HSPT Verbal : Antonyms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #121 : Antonyms

Accede is the opposite of __________.

Possible Answers:

acquiesce

endorse

disallow

subscribe

Correct answer:

disallow

Explanation:

"Acquiesce," "endorse," and "subscribe" are all synonyms of "accede." "Accede" means to give consent, approval, or adherence.

"Disallow" means to refuse to permit, or reject.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, And Progress

An antonym for tame is __________.

Possible Answers:

frightening

terror

caged

carnivorous

wild

Correct answer:

wild

Explanation:

A number of the options provided for answers are likely tempting. When something is not tame, it likely must be caged. Similarly, it is a terror and frightening. Indeed, something “carnivorous” (meat eating) might be thought not to be tame; however, in all of these cases, the words do not directly oppose the notion of being tame. Only “wild” adequately opposes the notion of being “tame” in the sense of being “domesticated,” that is, “house broken” (like a pet). While the others are not unrelated, they are not sufficient antonyms either.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, And Progress

An antonym of "corrupt" is __________.

Possible Answers:

distance

approve

misuse

exalt

ameliorate

Correct answer:

ameliorate

Explanation:

We tend to think of corruption in terms of moral decay. This is a true use of the word, but it is a restricted meaning. Primarily, the term indicates the deterioration of something from a state of purity. In contrast to such corruption, the "bettering" of something would be an excellent antonym. The word "ameliorate" indicates just such improvement. It comes from the Latin "melior," meaning better. It literally means to make better.

Example Question #31 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "waver" is __________.

Possible Answers:

militate

straighten

persist

bemoan

belittle

Correct answer:

persist

Explanation:

The word "waver" is derived from the physical act of moving in a wave pattern. However, it most often indicates the psychological state of going "back and forth" between two options without being able to make a decision. Often too, a wavering person is filled with doubt. In contrast to this, a person who persists shows a sureness that is quite the opposite of the phenomenon of wavering. Among the options provided, this is the best option for an antonym.

Example Question #32 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "impede" is __________.

Possible Answers:

crescendo

destroy

diminish

accept

facilitate

Correct answer:

facilitate

Explanation:

When something is impeded, it is prevented from doing its activity. The word literally comes from the Latin roots meaning to place something on the foot. (The word "pedestrian" has the same "pede" in it.) An antonym for impede would express the activity of helping something on its way. Among the options provided, the best such word is "facilitate," meaning to make easier. The "facil-" prefix means easy, as in "facile."

Example Question #33 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "sanction" is ___________.

Possible Answers:

reduce

corrupt

proscribe

levy

incarcerate

Correct answer:

proscribe

Explanation:

The word "sanction" can have two meanings when it is used as a verb. On the one hand, it can mean to threaten with a penalty. On the other hand, it can also mean to approve. Luckily, none of the wrong answers are an antonym for the meaning of threatening with a penalty. Therefore, we must assume that it means to approve. In contrast to this, to "proscribe" can mean to outlaw or to forbid.

Example Question #31 : Antonyms: Verbs

An antonym of "transfer" is __________.

Possible Answers:

disdain

relocate

grant

retain

convey

Correct answer:

retain

Explanation:

The word "transfer" literally means to carry across (as in carrying across a border). When someone transfers goods or money, he or she sends them to someone else (or to another place). In contrast to such conveyance, we could consider an antonym to be "to hold on to." The word "retain" means just this, namely to keep something in someone's own possession (instead of giving it).

Example Question #121 : Antonyms

An antonym of "subsist" is ___________.

Possible Answers:

accede

obscure

burgeon

meander

survive

Correct answer:

burgeon

Explanation:

When someone is said to "subsist" on something, he or she barely survives—only well enough to keep together his or her physical being. This comes from the old philosophical notion of subsistence, which indicates the basic existence of a being—though not necessarily implying any great flourishing. In contrast to this, "burgeoning" growth is great, fruitful growth. When something or someone is burgeoning, that thing is greatly flourishing. This is a good contrast to merely "subsisting."

Example Question #125 : Antonyms

An antonym of "extol" is __________.

Possible Answers:

neglect

acclaim

disclaim

deride

laud

Correct answer:

deride

Explanation:

The word "extol" means to praise. Several options among the answers are synonyms for this—"laud" and "acclaim". The word "disclaim" is not an antonym. It means to deny. This is not the opposite of praising, however. The word "deride" means to show contempt about something. It is related to "ridicule" and "ridiculous"—the idea being that "deriding" means to make fun of something.

Example Question #126 : Antonyms

An antonym of "jeopardize" is __________.

Possible Answers:

reckon

estimate

support

miscalculate

preserve

Correct answer:

preserve

Explanation:

When we put something "into jeopardy," we put that thing at risk. The verb "jeopardize" merely signifies the act of putting something into such a risky situation. The best contrast to this is to protect the thing. Among the options provided, only "preserve" has this sense of protecting in contrast to endangering the thing in question.

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