verbal · 22 minutes · Official OETT Aligned
Antonyms: Opposite Meanings
Choose the word that means the opposite
What to know
- antonym: a word with an opposite meaning
- words such as not and least
- word parts that reverse meaning
It is easy to choose a similar meaning when the question asks for the opposite.
The core rule
Check that the question asks for an opposite. Define the word, then look for its reverse.
An antonym is an opposite, such as hot and cold. The two words must describe opposite ends of the same idea. Scarce means there is very little; abundant means there is plenty. A word that is simply different is not enough.
Worked examples
Example 1: easy
Scarce reverses to abundant.
- Scarce means there is very little available.
- Abundant means there is plenty, so it is the opposite.
Both words describe how much is available.
Example 2: medium
Rigid reverses to flexible.
- Rigid means stiff or hard to bend.
- Flexible means able to bend, so it is the opposite.
Soft can describe how a surface feels without saying whether it bends.
Example 3: hard
Transparent reverses to opaque, while visible is only associated with seeing.
- Transparent means you can see through it.
- Opaque means light cannot pass through it. Visible only means something can be seen.
Opaque means the opposite of transparent: it blocks light instead of letting it pass.
Common mistakes
Any different word is an antonym.
The answer must mean the opposite of the same quality or action.
Put it into practice
Use guided explanations, check your answers, and try a new variation.