Antonyms - SSAT Upper Level Verbal

"Tropical" is a type of climate that would generally be very hot, and frigid means very cold; to solve this analogy you are looking for the opposite of the type of temperatures that would be associated with a polar climate. A polar climate would likely be very cold, so the correct answer is the antonym of cold, “hot.”

"Doleful" means very sad, and "jubilant" means very happy, so to solve this analogy you know you must identify the best available antonym for "tentative," which means to be unsure and careful as a result of that uncertainty.

The best choice is "mean." The relationship between "grandiloquent" and "simple" is that they are antonyms. The word "grandiloquent" means speaking in a lofty or pompous style. Grandiloquence typically involves complex language. "Simple" is the opposite of "complex." Likewise, "mean" is the opposite of "nice."

Stoic means not showing one's feelings or not complaining. Emotional means showing very strong feelings. Stoic is the opposite of emotional. Silent is the opposite of noisy. Thus, the two sets of words have the same relationship.

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.

Comely is an adjective that means cute or good-looking. This is an antonym of repulsive which means disgusting; therefore to complete the second part of the analogy you are required to find the best possible antonym for miserable. Miserable means very sad. The correct answer is ecstatic which means very happy.

To "laud" something means to praise it. To "condemn" something means to criticize it or declare it to be incorrect. These two meanings are opposites, so to solve this analogy, look for the antonym of "disparage." "Disparage" means criticize or express disdain or disgust. The best available antonym for criticize is "praise."

"Inconspicuous" means difficult to notice which is an antonym for "obtrusive," which means highly noticeable. You must therefore identify the best available antonym for "glacial," which describes something very slow moving (like a glacier); thus the best antonym is “very fast.”

Since a fortune is a lot of money and a pittance is "a very small or inadequate amount of money paid to someone as an allowance or wage," "fortune" and "pittance" are opposites, and we need to pick out a word that is an opposite of "excess." Since "excess" means "an amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable," we should pick out a word that has to do with not having enough of something. While "paucity" and "decline" may both look like correct answers, decline is a verb, so it can't be the correct answer, as we need a noun. Since "paucity" means "the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity," "paucity" is the answer choice that is closest to being an antonym of "excess," so "paucity" is the correct answer.

"Ebullience" is a noun that means "the quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance," and "lassitude" is a noun that means "a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy." Since the two words are antonyms, we need to pick out another pair of words that are also opposites. Since "ennui" means "a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement," "interest" is its opposite. Since "ennui is to interest" is the only answer choice whose words are antonyms, "ennui is to interest" is the correct answer.

"Deter" is a verb meaning discourage or prevent. Since "deter" is an antonym of "encourage," we need to pick out an answer choice which includes two words that have opposite meanings. While "condone is to approve" might look like a good answer choice, "condone" actually means accept and support. Since "condone" and "allow" are synonyms, "condone is to allow" cannot be the correct answer. The answer choice "cease is to start," however, includes a pair of antonyms: "cease" is a verb meaning end, making it an antonym of "start." Because "cease" and "start" are antonyms just like "deter" and "encourage" are antonyms, "cease is to start" is the correct answer.

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

Something that is precarious is not stable, and someone who is not lithe is clumsy.

This is a word game analogy. "Raze" and "raise" are homonyms, but they mean opposite things. To "raze" a structure is to destroy it, or to level it to the ground, but to "raise" a barn is to build it.

"Premeditated" is an adjective that means planned beforehand and is often used in reference to crimes. "Spontaneous" is an adjective that means impulsive, done without being thought-out beforehand. "Premeditated" and "spontaneous" are antonyms, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is an antonym of "parsimonious," an adjective that means frugal and stingy. While "stingy" is an answer choice, it is a synonym of "parsimonious," so it cannot be the correct answer. "Generous," however, is an antonym of "parsimonious," just like "premeditated" is an antonym of "spontaneous," so "generous" is the correct answer.

You have probably heard of the Catholic Church, but did you know that the word catholic actually means general? If you know that catholic means general, you can probably tell that the answer choice that you are looking for will probably have the same meaning as the word specific. The only answer choice that works is particular. The others are designed to confuse you and to bring out the religious associations that the word catholic might bring to mind.

"Ebullient" is an adjective that means full of excitement and enthusiasm. This is an antonym of "miserable," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which answer choice is an antonym of "forgiving." The best answer is "vengeful," which means desiring revenge. For clarification, "taciturn" means silent or uncommunicative, and "merciful" means showing mercy.

Trivial is an adjective that describes an event of little importance. This is an antonym of significant so to solve this analogy you need to determine the best available antonym for self-aggrandizing. Self-aggrandizing refers to the act of exaggerating one’s own importance therefore an acceptable antonym would be modest. Modest means humble. For clarification boastful is an antonym of modest; lethargic means very tired.

"Ascetic" is an adjective used to describe someone’s behavior and lifestyle that denies personal luxury and enforces rigid self-discipline. This is the opposite type of behavior as might exhibited by a hedonist. A "hedonistic" lifestyle is one directed towards the pursuit of pleasure. To solve this analogy, then, you need to find the word that is most opposite in meaning to "antiquated." "Antiquated" means ancient or old-fashioned, making it an antonym of "innovative." "Innovative" means new or creative.

Sardonic refers to behavior or expression that is disdainful, mocking and cynical. This is an antonym of genuine so to solve this analogy you are looking for the best available antonym for amiable. Amiable means friendly, likable and pleasant so the best answer choice is dislikable. For clarification foolish means not wise; remorseful means expressing regret; worldly means well-informed or knowledgeable.