| 1. | able | capable, | adept, | competent, | deft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| unable | incapable, | inept, | incompetent, | unskilled | |
| 2. | active | busy, | eager, | animated, | alive |
| passive | idle, | lazy, | inert, | lifeless | |
| 3. | achieve | accomplish, | realise, | attain, | reach |
| fail | give up, | abandon, | surrender, | yield | |
| 4. | affectionate | caring, | kind, | loving, | sympathetic |
| aloof | uncaring, | cold, | antagonistic, | unsympathetic | |
| 5. | agree | admit, | allow, | grant, | permit |
| disagree | deny, | dispute, | differ, | reject |
| 6. | allow | permit, | grant, | okay, | consent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| censor | forbid, | ban, | delete, | restrict | |
| 7. | begin | start, | commence, | set about, | initiate |
| end | stop, | complete, | terminate, | finish, | |
| 8. | big | huge, | large, | gigantic, | jumbo |
| small | stop | diminutive, | miniature, | pocket-sized | |
| 9. | bright | luminous, | shiny, | resplendent, | brilliant |
| dark | gloomy, | dull, | drab, | dim | |
| 10. | broad | wide, | extensive, | outstretched, | expansive |
| narrow | confined, | restricted, | thin, | cramped |
| 11. | cheap | inexpensive, | economical, | low-cost, | low-priced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| expensive | pricey, | exorbitant, | excessive, | high-priced | |
| 12. | combine | connect, | mix, | fuse, | merge |
| split | divide, | sever, | break up, | separate | |
| 13. | construct | build up, | assemble, | erect, | manufacture |
| destroy | break, | demolish, | ruin, | smash | |
| 14. | courteous | well-mannered, | considerate, | polite, | respectful |
| discourteous | bad-mannered, | inconsiderate, | rude, | disrespectful | |
| 15. | encourage | aid, | boost, | spur, | support |
| discourage | dishearten, | dispirit, | deter, | restrain |
| 16. | entrance | door, | entry, | access, | port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| exit | outlet, | way out, | passage out, | egress | |
| 17. | exactly | precisely, | definitely, | on the dot, | rigorously |
| approximately | nearly, | roughly, | more or less, | about | |
| 18. | excellent | superb, | outstanding, | first-rate, | superior |
| mediocre | so-so, | below average, | second-rate, | inferior | |
| 19. | fair | impartial, | just, | lawful, | unbiased |
| unfair | partial, | unjust, | dishonest, | biased | |
| 20. | familiar | well-known, | everyday, | common, | accustomed |
| unfamiliar | unknown, | unusual, | uncommon, | unaccustomed |
| 21. | fast | speedy, | quick, | rapid, | snap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| slow | unhurried, | tardy, | sluggish, | slack | |
| 22. | Favourable | beneficial, | suitable, | opportune | appropriate |
| Unfavourable | harmful | unsuitable | inopportune | inappropriate | |
| 23. | Flat | level, | horizontal, | flush, | even |
| Upright | straight-up, | vertical, | erect, | perpendicular | |
| 24. | Firm | fixed, | stable, | anchored, | sturdy |
| infirm | Flimsy, | shaky, | rickety, | wobbly | |
| 25. | Flourish | flower, | bloom, | grow, | burgeon |
| Wither | wilt, | fade, | shrink, | droop |
| 26. | friend | buddy, | companion, | mate, | pal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| foe | enemy, | opponent, | rival, | adversary | |
| 27. | full | filled, | jammed, | loaded, | saturated |
| empty | void, | bare, | depleted, | vacant | |
| 28. | funny | comical, | humorous, | loony, | laughable |
| serious | grim, | sombre, | solemn, | weighty | |
| 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. | important | significant, | crucial, | valuable, | vital |
| unimportant | insignificant, | negligible, | worthless, | petty | |
| 34. | include | insert, | incorporate, | keep, | contain |
| omit | exclude, | delete, | drop, | eliminate | |
| 35. | know | grasp, | comprehend, | get the idea, | fathom |
| misunderstand | confuse, | misinterpret, | miss, | misconstrue |
| 36. | many | scores, | a lot, | tons, | heaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| few | hardly any, | a handful, | a scattering, | a small quantity | |
| 37. | mend | repair, | fix, | restore, | rebuild |
| break | damage, | destroy, | smash, | shatter | |
| 38. | near | close-by, | nearby, | adjacent, | in close proximity |
| far | distant, | remote, | removed, | far-off | |
| 39. | neat | orderly, | tidy, | spic-and-span, | organised |
| untidy | unkempt, | disorderly, | messy, | jumbled | |
| 40. | often | usually, | frequently, | generally, | repeatedly |
| seldom | sometimes, | infrequently, | occasionally, | hardly ever |
| 41. | open | accessible, | approachable, | available, | usable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| closed | limited, | restricted, | shut, | blocked | |
| 42. | peace | harmony, | agreement, | reconciliation, | accord |
| war | battle, | hostility, | strife, | (armed) conflict | |
| 43. | plain | simple, | basic, | unembellished, | unpretentious |
| decorated | adorned, | patterned, | embellished, | ornate | |
| 44. | relax | slow down, | recline, | twiddle thumbs, | unwind |
| agonize | worry, | feel uneasy, | fret, | grieve | |
| 45. | rich | wealthy, | well-off, | well-to-do, | affluent |
| poor | impoverished, | poverty-stricken, | destitute, | needy |
| 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. | Wise | sane, | judicious, | prudent, | sensible |
| Stupid | foolish, | injudicious, | imprudent, | senseless |
*Three types of antonyms (gradable, complementary and relational) can be distinguished. Word meanings are context-dependent.