Tips and Tricks: Antonyms | English Language & Comprehension for SSC CGL PDF Download

Below mentioned are some tips to solve antonym questions, being asked in most of the competitive exams

• Firstly, dissect the word into two parts (suffix or prefix) and attempt to grasp the meaning of the word, discerning whether it carries a negative, positive, or neutral connotation.
• Separate the words among the options into those with a negative impact and those with a positive effect.
• If tasked with finding the opposite of a word with a positive connotation, the inverse would be a word from the given options with a negative connotation.
• Even when unfamiliar with the meaning of any word in the options, choices can be narrowed down to almost half.
• This strategy proves highly advantageous when dealing with questions featuring multiple words whose meanings are unknown.
• It is also recommended to engage in regular practice and participate in mock tests for enhanced performance in the main exams.

Examples

Type 1. Gradable Antonyms:
In this category, both words (that is. The word and it’s opposite) fall in the continuous cycle.

Q1: Find the opposite of the below-mentioned word:

Beautiful
(a) Benevolent
(b) Ugly
(c) Alluring
(d) Bewitching
Ans: (b)
Beautiful is a positive word. Hence its opposite will be the word carrying a negative connotation. And it is evident by looking at the options, that ugly is the only word carrying a negative connotation. Otherwise, all the remaining options are positive.
Hence option B is the correct one.

Q2: Which word from the given options is the opposite of the below-mentioned word:

Wide
(a) Narrow
(b) Ample
(c) Broad
(d) Extensive
Ans: (a)
The opposite of wide is narrow, hence option A is the correct one since all the remaining options mean similar to the given word.

Type 2. Complementary Antonyms:
In this category, both words (Ie. The word and it’s opposite) do not fall in the perpetual spectrum.
Q3: Find the antonym of below word:

Dead
(a) Stiff
(b) Departed
(c) Cold
(d) Alive
Ans: (d)
The opposite of dead is alive. Hence option D is the correct one.
Since all the remaining options mean similar to the given word

Q4: Find the antonym of:

Entrance.
(a) Arrival
(b) Exit
(c) Destination
(d) Archway
Ans: (b)
The opposite of entrance will be an exit. Hence option B is the correct one.

Type 3. Tips and Tricks and Shortcuts Relational Antonyms:
Such antonyms make sense only when they are read together.

Q5: Find the antonym of the below word:

Parent
(a) Child
(b) Ancestors
(c) Creator
(d) Wellspring
Ans: (a)
The opposite of a parent is a child. Hence option A is the correct one. Since all the remaining options nearly hold the same meaning to the given word.