Synonyms & Antonyms
Words with same or opposite meanings
Explanation
Synonyms
Synonyms are words with the same or very similar meaning.
Examples:
- Happy → Joyful, Elated, Cheerful, Content
- Angry → Furious, Irate, Annoyed
- Big → Large, Enormous, Vast, Huge
Antonyms
Antonyms are words with the opposite meaning.
Examples:
- Hot ↔ Cold | Ancient ↔ Modern | Generous ↔ Stingy
- Expand ↔ Contract | Transparent ↔ Opaque
Prefixes & Degrees of Meaning
Using Prefixes to Form Antonyms
| Prefix | Example |
|---|---|
| un- | happy → unhappy, kind → unkind |
| dis- | agree → disagree, honest → dishonest |
| im-/in- | possible → impossible, correct → incorrect |
| non- | sense → nonsense, stop → nonstop |
Degrees of Meaning
Synonyms are rarely identical — they vary in intensity or context:
- Sad → unhappy (mild) → sorrowful (strong) → devastated (very strong)
- Walk → stroll (leisurely) → march (purposeful) → trudge (wearily)
Key Tips for the Selective Exam
- Read the word in its sentence context — meaning can shift by context
- Eliminate clearly wrong options first, then choose between the remaining ones
- Learn common roots: port = carry, dict = say, vis = see, bene = good
- Watch for false antonyms — "inflammable" and "flammable" mean the same thing!
Sample Practice Questions
-
Choose the synonym for 'bewildered'.
Show answer
Answer: Confused
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What is an antonym for 'generous'?
Show answer
Answer: Stingy
-
Which word is an antonym for 'ancient'?
Show answer
Answer: Modern
-
What is an antonym for 'abundant'?
Show answer
Answer: Scarce
Practice Questions
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