Lesson: Antonyms - 02

Antonyms: The 5-step plan

Your first task in this chapter is to learn the 5 basic steps for handling a style Antonym. After reviewing the following steps, you’ll apply them to three examples.

Step 1: Determine the Headword’s Part of Speech

Check whether the answer choices are nouns, verbs, or adjectives. (They’ll all be the same within each question.) Assume that the headword is of the same part of speech as the answer choices.

Step 2: Define the Headword

Be as specific as possible. If the headword is difficult to define, try to think of a close synonym that’s an everyday word. If the headword has two distinct definitions (given its part of speech), keep both in mind.

Step 3: Compare Each Answer Choice with Your Definition of the

At this point, eliminate any answer choices that fit your definition (those that are synonyms instead of antonyms). Also eliminate answer choices that bear no clear relationship to your definition.

Step 4: Compare the Quality of the Remaining Choices

Choose the answer that is most nearly opposite in meaning to your definition. If you’re having trouble choosing a clear winner, either you have the definition of the headword wrong or you failed to consider another meaning of the headword. Don’t give up: Go back to step 2 and try again.

Ask yourself, “Is my selection a close antonym of the capitalized word?” If so, confirm that selection and move on to the next question.

Applying the 5-Step Plan

These steps are the key steps in solving Antonym questions. Let’s apply these 5 steps to three style Antonyms.

Example 1

Explanation

Step 1: The first three answer choices are adjectives only. Thus, LOQUACIOUS must be an adjective.

Step 2: LOQUACIOUS carries two similar but distinct meanings: “talkative” (more common) and “wordy” (less common). These are good synonyms as well. Keep them both in mind.

Step 3:Choices (A), (B), and (C) bear no clear relationship to either talkative or wordy. Eliminate them!

Step 4: Choices (D) and (E) are the only two viable answer choices. Let’s examine each one in turn.

Compact (an adjective here) means “condensed or compressed.” Wordy speech is characterized by the opposite of compactness. So compact is clearly contrary in meaning to LOQUACIOUS. Articulate (an adjective here) means “well-spoken, eloquent, or fluent.” But does an articulate person necessarily speak in a brief, concise manner (the opposite of wordy)? Not necessarily. Brevity or conciseness is not part of the job description for an articulate person. Accordingly, articulate is not nearly as opposite in meaning to LOQUACIOUS as compact.

Step 5: Choice (D) appears to be the best answer. Let’s verify our decision. Is LOQUACIOUS contrary in meaning to compact? Yes. The correct answer is (D).

Example 2

Explanation

Step 1: TABLE is a very common word, so you can bet that it has an uncommon definition that is the focus of this question. All the answer choices are verbs, so TABLE must also be a verb here.

Step 2: TABLE as a verb means “to lay aside a proposal for an indefinite period of time.” Two everyday words that are similar in meaning are delay and postpone.

Step 3: Choices (B), (C), and (D) are completely unrelated to delay and postpone (and to TABLE). Eliminate them.

Step 4: Proceed is contrary in meaning to table. Stall means “to delay or procrastinate.” Stall is a synonym for TABLE, so choice (E) gets it backwards. Eliminate it!

Step 5: Choice (A) appears to be the best answer. Let’s verify our decision. Is proceed contrary in meaning to TABLE? Yes. The correct answer is (A).

Example 3

Step 1: All of the answer choices define nouns, so RETRIBUTION must be a noun.

Step 2: RETRIBUTION means “revenge or vengeance“—in other words, “getting even with someone.” Both are good synonyms.

Step 3: Let’s consider each answer choice. We’ll compare each one to the phrase “getting even.” Is a delightful experience a good definition of what “getting even” is not? No. In fact, vengeance might actually be a delightful experience, at least for the avenger. Eliminate choice (A). Is forgiveness for an offense a good definition of what “getting even” is not? Yes! A person who seeks to get even with another has not forgiven the other person. So choice (B) is indeed part of the definition of what retribution is not. Is restraint in behavior a good definition of what “getting even” is not? Perhaps. “Getting even” is indeed characterized by a lack of restraint in behavior. But is restraint part of the definition of the opposite of “getting even”? Perhaps not. Let’s earmark answer choice (C) for now, and move on to choices (D) and (E).

Is return to normality a good definition of what “getting even” is not? No. Getting even results in a return to equilibrium, but it may or may not result in a return to a normal relationship between the avenger and avenged. The connection is not clear enough, so eliminate choice (D). Is a generous donation a good definition of what “getting even” is not? No. “Getting even” is certainly contrary to making a gift; but it isn't part of the definition. Eliminate choice (E).

Step 4: Choices (B) and (C) are the only two viable choices. Notice that choice (C) describes the lack of vengeance, but it doesn't describe what vengeance is not. This distinction is crucial—in fact, it’s the reason why choice (B) is a better answer choice than choice (C). If you’re still not convinced, try the reverse route: What word is the opposite of “restraint in behavior”? Impulsiveness or spontaneity. These are hardly good synonyms for vengeance, are they?

Step 5: Let’s verify our decision. Is “forgiveness for an offense” a good definition of what retribution (vengeance) is not? Yes. The correct answer is (B).

Next to display next topic in the chapter.

Antonym questions test not only your vocabulary but also your ability to reason from a concept to its opposite. So while a solid vocabulary is the most important factor in success, a bit of logic comes into play as well. As always, we’ll get things started with an X-ray.