Antonyms Questions and Answers

Answer: A

The antonym of 'Proclaim' is suppress.

To proclaim is to announce publicly and officially. To suppress is to keep something from being known or expressed, the opposite.

'Pretend' means to make believe, 'attend' to be present at or give attention to, and 'distend' to swell outwards; none is opposed to making something public.

Answer: B

The antonym of fertile is barren.

Fertile land or a fertile mind produces abundantly; barren land produces nothing, so barren is its direct opposite.

Fecund and fruitful are synonyms of fertile, not antonyms: both mean productive. Feverish means having a fever or being frantically excited, and is chosen only because it looks like fertile; it has no opposite meaning.

Answer: A

The antonym of senior is junior.

Senior means older or higher in rank or standing; junior means younger or lower in rank. The two form a direct pair, as in senior and junior officers, or senior and junior classes.

Superior is close to a synonym of senior, meaning higher in rank or quality. Inferior is the opposite of superior, not of senior. Prior means earlier in time and has no opposite relation to senior. All five words are Latin comparatives that take to rather than than (senior to, prior to), which is why they are grouped together in such questions.

Answer: B

The antonyms of 'bleak' are b and d: cheerful and bright.

'Bleak' means cold, cheerless and without hope, as in a bleak landscape or a bleak future. Its opposites describe something hopeful and full of light: cheerful and bright.

Dismal, dreary and desolate are synonyms of bleak, all meaning gloomy or empty, so every option containing a, c or e is wrong.

Answer: C

The correct matching is (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iii).

• Barren (unable to produce) is the opposite of fertile (iv).
• Despair (loss of hope) is the opposite of hope (i).
• Flexible (easily bent or adapted) is the opposite of rigid (ii).
• Humble (modest) is the opposite of arrogant (iii).

The other options pair words that are unrelated, such as 'barren' with 'hope'.

Answer: A

The correct matching is (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii).

• Approve is the opposite of disapprove (iii).
• Scarce (in short supply) is the opposite of plenty (iv).
• Modern is the opposite of orthodox, holding to old traditions (i).
• Opaque (not letting light through) is the opposite of transparent (ii).

The other options give 'scarce' the opposite 'orthodox' or 'modern' the opposite 'transparent', which do not match.

Answer: D

The antonym of CELESTIAL is Earthly.

Celestial means belonging to the sky or to heaven: celestial bodies are the stars and planets, and celestial beings are angels or gods. Its opposite is earthly, belonging to this world.

Heavenly and divine are near synonyms of celestial, and supernatural is also on the same side, beyond the natural world. Only earthly reverses the meaning.

Answer: B

The opposite of stoical is flinching.

A stoical person endures pain and hardship without complaint or visible emotion, after the Greek Stoic philosophers. To flinch is to draw back or wince in fear or pain, the very reaction a stoic does not show.

Tactless means lacking sensitivity in dealing with others, and awkward means clumsy or uncomfortable; neither is about enduring hardship. Assured means confident, which is closer to stoical than opposite to it.

Answer: B

The antonym of rancour is harmony.

Rancour is bitter, long-lasting resentment or ill will. Between two friends, its opposite is harmony: friendly agreement and goodwill.

Animosity and enmity are synonyms of rancour, both meaning hostility. Devotion means deep loyalty or love; it is a positive feeling but not the direct opposite of ill will between equals, which harmony is.

Answer: C

The opposite of amateur is professional.

An amateur photographer takes photographs for pleasure rather than payment. A professional does it as a paid occupation. That distinction of paid versus unpaid is the true opposition.

Experienced and skilled describe ability, and an amateur may be both, so they are not opposites of amateur. Average describes ordinary quality and has no opposite relation to the word.