HSPT Verbal : Antonyms: Verbs

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "dispute" is __________.

Possible Answers:

disagree

recognize

posit

forbear

question

Correct answer:

recognize

Explanation:

When two people dispute something, they do not agree on the topic. If we isolate one of those people, he or she might say, "I dispute your claim that (e.g.) the Middle Ages are underappreciated." This means that the person does not believe the claim about the importance of the Middle Ages. In general, dispute can mean either to argue about or (as we now see) to question the truth or validity of an assertion. In contrast to such doubt or questioning, one could accept or recognize a fact as being true.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "ponder" is __________.

Possible Answers:

observe

disregard

consider

scrutinize

remark

Correct answer:

disregard

Explanation:

None of the options provided here are great antonyms, but we can definitely remove bad candidates and find an answer that is good enough for our purposes. The word "ponder" means to think about deeply. To "scrutinize" something is to pay attention to its details, and to "observe" and "consider" are both options that at least note consideration of an object. Of course, observation and consideration are rather uninvolved in contrast to pondering. In another question, they might be options for correct answers. However, we have the option "disregard." This is more opposed to pondering than "observe" and "consider." Since "remark" is really not useful at all for our purposes, the answer must be "disregard."

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "illuminate" is __________.

Possible Answers:

complicate

adjudicate

disinterest

question

dissociate

Correct answer:

complicate

Explanation:

The word "illuminate" is most often associated with its literal, physical notion—the phenomenon of light that illuminates a given surface. However, there are no words here that are directly related to such physical light. The word "illuminate" can be used to describe intellectual endeavors, when one thing "sheds light" on another—that is, makes the other thing clearer. In contrast to such illumination, there is the phenomenon of an overly complicated argument. When someone complicates a matter, he or she makes it less clear.

Example Question #4 : Antonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

An antonym of "recollect" is __________.

Possible Answers:

retain

reminisce

disabuse

commemorate

omit

Correct answer:

omit

Explanation:

A set of "recollections" is a group of memories that have been gathered together. (Yes, the word is a bit like saying "re+collecting" as in "collecting together again.") When we recollect something, we attempt to bring back and report such a memory. If we do not call back such a thought, we then would omit it from such recollection. "Reminisce" and even "commemorate" are both rather synonymous, while "disabuse" and "retain" are neither synonyms nor antonyms for our purposes. Therefore, "omit" is the best option among those provided for an antonym.

Example Question #5 : Antonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

An antonym of "recant" is __________.

Possible Answers:

misrepresent

assume

undertake

decant

detract

Correct answer:

assume

Explanation:

When someone recants something, he or she "gives back" something that he or she held to be true. Generally, it is a question of recanting an opinion or a statement. For instance, we might say, "Thomas refused to recant his belief in Aristotle's writings, for he believed the Greek thinker to have spoken the truth." Thomas refuses to say that he no longer believes in the truthfulness of Aristotle. In contrast to such recanting, one can "assume" something by taking it up. Often this has the sense of "assuming an identity" or "assuming an uncertain fact to be true." The general point is that "assuming" means to take up as opposed to "recanting" which means something like to let go or give up.

Example Question #4 : Antonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

An antonym of "exculpate" is __________.

Possible Answers:

detest

defame

incriminate

pardon

absolve

Correct answer:

incriminate

Explanation:

When someone is culpable, he or she is guilty of something. Evidence or arguments that are "exculpatory" are ones that help to show the innocence of a person. They take away the guilt—"ex" (away) + "cuplate" (guilt / fault). The options "pardon" and "absolve" are both relative synonyms for this. To "defame" someone is to ruin his or her reputation. If there were no other options, this might pass for a distant antonym option; however, the best antonym option is "incriminate," which literally means to make into a criminal, or, by a more standard definition, to make someone seem guilty.

Example Question #5 : Antonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

OBFUSCATE

Possible Answers:

Stubborn

Headstrong

Simplify

Enigma

Plaudit

Correct answer:

Simplify

Explanation:

"Obfuscate" is a verb which means to make unclear; to confuse or bewilder. "Simplify" is a verb which means to make clear. This is the exact opposite of "obfuscate."

"Enigma" is a noun meaning a mystery or a puzzle. You may use an "enigma" to "obfuscate" a situation, but they are not antonyms.

"Stubborn" and "headstrong" are both adjectives meaning willful or determined.

"Plaudit" is a noun meaning praise.

Example Question #3 : Antonyms: Verbs

Agile is the opposite of __________.

Possible Answers:

lethargic

athletic

limber

frisky

Correct answer:

lethargic

Explanation:

"Athletic," "frisky," and "limber" are synonyms of agile. "Agile" means to be quick and well coordinated in movement.

"Lethargic" means to be drowsy or slugglish.

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

Indolent is the opposite of __________.

Possible Answers:

lackadaisical 

energetic

lethargic

inert

Correct answer:

energetic

Explanation:

"Inert," "lethargic," and "lackadaisical" are synonyms of indolent. "Indolent" means slow or lazy, while "energetic" means full of energy.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

Lithe is the opposite of __________.

Possible Answers:

nimble

limber

agile

clumsy

Correct answer:

clumsy

Explanation:

"Nimble," "agile," and "limber" are synonyms of lithe. "Lithe" means moving or bending with ease, while "clumsy" means awkward in movement or action.

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