger
e) ruler
a) patron c) not auspicious
b) opponent
5. ABOLISH e) make worse
d) begin
a) thwart b) rude c) incite
6.
AMELIORATE d) castigate
e) aggravate

a) improve b) talkative c) improve

7. ALLEVIATE
b) talkative c) improve d) castigate e) aggravate
a) exacerbate

8. ALTRUISTIC
b) selfish c) allusive d) patriotic e) prudent
a) selfless

9.
9. APOGEE
b) acme c) apex d) reject e) nadir
a) zenith

10. ANIMOSITY
a) bitterness b) hatred c) affability d) equivocate e) harmless

EXERCISE IV: Find the mostsuitable word which is farthest in meaning to the word given.

1. ACCEPTED
a) provided b) considered c)rejected d) followed e) noted

2. ANGER
a) party b) happiness C) approval d) love e) joy
3. LOVED
a) refused b) defamed c) distracted d) averted e) hated
4. OBEY
a) attract b) disobey c) repel d) diffuse e) none
5. OUTWITT
a) laugh b) victory c) defeat d) win e none
6. DULL
a) pale b) wise c) shining d) colorful e) foolish
7. ALLEVIATION
a) lessening b) magnification c) intensity d) aggravation e) exaggeration
8. RECEDED
a) bloomed b) advanced c) increased d) diminished e) rebuilt
9. EXTROVERT
a) boaster b) mixer c) introvert d) social e) none
10. VIRTUOUS
a) vicious b) vulgar c) miserly d) insincere e) none