Antonyms Questions and Answers

Answer: C

The word most opposite to obfuscate is Clarify.

To obfuscate is to make something obscure, unclear or hard to understand, often on purpose, as in 'The report obfuscates the real cost'. Its opposite is to clarify, to make clear and easy to understand.

The other three are synonyms, not antonyms: to confuse and to muddle both mean to make unclear or mixed up, and to conceal is to hide, which is one way of obfuscating. A question asking for the opposite makes these the traps.

Answer: C

The word most opposite to ephemeral is Eternal.

Ephemeral means lasting a very short time, from the Greek ephemeros, 'lasting only a day'. Its opposite is eternal, lasting for ever.

Transient and short-lived are synonyms of ephemeral, so they are the traps in an antonym question. Trivial means of little importance, which describes value, not duration, so it is neither a synonym nor an antonym.

Answer: D

The antonym of barren is fertile.

Barren land or a barren woman is unable to produce crops or children, and fertile means able to produce them in abundance. They are the standard pair of opposites.

Early, dull and last have no such opposite relation with barren.

Answer: A

The antonym of oral is written.

Oral means spoken, not written down, as in an oral test or an oral tradition. A written test or record is the opposite.

Spoken is a synonym of oral, not an antonym, and seen has no such relationship. Since written fits, "None of these" is wrong.

Answer: D

The antonym of virtue is vice.

Virtue is moral goodness or a good quality, and vice is immoral conduct or a bad habit. The pair are the usual opposites.

Abuse means misuse or harsh words, apathy means lack of interest, and reward is a prize for good conduct, so none of them is the direct opposite.

Answer: C

The antonym of borrow is lend.

To borrow is to take something from someone with the intention of returning it, and to lend is to give something to someone for a time. One person lends and the other borrows.

Carry and give do not express that opposite relation, and since lend fits, "None of these" is wrong.

Answer: B

The antonym of open is shut.

To be open is to be not closed, and to be shut is to be closed: an open door, a shut door.

Show and visible have to do with being seen, not with being closed, and since shut fits, "None of these" is wrong.

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.