Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity - HSPT Language Skills

"Annihilation" and "destruction" are strong synonyms, just as "creation" and "construction" have similar meanings.

When someone is weary, he or she is tired and lacking energy; therefore, “weary” and “energetic” are antonyms. In looking for an antonym for “plain,” the best option is “ostentatious,” which means “showy” (often with the negative connotation that the showiness is done in order to attract attention). This is an adequate antonym for “plain.”

A vacuum is a space lacking matter. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten as, “Just a vacuum lacks matter, so does something unintelligible lack X.” When something is unintelligible, it makes little or no sense and cannot be understood. It could thus be said to lack meaning for someone trying to understand it.

The word “charitable” can mean merely “kindly” but also can describe activities of giving money to helpful causes. Someone who is described as being charitable is likely not to be stingy, which means “cheap” or “unwilling to spend money.” Thus, the analogy could fairly be understood as one of antonyms. The best option for an antonym for “improve” is the relatively simple “decline.” None of the other options has a meaning directly opposed to “improve.”

Destitution is a state of extreme poverty, so a person living in destitution could be said to be in the state of lacking wealth. Something “frigid” is very cold, thus being best described as lacking any heat. This is the best option among those provided.

Something that is safe lacks danger. Thus, this analogy could be rewritten, “As something safe lacks danger, so does a wakeful state lack X.” When someone is wakeful, he or she either does not need sleep or cannot do so. Likewise, the word can be used to describe a period of time as in “a wakeful night.” In the latter case, it means “a night passed without sleep.” The word “sleep” is the best option for that which is lacking in wakefulness.

Something that is impregnable is unable to be broken or destroyed. For instance, an “impregnable fortress” is one believed to be completely safe and unable to be overcome. Such a thing lacks any weakness. Thus, the analogy could be written, “As something impregnable lacks weakness, something flaccid lacks X.” Something flaccid is soft, loose, or flabby. Such a thing lacks firmness.

"Composed" and "agitated" are antonyms, as are "urgent" and "unimportant."

"Proud" and "humble" are strong opposites, just as "silence" and "clamor" are antonyms.

"Unsure" and "certain" are clearly antonyms; therefore the opposite of "enlightened" is "ignorant."

"Disturbed" and "troubled" are both antonyms of "pacific" and "tranquil."

"Temperate" and "scorching" are opposites, just as "mild" and "sweltering" are opposites.

"Sophisticated" and "brutish" are antonyms; therefore the opossite of "civilized" is "uncultured."

"Revoke" and "enact" are strong antonyms; therefore the opposite of "abolish" is to "establish."

"Stout" and "slight" mean opposite things; therefore an antonym for "portly" is "lean."

"Liberal" and "conservative" are antonyms, just as "spendthrift" and "miser" mean the opposite thing.

"Decent" and "polite" are synonyms, just as "improper" and "misbehaving" are similar in meaning.

"Famous" and "obscure" are both antonyms; therefore the opposite of "unbiased" would be "prejudiced."

"Paradise" and "hell" are antonyms, therefore the opposite of "fictitious" is "genuine."

"Astute" and "inept" have opposite meanings; therefore "perceptive" and "naïve" are antonyms.