Practice Exercises
Antonym Exercise A
Directions: In each of the following antonym questions, a
word printed in capital letters precedes five lettered words
or phrases. From these five lettered words or phrases, pick
the one most nearly opposite in meaning to the capitalized
word.
Because some of the questions require you to distinguish fine
shades of meaning, be sure to consider all the choices before
deciding which one is best.
1. MOURNFUL: (A) informal (B) sympathetic (C)
private (D) appropriate (E) joyous
2. SCAD: (A) parsimony (B) allocation (C) dearth (D)
restraint (E) provision
3. GRANDIOSE: (A) docile (B) unlikely to occur (C)
simple and unimposing (D) light in weight (E)
uncommunicative
4. ENTRENCH: (A) defy (B) oust
(C) extinguish (D) squander (E) intercede
12. SUMPTUOUS: (A) dank (B) frequent
(C) partial (D) restrained (E) open
13. DISSOLUTION: (A) retribution
(B) compliance (C) futility (D) persuasion
(E) establishment
14. IRK: (A) pry (B) tinge (C) beguile
(D) convince (E) soothe
15. LIMBER: (A) sturdy (B) orderly
(C) durable (D) stiff (E) gloomy
16. OBLIQUITY: (A) praise
(B) straightforwardness (C) conformity
(D) self-righteousness (E) depreciation
17. SLUR: (A) sensitivity (B) sacrifice
(C) understatement (D) challenge
(E) commendation
18. APOTHEOSIS: (A) departure from tradition
(B)impatience with stupidity
(C) demotion from glory
(D) surrender to impulse
(E) cause for grief
19. ENERVATE: (A) narrate (B) enrage
(C) accomplish (D) invigorate (E) acquiesce
20. PARSIMONIOUS: (A) appropriate
(B) generous (C) complete (D) radiant (E) ongoing
Antonym Exercise B
Directions: In each of the following antonym questions, a
word printed in capital letters precedes five lettered words
or phrases. From these five lettered words or phrases, pick
the one most nearly opposite in meaning to the capitalized
word.
Because some of the questions require you to distinguish
fine shades of meaning, be sure to consider all the choices
before deciding which one is best.
1. HEDGE:
(A) act on impulse
(B) refuse to represent
(C) state without qualification
(D) make a foolish comment
(E) establish a connection
2. ABROGATE: (A) transgress (B) signify (C) alleviate
(D) question (E) ratify
5. LACKLUSTER: (A) superficial
(B) courteous (C) vibrant (D) complex
(E) abundant
6. CENSURE: (A) augment (B) eradicate
(C) enthrall (D) commend (E) reform
7. TRANSIENCE: (A) slowness (B) permanence (C)
lack of caution (D) desire for perfection (E) original
nature
8. DESICCATE: (A) lengthen (B) hallow
(C) exonerate (D) saturate (E) anesthetize
9. PROTRUSION: (A) deep recess
(B) strong dislike (C) growing scarcity
(D) illusion (E) chaos
10. ENTICE: (A) repel (B) authorize (C) baffle
(D) misplace (E) diminish
11. ORTHODOXY: (A) renown (B) trepidation
(C) unconventionality (D) inquisitiveness
(E) remoteness
3. INDUSTRY: (A) cleanliness (B) pragmatism (C)
sloth (D) promptness (E) abasement
4. SPUNK: (A) success (B) timidity
(C) growing awareness (D) lack of intelligence
(E) loss of prestige
5. SAGE: (A) zealot (B) miser (C) braggart
(D) fool (E) tyrant
6. ADMONITION: (A) premonition
(B) hallucination (C) escape (D) commendation
(E) trepidation
7. CHARY: (A) lugubrious (B) brash
(C) indifferent (D) graceful (E) scornful
8. STUPEFY: (A) lie (B) bend (C) enliven
(D) talk nonsense (E) consider thoughtfully
9. COGENT: (A) contemplative (B) unpersuasive
(C) expository (D) stable (E) inconceivable
10. FICKLE: (A) spotless (B) industrious
(C) welcome (D) urgent (E) loyal
11. COMPLY: (A) simplify (B) strive (C) rebel
(D) unite (E) appreciate
12. CREDIT: (A) believe false (B) treat as equal
(C) make more difficult (D) underemphasize
(E) forget
13. STILTED: (A) informal (B) verbose (C) secretive
(D) senseless (E) tentative
14. UNGAINLY: (A) slender (B) graceful (C)
restrained (D) inaccurate (E) unnoticed
15. QUIXOTIC: (A) slow (B) abstemious (C) pragmatic
(D) benevolent (E) grave
16. DISPARITY: (A) timidity (B) complacency (C)
bigotry (D) likeness (E) influence
17. CRITICAL: (A) unimportant (B) uncertain (C)
silent (D) coherent (E) destructive
18. SOBRIETY: (A) influence (B) nonchalance (C)
holiness (D) civility (E) mirth
19. RESTIVENESS: (A) completeness
(B) conviction (C) concern (D) docility
(E) petulance
20. HALLOW: (A) keep silence (B) prove incorrect (C) accuse openly (D) desecrate (E) instigate

1 n ITTTIT" III If 111 II! IT Mill ill !

 3 Verbal Ability: Tactics, Review, and Practice

Because some of the questions require you to distinguish

Antonym Exercise C fine shades of meaning, be sure to consider all the choices
Directions: In each of the following antonym questions, a before deciding which one is best.
word printed in capital letters precedes five lettered words
or phrases. From these five lettered words or phrases, pick 1. PRIM: (A) rare (B) careful (C) unnecessary
the one most nearly opposite in meaning to the capitalized (D) improper (E) decisive
word.
2. REPUGNANCE: (A) attraction (B) lethargy (C)
Because some of the questions require you to distinguish blame (D) virtue (E) awe
fine shades of meaning, be sure to consider all the choices
before deciding which one is best. 3. NETTLE: (A) disentangle (B) mollify (C) magnify
(D) muffle (E) recompense
1. HARBINGER: (A) ascetic (B) miser (C) counselor
(D) follower (E) braggart 4. REPLETE: (A) unwrinkled (B) devoid
(C) vulgar (D) matchless (E) unsympathetic
2. SPUR: (A) embitter (B) discourage (C) impress (D)
mislead (E) ignore 5. UNASSUAGED: (A) presumed (B) deceptive (C)
singular (D) faulty (E) soothed
3. DISJOINTED: (A) responsible (B) connected (C)
implied (D) useful (E) imprecise
6. PALTRY: (A) munificent (B) improvident
4. MEALYMOUTHED: (A) hungry (B) indefinite (C) (C) random (D) cautious (E) obsolete
tightlipped (D) sincere (E) apathetic
7. CONCLUSIVE: (A) difficult to express
(B) bringing bad luck (C) easy to solve
5. PREVARICATE: (A) postulate (B) emphasize (C)
(D) lacking merit (E) open to question
support in theory (D) consider thoughtfully (E) state
truthfully
8. RESOURCEFULNESS: (A) wealth
(B) gratitude (C) melancholy (D) incompetence
6. LUMINARY: (A) impostor (B) nonentity (C) pilgrim
(E) frustration
(D) braggart (E) mutineer
9. DISSUADE: (A) extol (B) exhort
7. TESTY: (A) erroneous (B) uncommunicative (C)
(C) intensify (D) complicate (E) precede
even-tempered (D) quick-witted
(E) industrious
10. SPLENETIC: (A) lackluster (B) heartless (C)
diffident (D) constant (E) cordial
8. NEFARIOUS: (A) lackadaisical (B) eccentric
(C) exemplary (D) corrigible (E) hypocritical

9. BEGRUDGE: (A) mourn silently

(B) grant freely (C) hunger for
(D) advance rapidly (E) fight back

10. BILK: (A) reduce in size (B) make famous

(C) roughen (D) renovate (E) pay in full

11. COMPOSE: (A) disturb (B) reveal (C) strengthen

(D) isolate (E) prevent

12. OCCLUDE: (A) determine (B) transcend (C)

surround (D) open (E) regulate

13. AMBIGUITY: (A) extent (B) success

(C) clarity (D) normality (E) expression

14. AMELIORATION: (A) prevention

(B) aggravation (C) distraction
(D) indifference (E) dissuasion

CAVIL: (A) discern (B) disclose

(C) introduce (D) flatter (E) commend
16. SKEPTICAL: (A) theoretical (B) indifferent
(C) ready to believe (D) eager for change
(E) lost in thought

17. FLEDGLING: (A) experienced person

(B) shy onlooker (C) social outcast
(D) fugitive (E) adversary

18. CRASS: (A) boastful (B) temporary

(C) cheerful (D) refined (E) extensive

19. RECALCITRANT: (A) tractable (B) erratic (C)

intuitive (D) vigorous (E) rambling

20. PROTRACT: (A) defy (B) supplement

(C) postpone (D) shorten (E) design

Antonym Exercise D
Directions: In each of the following antonym questions, a
word printed in capital letters precedes five lettered words
or phrases. From these five lettered words or phrases, pick
the one most nearly opposite in meaning to the capitalized
word.

15.
 Antonym Questions 4
*mm4u ..i. i. M t „m
11. 17. GAMELY: (A) fearfully (B) diligently (C) clumsily
(A) pallor (D)
(B) gloomily (E) respectfully
orderliness
(C) femininity (D) harmlessness (E) cowardice 18. CRESTFALLEN: (A) haughty (B) impolite (C)
frivolous (D) tentative (E) rough
12. ADHERENT: (A) fugitive (B) dissembler (C)
opponent (D) educator (E) witness 19. DESULTORY: (A) apologetic (B) independent (C)
laudatory (D) questionable (E) methodical
13. OSCILLATE: (A) entreat (B) intensify (C) remain
fixed (D) expand gradually (E) wither away 20. PULCHRITUDE: (A) antipathy
(B) unsightliness (C) inexperience (D) languor
14. ASPERITY: (A) gentility (B) superiority (C) (E)rancor
kindness (D) clarity (E) vagueness

15. UNSCATHED: (A) honest (B) gathered (C) injured

(D) cleansed (E) forgiven

16. FETTER: (A) diminish (B) enervate (C) liberate

(D) return (E) cure

17. AUTONOMY: (A) dependence (B) animation

(C) renown (D) altruism (E) antipathy

18. SLACK: (A) rough (B) active (C) liberal

(D) dependent (E) familiar

19. RECOIL: (A) plunge forward (B) cease firing (C)

skirt an issue (D) facilitate (E) surrender

20. ENCUMBER: (A) disburden (B) perform easily (C)

challenge boldly (D) observe with care
(E) suppress

Antonym Exercise E
Directions: In each of the following antonym questions, a
word printed in capital letters precedes five lettered words
or phrases. From these five lettered words or phrases, pick
the one most nearly opposite in meaning to the capitalized
word.

Because some of the questions require you to distinguish

fine shades of meaning, be sure to consider all the choices
before deciding which one is best.

1. OPACITY: (A) iridescence (B) firmness

(C) transparence (D) poverty (E) slum

2. PREDILECTION: (A) postponement

(B) afterthought (C) lamentation
(D) reoccurrence (E) aversion

3. SEEDY: (A) elegant (B) intricate (C) tranquil

(D) irregular (E) slow

4. BOGGLE: (A) disentangle (B) repudiate

(C) ascertain (D) remain unruffled
(E) lack planning
5. HIDEBOUND: (A) strong-willed
(B) open-minded (C) thin-skinned
(D) tenderhearted (E) scatterbrained

6. CASTIGATE: (A) diminish (B) imitate

(C) compare (D) reward (E) misjudge

7. GAMBOL: (A) dodge (B) masquerade (C) digress

(D) plod (E) vex

8. RAUCOUS: (A) orderly (B) absorbent

(C) mellifluous (D) contentious (E) buoyant

9. TAPER: (A) emphasize (B) restore

(C) split (D) broaden (E) modify

10. HIGH-HANDED: (A) dejected (B) reasonable

(C) hard-handed (D) short-handed (E) dynamic

11. DIMINUTION: (A) measurement

(B) proximity (C) augmentation (D) orderliness
(E) inclination

12. DISTEND: (A) tell the truth

(B) respond as expected (C) approximate
(D) collect (E) shrink

13. EMBROIL: (A) disengage (B) remonstrate

(C) refute thoroughly (D) answer hypothetic ally
(E) consider genuinely

14. VOUCHSAFE: (A) postpone (B) dissemble (C)

endanger (D) prohibit (E) justify

15. JETTISON: (A) salvage (B) decelerate

(C) muffle (D) distract (E) anchor

16. STOIC: (A) savant (B) herald (C) whiner

(D) victor (E) bystander
Answer Key Antonym Exercise

Antonym Exercise A
1. E 6. D 11. C 16. B
2. C 7. B 12 D 17. E
3. C 8D 13. E 18. C
4. B 9. A 14. E 19. D
5C 10. A 15. D 20. B Antonym Exercis
Antonym Exercise B