Opposites: verbal reasoning questions with answers

Eight opposites questions

1. Which two words, one from each group, are most opposite in meaning?

   (loyal exhausted glum) (ancient scorching treacherous)

   Mark ONE word in each group.

   • A loyal
   • B exhausted
   • C glum

   • X ancient
   • Y scorching
   • Z treacherous
   Show the answer to question 1

   Answer: A, Z · loyal, treacherous

   Why:

   Take each word in the first group in turn, and look in the second group for a word that means the opposite.

   "Loyal" and "treacherous" are opposites: "loyal" means always standing by someone; "treacherous" means turning against the people who trust you. The others: "exhausted", needing rest or sleep; "glum", feeling low, as when something has gone wrong; "ancient", very, very old; "scorching", having great heat.

2. Which two words, one from each group, are most opposite in meaning?

   (loyal abrupt precious) (spotless worthless energetic)

   Mark ONE word in each group.

   • A loyal
   • B abrupt
   • C precious

   • X spotless
   • Y worthless
   • Z energetic
   Show the answer to question 2

   Answer: C, Y · precious, worthless

   Why:

   Take each word in the first group in turn, and look in the second group for a word that means the opposite.

   "Precious" and "worthless" are opposites: "precious" means worth a lot; "worthless" means worth nothing. The others: "loyal", always standing by someone; "abrupt", happening quickly and without warning; "spotless", with no dirt on it; "energetic", full of energy.

3. Which two words, one from each group, are most opposite in meaning?

   (enthusiastic devoted treacherous) (messy loyal scarce)

   Mark ONE word in each group.

   • A enthusiastic
   • B devoted
   • C treacherous

   • X messy
   • Y loyal
   • Z scarce
   Show the answer to question 3

   Answer: C, Y · treacherous, loyal

   Why:

   Take each word in the first group in turn, and look in the second group for a word that means the opposite.

   "Treacherous" and "loyal" are opposites: "treacherous" means turning against the people who trust you; "loyal" means always standing by someone. "Devoted" means nearly the same as "loyal", which is not the opposite. The others: "enthusiastic", wanting very much to do something; "messy", not in order, all over the place; "scarce", not found often.

4. Which two words, one from each group, are most opposite in meaning?

   (strange disrespectful huge) (excited tiny bumpy)

   Mark ONE word in each group.

   • A strange
   • B disrespectful
   • C huge

   • X excited
   • Y tiny
   • Z bumpy
   Show the answer to question 4

   Answer: C, Y · huge, tiny

   Why:

   Take each word in the first group in turn, and look in the second group for a word that means the opposite.

   "Huge" and "tiny" are opposites: "huge" means very big; "tiny" means very small. The others: "strange", not what you would expect; "disrespectful", having bad manners; "excited", full of eager feeling; "bumpy", full of bumps, not smooth.

5. Which two words, one from each group, are most opposite in meaning?

   (snigger expand decrease) (increase buy enquire)

   Mark ONE word in each group.

   • A snigger
   • B expand
   • C decrease

   • X increase
   • Y buy
   • Z enquire
   Show the answer to question 5

   Answer: C, X · decrease, increase

   Why:

   Take each word in the first group in turn, and look in the second group for a word that means the opposite.

   "Decrease" and "increase" are opposites: "decrease" means to make or become smaller; "increase" means to make or become bigger. "Expand" means nearly the same as "increase", which is not the opposite. The others: "snigger", to make the sounds of finding something funny; "buy", to get by paying; "enquire", to try to find something out by speaking to someone.

6. Which two words, one from each group, are most opposite in meaning?

   (rich silly wise) (foolish deceitful untidy)

   Mark ONE word in each group.

   • A rich
   • B silly
   • C wise

   • X foolish
   • Y deceitful
   • Z untidy
   Show the answer to question 6

   Answer: C, X · wise, foolish

   Why:

   Take each word in the first group in turn, and look in the second group for a word that means the opposite.

   "Wise" and "foolish" are opposites: "wise" means showing good sense; "foolish" means not showing good sense. "Silly" means nearly the same as "foolish", which is not the opposite. The others: "rich", having a lot of money; "deceitful", tricking people and telling lies; "untidy", not in order, all over the place.

7. Which two words, one from each group, are most opposite in meaning?

   (ancient doubtful unusual) (unsure miserly certain)

   Mark ONE word in each group.

   • A ancient
   • B doubtful
   • C unusual

   • X unsure
   • Y miserly
   • Z certain
   Show the answer to question 7

   Answer: B, Z · doubtful, certain

   Why:

   Take each word in the first group in turn, and look in the second group for a word that means the opposite.

   "Doubtful" and "certain" are opposites: "doubtful" means not sure; "certain" means with no doubt. "Unsure" means nearly the same as "doubtful", which is not the opposite. The others: "ancient", very, very old; "unusual", not what you would expect; "miserly", not wanting to give or spend.

8. Which two words, one from each group, are most opposite in meaning?

   (abundant correct dry) (huge wet diligent)

   Mark ONE word in each group.

   • A abundant
   • B correct
   • C dry

   • X huge
   • Y wet
   • Z diligent
   Show the answer to question 8

   Answer: C, Y · dry, wet

   Why:

   Take each word in the first group in turn, and look in the second group for a word that means the opposite.

   "Dry" and "wet" are opposites: "dry" means with no water in it; "wet" means covered in or full of water. The others: "abundant", found often, or in large amounts; "correct", matching the facts; "huge", very big; "diligent", working hard and well.