HSPT Verbal : Antonyms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

An antonym of "loyalty" is __________.

Possible Answers:

fidelity

rebel

reconnaissance

treachery

scalawag

Correct answer:

treachery

Explanation:

The word "loyalty" is quite easy and well known. Do not, of course, answer "fidelity," for this is a synonym—which we are not looking for at all! The word "rebel" and "scalawag" both describe people who are not very loyal. However, we are looking for a word that is an abstract concept that is opposed to loyalty. To be treacherous is to be someone who betrays the trust that someone else puts in him or her. This is the opposite of being loyal; hence, this is an excellent option for an antonym.

Example Question #5 : Antonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

An antonym of "immortality" is __________.

Possible Answers:

transience

morality

uprightness

decadence

divinity

Correct answer:

transience

Explanation:

First of all, note well that the word is "immortality," not "immorality"! This mistake could lead you to pick one of the wrong answers, especially the seemingly simple "morality" but also "uprightness." An "immortal" thing is one that is undying. Often, we will use this to speak of divinities—immortal gods. It can also refer to ideas that are unchanging or undying. Thus, in contrast to this, transient things are ones that are passing. Transience describes the state of being passing in such a manner.

Example Question #6 : Antonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

"Abasement" is the opposite of __________.

Possible Answers:

creation

dungeon

fort

humiliation

honor

Correct answer:

honor

Explanation:

"Abasement" means humiliation or degradation. You might abase a fellow student by bullying them. The opposite meaning would be to "honor" someone. "Humiliation" is a synonym of abasement, not an antonym. Although "abasement" sounds like the word "basement," they do not have similar meanings, so "dungeon" and "fort" should be eliminated. "Creation" is also not an antonym of "abasement."

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "dispute" is __________.

Possible Answers:

recognize

disagree

posit

forbear

question

Correct answer:

recognize

Explanation:

When two people dispute something, they do not agree on the topic. If we isolate one of those people, he or she might say, "I dispute your claim that (e.g.) the Middle Ages are underappreciated." This means that the person does not believe the claim about the importance of the Middle Ages. In general, dispute can mean either to argue about or (as we now see) to question the truth or validity of an assertion. In contrast to such doubt or questioning, one could accept or recognize a fact as being true.

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

An antonym of "ponder" is __________.

Possible Answers:

disregard

consider

scrutinize

remark

observe

Correct answer:

disregard

Explanation:

None of the options provided here are great antonyms, but we can definitely remove bad candidates and find an answer that is good enough for our purposes. The word "ponder" means to think about deeply. To "scrutinize" something is to pay attention to its details, and to "observe" and "consider" are both options that at least note consideration of an object. Of course, observation and consideration are rather uninvolved in contrast to pondering. In another question, they might be options for correct answers. However, we have the option "disregard." This is more opposed to pondering than "observe" and "consider." Since "remark" is really not useful at all for our purposes, the answer must be "disregard."

Example Question #3 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "illuminate" is __________.

Possible Answers:

question

adjudicate

disinterest

dissociate

complicate

Correct answer:

complicate

Explanation:

The word "illuminate" is most often associated with its literal, physical notion—the phenomenon of light that illuminates a given surface. However, there are no words here that are directly related to such physical light. The word "illuminate" can be used to describe intellectual endeavors, when one thing "sheds light" on another—that is, makes the other thing clearer. In contrast to such illumination, there is the phenomenon of an overly complicated argument. When someone complicates a matter, he or she makes it less clear.

Example Question #4 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "recollect" is __________.

Possible Answers:

disabuse

commemorate

omit

reminisce

retain

Correct answer:

omit

Explanation:

A set of "recollections" is a group of memories that have been gathered together. (Yes, the word is a bit like saying "re+collecting" as in "collecting together again.") When we recollect something, we attempt to bring back and report such a memory. If we do not call back such a thought, we then would omit it from such recollection. "Reminisce" and even "commemorate" are both rather synonymous, while "disabuse" and "retain" are neither synonyms nor antonyms for our purposes. Therefore, "omit" is the best option among those provided for an antonym.

Example Question #5 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "recant" is __________.

Possible Answers:

misrepresent

decant

assume

detract

undertake

Correct answer:

assume

Explanation:

When someone recants something, he or she "gives back" something that he or she held to be true. Generally, it is a question of recanting an opinion or a statement. For instance, we might say, "Thomas refused to recant his belief in Aristotle's writings, for he believed the Greek thinker to have spoken the truth." Thomas refuses to say that he no longer believes in the truthfulness of Aristotle. In contrast to such recanting, one can "assume" something by taking it up. Often this has the sense of "assuming an identity" or "assuming an uncertain fact to be true." The general point is that "assuming" means to take up as opposed to "recanting" which means something like to let go or give up.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

An antonym of "exculpate" is __________.

Possible Answers:

detest

pardon

absolve

defame

incriminate

Correct answer:

incriminate

Explanation:

When someone is culpable, he or she is guilty of something. Evidence or arguments that are "exculpatory" are ones that help to show the innocence of a person. They take away the guilt—"ex" (away) + "cuplate" (guilt / fault). The options "pardon" and "absolve" are both relative synonyms for this. To "defame" someone is to ruin his or her reputation. If there were no other options, this might pass for a distant antonym option; however, the best antonym option is "incriminate," which literally means to make into a criminal, or, by a more standard definition, to make someone seem guilty.

Example Question #7 : Antonyms: Verbs

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

OBFUSCATE

Possible Answers:

Enigma

Plaudit

Stubborn

Headstrong

Simplify

Correct answer:

Simplify

Explanation:

"Obfuscate" is a verb which means to make unclear; to confuse or bewilder. "Simplify" is a verb which means to make clear. This is the exact opposite of "obfuscate."

"Enigma" is a noun meaning a mystery or a puzzle. You may use an "enigma" to "obfuscate" a situation, but they are not antonyms.

"Stubborn" and "headstrong" are both adjectives meaning willful or determined.

"Plaudit" is a noun meaning praise.

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