Antonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs - HSPT Verbal Skills

The word "substantial" can mean that something is not ideal but instead is real and tangible. (Something "tangible" can be touched. This is related to the word "tactile.") In contrast to something substantial, the word "intangible"—not touchable—is an excellent antonym.

"Placid" is an adjective that can mean calm; not easily excited when talking about a living organism. It can also mean calm when describing water. When taking a test, if there is more than one meaning for a word, it is best to look at all of the possible answers and eliminate the ones that don't fit any definition.

Using this strategy, we can eliminate "tranquil," because it means peaceful. This is a synonym of "placid," not an antonym.

"Perplexed" can also be eliminated because it means confused. This is not the opposite of "calm."

"Innocent" means harmless and free of guilt. Again, this is not the opposite of calm.

This leaves us with two possibilities: "excitable" and "aggravating." "Excitable" is an adjective meaning easily excited. "Aggravating" is an adjective meaning irritating. "Excitable" is the best antonym for the first definition of "placid."

Most of the wrong answers are trying to make you think that the "ver-" at the beginning of "veracious" is the same as "very." However, this comes from the Latin for truth. Someone is called "veracious" when he or she is truthful. (Likewise, words are called "veracious" when they are truthful.) The best contrast to this is "deceitful," which is quite opposed to being truthful.

When something is authentic, it is accepted as being genuine—not judged as being a fake version of something. Sometimes, people will speak of a person as being "authentic," implying that he or she is not fake in his or her self-presentation; however, for this question, the general sense is "authentic" as genuine. A forgery is far from being a genuine version—it is a faked version meant to trick people. (Think of a forged signature.)

The word "nascent" comes from roots similar to those of "natal" and "nativity." These words all have to do with birth or coming to birth. Here, the sense is of something that is coming into existence—a nascent idea or a nascent personality trait (or something else of the like). In contrast to this, something dying is ending its time of existence and development.

"Illiterate" means not literate or able to read. Since literacy is a basic part of education, an illiterate person is almost certain to be uneducated. None of the other words are relevant to the idea of literacy.

The adjective "elementary" means simple or pertaining to the elements (i.e. the basic parts). We call the first stage of education "elementary school" because it represents the place where beginning concepts are taught. In contrast to such simple matters, an "intricate" problem or affair is something that is complex and difficult.

When something is trite, it is overused or repeated to the point of being of little worth or help. For instance, a trite expression is one that is so common that everyone knows it; therefore, it helps very little even to repeat it. In contrast to this, something that is "consequential" is important—as though it were something "having great consequences".

We create a monument to remember some kind of great event or person. When something is described as being "monumental," that thing is being noted for its importance. In contrast to this, "trifling" means trivial or unimportant. "Trifles" are small and unimportant matters.

When something is "ruffled", it is literally taken out of order or arrangement. We often speak of "ruffling" someone's hair or some other semi-arranged set of items. As an emotional state, "ruffled" means disturbed or not calm. In contrast to this, the term "placid" means calm with little disturbance or change.

To exasperate someone is to make that person completely tired and irritated about something. For instance, "The arduous and tedious process of reviewing the details of the exam exasperated the young man, for he knew all of the answers already." An exasperated person is likely quite angry, so "delighted" is an excellent antonym for this word.

Valor is a courage that will face almost anything. To be "valiant" is to have such courage and to lack fear. Someone who is "temerarious" might lack fear but such a person is more than likely just rash and unthinking. The words "trepidatious" and "tremulous" are generally synonymous of "fearful". The best option, therefore, is "valiant."

A stolid person is calm and dependable. Often, such people are unemotional as well. Such a personality is greatly contrasted to one that could be called "tempestuous"—which takes its name from the idea of a strong storm (a "tempest"). A tempestuous personality is very emotional, with changes and conflicts in overall emotional character.

The prefix "post-" comes from the Latin meaning after. A "post-mortem" investigation is one that happens after death, and a "post-prom party" is one that happens after the prom itself. Something that is "posterior" comes after something else. For example, we could say, "The night class was posterior to a much more interesting class that Tom took in the morning." The prefix "ante-" means before. Something that "antecedes" comes before another thing.

The "prox-" in "proximate" comes from Latin roots for close or near. When things are in proximity, they are close to each other. When we "approximate" a number, we try to find a number that is "close" to the actual value needed. Something that is "proximate" is close. A "proximate cause" is a cause that is very close to the effect. The electric stove burner is the proximate cause of the heat in the kettle. In contrast to this, the dead matter making up the coal that is used in the power plant is a "remote" cause—one that is distant and somewhat "removed" from the direct causal situation.

Something that is "superior" is above another thing. The prefix "super-" or "supra-" means above—either physically or metaphorically. A "superior" can be a person who is placed "above" another person in rank. When something is "subordinate," it is below something or someone else. The prefix "sub-" means under (as in "submarine," "subconscious," and "subpar"). To be "subordinate" is literally to be ordered below. Its general English meaning is lower in position.

When things are strewn, they are spread apart or scattered. We rarely use the verb "strew," but the participial adjective "strewn" is much more common. For instance, we say, "The papers were strewn all over the floor," meaning "The papers were spread all over the floor." The opposite of being "strewn" is being gathered up. This is the case with an "accumulation," literally meaning, a gathering together. An "accumulation" of snow is so called because of the gathering of the snowflakes together.

When someone is fastidious, that person pays attention to details with great care. For instance, a "fastidious dresser" is someone who likely cleans, presses, and matches his or her clothes very well—down to the last detail. In contrast to such a personality, we can consider someone who is lax with such details. We would describe such a person as being "heedless." If we heed something, we pay attention to it. To be "heedless" is to give no such "heed"—i.e. attention—to matters.

The character trait "industry" means diligence. To be industrious is to be very careful and strenuous about the needs of work to be done. In contrast to this, the vice "sloth" indicates a kind of laziness and unwillingness to work. Someone who is "slothful" is quite the opposite of an "industrious" person.