Explanation

Today, we’re going to learn about how you can figure out what a word means by looking at its antonyms in a sentence. An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. Understanding antonyms can help you understand new words you might not know.

Key Rules and Tips:

  1. Look for Clues: Sometimes, writers use antonyms to help explain a word. Words like “but,” “however,” “although,” and “instead” can signal that an antonym is coming.
  2. Context Matters: The sentence or paragraph surrounding a word can give you hints about its meaning.
  3. Practice with Examples: The more you practice, the better you’ll get at spotting these clues.

Example:

  • Sentence: “The room was not dim; it was bright.”
    • Word to Understand: Dim
    • Antonym in Context: Bright
    • Meaning of Dim: Not bright, dull or not well-lit.

Let’s try another:

  • Sentence: “She wasn’t sad; she was elated.”
    • Word to Understand: Elated
    • Antonym in Context: Sad
    • Meaning of Elated: Very happy or joyful.

Easy Questions

  1. The night was not cold; it was ____.
    • Answer: warm
  2. The movie wasn’t boring; it was ____.
    • Answer: exciting
  3. He wasn’t weak; he was ____.
    • Answer: strong
  4. The task wasn’t simple; it was ____.
    • Answer: complex
  5. The garden isn’t dry; it’s ____.
    • Answer: wet
  6. The story isn’t true; it’s ____.
    • Answer: false
  7. The glass isn’t full; it’s ____.
    • Answer: empty
  8. Her voice wasn’t loud; it was ____.
    • Answer: quiet
  9. The road wasn’t smooth; it was ____.
    • Answer: rough
  10. The fruit isn’t ripe; it’s ____.
    • Answer: unripe
  11. The room isn’t clean; it’s ____.
    • Answer: dirty
  12. The answer wasn’t correct; it was ____.
    • Answer: incorrect
  13. The path wasn’t straight; it was ____.
    • Answer: crooked
  14. His mood wasn’t happy; it was ____.
    • Answer: sad
  15. The water isn’t clear; it’s ____.
    • Answer: cloudy
  16. The bread wasn’t fresh; it was ____.
    • Answer: stale
  17. Her hair isn’t curly; it’s ____.
    • Answer: straight
  18. The shirt wasn’t new; it was ____.
    • Answer: old
  19. The sky isn’t cloudy; it’s ____.
    • Answer: clear
  20. The exercise wasn’t hard; it was ____.
    • Answer: easy

Medium Questions

  1. The news wasn’t positive; it was ____.
    • Answer: negative
  2. The decision wasn’t wise; it was ____.
    • Answer: foolish
  3. The animal wasn’t wild; it was ____.
    • Answer: tame
  4. The storm wasn’t mild; it was ____.
    • Answer: severe
  5. The speech wasn’t concise; it was ____.
    • Answer: lengthy
  6. The solution wasn’t effective; it was ____.
    • Answer: ineffective
  7. The joke wasn’t funny; it was ____.
    • Answer: dull
  8. The painting wasn’t vibrant; it was ____.
    • Answer: dull
  9. The room wasn’t spacious; it was ____.
    • Answer: cramped
  10. The teacher wasn’t lenient; he was ____.
    • Answer: strict
  11. The book wasn’t interesting; it was ____.
    • Answer: boring
  12. The meal wasn’t delicious; it was ____.
    • Answer: tasteless
  13. The sky wasn’t bright; it was ____.
    • Answer: dim
  14. His actions weren’t kind; they were ____.
    • Answer: cruel
  15. The music wasn’t loud; it was ____.
    • Answer: soft
  16. The fabric wasn’t smooth; it was ____.
    • Answer: rough
  17. The car wasn’t fast; it was ____.
    • Answer: slow
  18. The conversation wasn’t engaging; it was ____.
    • Answer: dull
  19. The day wasn’t sunny; it was ____.
    • Answer: cloudy
  20. The river wasn’t calm; it was ____.
    • Answer: turbulent

High Questions

  1. The theory wasn’t proven; it was ____.
    • Answer: disproven
  2. His demeanor wasn’t calm; it was ____.
    • Answer: agitated
  3. The atmosphere wasn’t cheerful; it was ____.
    • Answer: gloomy
  4. Her response wasn’t polite; it was ____.
    • Answer: rude
  5. The outcome wasn’t expected; it was ____.
    • Answer: unexpected
  6. The structure wasn’t stable; it was ____.
    • Answer: unstable
  7. The fabric wasn’t durable; it was ____.
    • Answer: flimsy
  8. The weather wasn’t favorable; it was ____.
    • Answer: unfavorable
  9. The material wasn’t transparent; it was ____.
    • Answer: opaque
  10. The flight wasn’t smooth; it was ____.
    • Answer: bumpy
  11. The noise wasn’t faint; it was ____.
    • Answer: loud
  12. The connection wasn’t weak; it was ____.
    • Answer: strong
  13. The situation wasn’t ordinary; it was ____.
    • Answer: extraordinary
  14. The system wasn’t efficient; it was ____.
    • Answer: inefficient
  15. The lake wasn’t shallow; it was ____.
    • Answer: deep
  16. The plan wasn’t practical; it was ____.
    • Answer: impractical
  17. The design wasn’t conventional; it was ____.
    • Answer: unconventional
  18. The surface wasn’t glossy; it was ____.
    • Answer: matte
  19. His intent wasn’t malicious; it was ____.
    • Answer: benevolent
  20. The animal wasn’t nocturnal; it was ____.
    • Answer: diurnal

I hope all these examples and questions help you understand how to determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context. Keep practicing, and you’ll get even better at it!