englishforeveryone.org Name Date Antonyms 4 Level 10 Directions: Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters. 1. FERVOR A. apathy B. affinity C. trepidation D. apprehension E. ardor 2. INEPT A. artless B. deft C. maladroit D. lethargic E. insipid 3. STATIC A. combative B. toxic C. inert D. latent E. mercurial 4. REMISS A. meticulous B. negligent C. culpable D. hesitant E. tactile 5. CONCISE A. taciturn B. alliterative C. verbose D. abbreviated E. loquacious 6. RASH A. cautious B. zealous C. audacious D. amenable E. impetuous 7. DISINGENUOUS A. ambiguous B. candid C. crafty D. fallacious E. hygienic 8. PRUDENT A. sagacious B. humorless C. stoic D. whimsical E. impervious 9. MERCIFUL A. capricious B. callous C. condoling D. convivial E. callow 10. VIVACIOUS A. sorrowful B. mirthful C. dynamic D. strenuous E. languid
Answers and Explanations 1) A The word fervor means a great warmth of feeling. Fervor is something shown by someone with a passion for something. The opposite of fervor is a lack of passion or feeling. Because apathy means a lack of interest or passion, choice (A) is correct. (B) is incorrect because affinity means a natural liking to something. This is not the opposite of fervor. (C) is incorrect because trepidation means fear or agitation. This is not the opposite of fervor. (D) is incorrect because apprehension means a fear of future troubles. This is not the opposite of fervor. (E) is incorrect because ardor means a great warmth of feeling. This is synonymous with fervor, not the opposite of it. 2) B The word inept means lacking skill. One is inept if he or she cannot perform a task well. The opposite of inept is possessing skill. Because deft means skillful, choice (B) is correct. (A) is incorrect because artless means free from deceit. This is not the opposite of inept. (C) is incorrect because maladroit means lacking skill. This is synonymous with inept, not the opposite of it. (D) is incorrect because lethargic means lacking energy. This is not the opposite of inept. (E) is incorrect because insipid means lacking flavor or excitement. This is not the opposite of inept. 3) E The word static means unchanging. Something is static if it is stable or fixed. The opposite of static is changing. Because mercurial means rapidly changing, choice (E) is correct. (A) is incorrect because combative means argumentative or ready to fight. This is not the opposite of static. (B) is incorrect because toxic means poisonous. This is not the opposite of static.
(C) is incorrect because inert means unmoving. This is not the opposite of static. (D) is incorrect because latent means present but not visible. This is not the opposite of static. 4) A The word remiss means negligent. One is remiss if he or she does not do something he or she is supposed to do. The opposite of remiss is being careful or responsible. Because meticulous means taking extreme care about details, choice (A) is correct. (B) is incorrect because negligent means lazily careless. This is synonymous with remiss, not the opposite of it. (C) is incorrect because culpable means deserving blame. This is not the opposite of remiss. (D) is incorrect because hesitant means doubtful or uncertain. This is not the opposite of remiss. (E) is incorrect because tactile means perceptible to touch. This is not the opposite of remiss. 5) C The word concise means succinct or brief in form though expressing a great deal. A written statement is concise if it is short in length but still thorough. The opposite of concise is the use of too many words. Because verbose means wordy, choice (C) is correct. (A) is incorrect because taciturn means inclined to silence. This is not the opposite of concise. (B) is incorrect because alliterative means using two or more words that start with the same letter in a section of text. For example, crazy cats could count cash is alliterative. This is not the opposite of concise. (D) is incorrect because abbreviated means shortened. This is nearly synonymous with concise, not the opposite of it. (E) is incorrect because loquacious means talkative. Because concise does not necessarily refer to speech and could instead refer to a printed text, loquacious is not the best antonym of concise. 6) A The word rash means acting or tending to act too hastily. Someone is rash if he or she does things without thinking about them before doing them. The opposite of rash
is not doing things hastily, or thinking about things ahead of time. Because cautious means careful or showing wariness, choice (A) is correct. (B) is incorrect because zealous means passionate. This is not the opposite of rash. (C) is incorrect because audacious means extremely bold or daring. This is not the opposite of rash. (D) is incorrect because amenable means agreeable or submissive. This is not the opposite of rash. (E) is incorrect because impetuous means impulsive. This is synonymous with rash, not the opposite of it. 7) B The word disingenuous means lacking in sincerity. Someone is disingenuous if he or she is insincere about what he or she says or does. The opposite of disingenuous is showing sincerity. Because candid means frank or sincere, choice (B) is correct. (A) is incorrect because ambiguous means having several possible interpretations or being unclear. This is not the opposite of disingenuous. (C) is incorrect because crafty means skillful in underhanded schemes. This is not the opposite of disingenuous. (D) is incorrect because fallacious means logically unsound or misleading. This is practically synonymous with disingenuous, not the opposite of it. (E) is incorrect because hygienic means sanitary. This is not the opposite of disingenuous. 8) D The word prudent means wise in practical affairs. Someone is prudent if he or she shows caution or plans wisely for the future. The opposite of prudent is being unwise in practical affairs or being fanciful. Because whimsical means capricious or given to fanciful notions, choice (D) is correct. (A) is incorrect because sagacious means shrewd or showing acute mental discernment. This is synonymous with prudent, not the opposite of it. (B) is incorrect because humorless means lacking comedy or amusement. This is not the opposite of prudent. (C) is incorrect because stoic means unmoved by joy or lacking in emotion. This is not the opposite of prudent.
(E) is incorrect because impervious means impenetrable. This is not the opposite of prudent. 9) B The word merciful means compassionate. One is merciful if he or she empathizes with another in a time of trouble. The opposite of merciful is lacking compassion. Because callous means cold or insensitive, choice (B) is correct. (A) is incorrect because capricious means whimsical or fanciful. This is not the opposite of merciful. (C) is incorrect because condoling means expressing sympathy for one suffering misfortune. This is synonymous with merciful, not the opposite of it. (D) is incorrect because convivial means friendly. This is not the opposite of merciful. (E) is incorrect because callow means immature or inexperienced. This is not the opposite of merciful. 10) D The word vivacious means lively. Something is vivacious if it is animated or spirited. The opposite of vivacious is listless or lifeless. Because languid means listless or lacking in spirit, choice (D) is correct. (A) is incorrect because sorrowful means sad or gloomy. This is not the opposite of vivacious, because gloomy and lacking in spirit are not the same thing. (B) is incorrect because mirthful means joyous or gay. This is synonymous with vivacious, not the opposite of it. (C) is incorrect because dynamic means characterized by energy. This is synonymous with vivacious, not the opposite of it. (E) is incorrect because strenuous means showing vigorous exertion. This is not the opposite of vivacious.