Antonyms Questions and Answers

Answer: C

The antonym of concealed is unveiled.

To conceal is to hide something or keep it secret. To unveil is to uncover it or make it known, the exact opposite: They unveiled the matter.

Denied is close in tone to concealing, since it means refusing to admit something, so it is not an opposite. Respected and trusted are attitudes towards a person or thing and have no connection with hiding or revealing. Other antonyms of conceal are reveal, disclose and expose.

Answer: C

The antonym of peak is Nadir.

A peak is the highest point, of a mountain or figuratively of a career or a graph. The nadir is the lowest point, as in 'the nadir of his fortunes'. In astronomy the nadir is the point directly below the observer, opposite the zenith.

Pinnacle, acme and zenith all mean the highest point, so they are synonyms of peak, not antonyms.

Answer: B

The antonym of BLATANT given in the key is Quiet.

Blatant means glaringly obvious and done openly without shame (a blatant lie), and in an older sense loud, noisy and offensive. The options are built on that second sense, so its opposite is quiet, unobtrusive and restrained.

Loud is close to a synonym of blatant in that sense, not an antonym. Decency is a noun meaning propriety, not the opposite of an adjective, and darken is a verb meaning to make dark. Neither fits as an antonym.

Answer: A

The antonym of phlegmatic is Energetic.

Phlegmatic describes a person who is calm, slow to show emotion and hard to excite; the word comes from phlegm, the 'humour' once believed to make people sluggish. Its opposite is someone lively, excitable and full of energy.

Apathetic (showing no interest or feeling), indifferent (not caring either way) and stoical (enduring hardship without showing feelings) are all close in meaning to phlegmatic, so they are near-synonyms, not antonyms.

Answer: B

The antonym of inequitable is fair.

Inequitable means unfair or unjust, especially in how something is shared out: an inequitable distribution of wealth. Its opposite is fair (or equitable).

Unequal is close to a synonym, since an inequitable arrangement is usually an unequal one. Sufficient and abundant describe quantity, enough or plenty, not justice, so they are not opposites.

Answer: D

The antonym of abjure is accept.

To abjure is to solemnly renounce a belief, claim or way of life, for example to abjure violence. Its opposite is to accept or embrace it.

Reject, renounce and abandon all mean giving something up, so they are synonyms, not antonyms. Renounce is the closest synonym of the three.

Answer: A

The antonym of indomitable is submissive.

Indomitable (from Latin, 'not to be tamed') describes a spirit or person that cannot be subdued or defeated: indomitable courage. The opposite is someone who readily yields, submissive.

Unbeatable and invincible are synonyms. Stubborn is related in sense, describing someone who will not give way, so it is also not an opposite.

Answer: B

The antonym of subdued is uncontrolled.

Subdued means brought under control, restrained or quiet: subdued lighting, a subdued crowd. The opposite is something not held in check, uncontrolled.

Carefree contrasts with a subdued mood, but it is about freedom from worry rather than lack of restraint. Victor is a noun for the winner, the one who subdues others, not an adjective opposite in meaning. Bashful means shy, which is closer to subdued than opposite to it.

Answer: A

The antonym of expeditious is delayed.

Expeditious means done with speed and efficiency: the expeditious disposal of cases. Its opposite is slow or delayed.

Slouched describes a lazy posture, connived means secretly allowed wrongdoing, and careless means without attention. None of them is the reverse of speed.

Answer: B

The opposite of 'adversity' is prosperity.

In the passage a good book 'does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress'. Adversity means hardship or misfortune, and its opposite is good fortune, which is prosperity.

'Misfortune' is a synonym of adversity, not an opposite. 'Happiness' and 'progress' are loosely related to doing well but are not the direct opposite of hardship, so 'prosperity' is the best choice.