Antonyms Questions and Answers

Answer: A

The antonym of sink is float.

To sink is to go down below the surface of water, and to float is to stay on the surface or be held up in it. They are the standard opposites.

Sleep, resist and unite do not express the opposite of going down in water.

Answer: B

The word most opposite in meaning to 'alarmingly' is safely.

'Alarmingly' means in a way that causes fear or danger; its opposite is 'safely', in a way that carries no danger. In the passage the tigers take their prey 'with alarming regularity', so the contrast is a regularity that is not alarming.

'Warning' is a noun that overlaps with alarm in meaning rather than opposing it, and 'panick' (as printed) is a state of fright, so it points the same way as 'alarmingly'.

Answer: A

Illegal is the antonym of LAWFUL.

Lawful means permitted or recognised by law; a lawful wife is one married according to law. Illegal means forbidden by law, the direct opposite.

The other three options are synonyms or near-synonyms, not antonyms. Legitimate means conforming to the law, admissible means acceptable or allowed, and recognised means officially accepted.

Answer: C

Illiterate is the antonym of LEARNED.

Learned (pronounced as two syllables, ler-nid) means having much knowledge gained by study, as the scholar and reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar did. Illiterate, unable to read or write and so without book learning, is its opposite.

Educated, trained and knowledgable all describe someone who has acquired knowledge or skill, so they are similar in meaning to learned, not opposite.

Answer: C

Silent is the antonym of LOUD.

A loud sound is one of great volume. Silent, making no sound at all, is its opposite.

The other choices are close to loud in meaning: noisy means making a lot of noise, resounding means loud enough to echo, and disquieting means disturbing or causing unease, which describes the effect of the loud sound in this sentence rather than its opposite.

Answer: A

Wavering is the antonym of LOYAL.

A loyal servant is steadfast and faithful in his allegiance. Wavering means unsteady, hesitating between choices or faltering in one's commitment, so a wavering servant is one whose faithfulness cannot be relied on.

Allegiant means loyal and is a synonym. Obedient and submissive describe a servant who does as he is told; they are close to loyalty in this context rather than opposite to it.

Answer: A

Mildness is the antonym of SEVERITY.

Severity is the quality of being strict and harsh in treatment or judgement. Mildness, the quality of being gentle and lenient, is its opposite.

Strictness, harshness and rigour are all synonyms of severity: each describes firm, demanding or stern behaviour. A teacher known for his severity would be described by any of them.

Answer: D

Co-operation is the antonym of OPPOSITION.

Opposition is resistance or hostility to someone's wishes or actions. Co-operation, working together willingly towards the same end, is its opposite: a king whose people co-operated with him would have no cause to be unhappy.

Antagonism (active hostility), contrariness (a tendency to oppose) and resistance (refusal to accept or comply) are all synonyms of opposition.

Answer: C

The antonym of vague is precise.

A vague explanation is unclear and lacking in detail, which is why it could not be 'understood clearly'. The opposite is a precise explanation, exact and clearly stated.

Unclear, confusing and uncertain all point the same way as vague, so they are synonyms or near-synonyms. Only precise reverses the meaning.

Answer: C

The antonym of hideous is Beautiful.

Hideous means extremely ugly or unpleasant to look at, as in 'a hideous mask'. Its opposite is beautiful, very pleasing to look at.

The other three are synonyms, not antonyms: ugly is the plain word for what hideous intensifies, while frightful and horrible both mean shocking or very unpleasant. A question asking for the antonym makes these the traps.