| 1. | active | busy, | eager, | animated, | alive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| passive | idle, | lazy, | inert, | lifeless | |
| 2. | achieve | accomplish, | realise, | attain, | reach |
| fail | give up, | abandon, | surrender, | yield | |
| 3. | agree | admit, | allow, | grant, | permit |
| disagree | deny, | dispute, | differ, | reject | |
| 4. | ace | expert, | virtuoso, | master, | specialist |
| novice | rookie, | beginner, | dabbler, | apprentice | |
| 5. | allow | permit, | grant, | okay, | consent |
| censor | forbid, | ban, | delete, | restrict |
| 6. | approach | come nearer, | advance, | move closer, | go toward |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| retreat | go away, | leave, | depart, | skedaddle | |
| 7. | approve | laud, | compliment, | praise, | commend |
| disapprove | rebuke, | reproach, | condemn, | blame, | |
| 8. | begin | start, | introduce, | induce, | initiate |
| end | stop | complete, | terminate, | finish | |
| 9. | best | finest, | unrivalled, | premium, | prime |
| worst | least, | slightest, | most wanting, | lowest | |
| 10. | big | huge, | large, | mammoth, | great |
| small | tiny, | diminutive, | minute, | bantam |
| 11. | bright | luminous, | shiny, | resplendent, | brilliant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dark | gloomy, | dull, | drab, | dim | |
| 12. | broad | wide, | extensive, | outstretched, | expansive |
| narrow | confined, | restricted, | thin, | cramped | |
| 13. | cheap | inexpensive | economical | low-cost | low-priced |
| expensive | pricey, | exorbitant, | excessive, | high-priced | |
| 14. | civilized | refined, | polished, | civil, | sophisticated |
| uncivilized | coarse, | crude, | boorish, | uncultured | |
| 15. | combine | connect, | mix, | fuse, | merge |
| split | divide, | sever, | break up, | separate |
| 16. | concrete | actual, | factual, | real, | tangible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| abstract | ideal, | conceptual, | recondite, | intangible | |
| 17. | construct | build up, | assemble, | erect, | manufacture |
| destroy | break, | demolish, | ruin, | smash | |
| 18. | courteous | well-mannered, | considerate, | polite, | respectful |
| discourteous | bad-mannered, | inconsiderate, | rude, | disrespectful | |
| 19. | discretion | caution, | judgement, | tact, | discernment |
| carelessness | disregard, | indiscretion, | negligence, | slackness | |
| 20. | encourage | aid, | boost, | spur, | support |
| discourage | dishearten, | dispirit, | deter, | restrain |
| 21. | exactly | precisely, | definitely, | on the dot, | rigorously |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| approximately | nearly, | roughly, | more or less, | about | |
| 22. | excellent | superb, | outstanding, | first-rate, | superior |
| mediocre | so-so, | below average | second-rate | inferior | |
| 23. | fair | impartial, | just, | lawful, | unbiased |
| unfair | partial, | unjust, | dishonest, | biased | |
| 24. | familiar | well-known, | everyday, | common, | accustomed |
| unfamiliar | unknown, | unusual, | uncommon, | unaccustomed | |
| 25. | fast | speedy, | quick, | rapid, | snap |
| slow | unhurried, | tardy, | sluggish, | slack |
| 26. | free | self-determining, | sovereign, | autonomous, | unrestricted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bound | limited, | confined, | restrained, | restricted | |
| 27. | friend | buddy, | companion, | mate, | pal |
| foe | enemy, | opponent, | rival, | adversary | |
| 28. | full | filled, | jammed, | loaded, | saturated |
| empty | void, | bare, | depleted, | vacant | |
| 29. | happy | cheerful, | content, | elated, | thrilled |
| sad | sorrowful, | depressed, | morose, | troubled | |
| 30. | high | raised, | elevated, | lofty, | towering |
| low | sunken, | subsided, | low-set, | bottomward |
| 31. | horizontal | flush, | level, | flat, | plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vertical | upright, | perpendicular, | erect, | at right angles to | |
| 32. | hot | blazing, | boiling, | scorching, | sizzling |
| cold | arctic, | chilly, | freezing, | icy | |
| 33. | include | insert, | incorporate, | keep, | contain |
| omit | exclude, | delete, | drop, | eliminate | |
| 34. | know | grasp, | comprehend, | get the idea, | fathom |
| misunderstand | confuse, | misinterpret, | miss, | misconstrue | |
| 35. | leader | master, | boss, | director, | commander |
| follower | minion, | subordinate, | yes-man, | lackey |
| 36. | mend | repair, | fix, | restore, | rebuild |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| break | damage, | destroy, | smash, | shatter | |
| 37. | minor | small, | slight, | unimportant, | inconsequential |
| major | big, | considerate, | important, | consequential | |
| 38. | modest | shy, | coy, | demure, | diffident |
| immodest | shameless, | brazen, | arrogant, | coarse | |
| 39. | near | close-by, | nearby, | adjacent, | in close proximity |
| far | distant, | remote, | removed, | far-off | |
| 40. | neat | orderly, | tidy, | spic-and-span, | organised |
| untidy | unkempt, | disorderly, | messy, | jumbled |
| 41. | often | usually, | frequently, | generally, | repeatedly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| seldom | sometimes, | infrequently, | occasionally, | hardly ever | |
| 42. | open | accessible, | approachable, | available, | usable |
| closed | limited, | restricted, | shut, | blocked | |
| 43. | peace | harmony, | agreement, | reconciliation, | accord |
| war | battle, | hostility, | strife, | (armed) conflict | |
| 44. | plain | simple, | basic, | unembellished, | unpretentious |
| decorated | adorned, | patterned, | embellished, | ornate | |
| 45. | relax | slow down, | recline, | twiddle thumbs, | unwind |
| agonize | worry, | feel uneasy, | fret, | grieve |
| 46. | question | inquiry, | query, | investigation, | inquest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| answer | reply, | response, | retort, | rejoinder | |
| 47. | save | hoard, | stash, | accumulate, | stockpile |
| spend | pay out, | expend, | disburse, | invest | |
| 48. | silence | stillness, | quiet, | calmness, | hush |
| thunder | blast, | boom, | crash, | roar | |
| 49. | soft | fluffy, | flexible, | cushioned, | pliable |
| hard | unbendable, | inflexible, | rigid, | unpliable | |
| 50. | wealth | riches, | resources, | money, | affluence |
| poverty | want, | hardship, | neediness, | destitution |
*Three types of antonyms (gradable, complementary and relational) can be distinguished. Word meanings are context-dependent.