Antonyms & Usage
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Lesson overview
Choosing the word or phrase opposite in meaning to the word in capitals as used in its sentence, matching sense, intensity and register.
Go to lesson quiz →Exam guidance · JAMB UTME Speed Lens
Pacing
~40 seconds per MCQ (180 questions in 120 minutes, no negative marking).
How JAMB marks this
Fast dimensional/sign elimination and standard formula shortcuts — skip multi-line algebra when substitution tests options faster.
Watch out for
UTME distractors routinely include the intermediate value (e.g., forgetting to convert cm³ to dm³ or °C to Kelvin).
Lesson content
Overview
Antonym questions mirror synonym questions: a word or phrase in capitals, four options, and the instruction to choose the one 'opposite in meaning to the word as it is used in the sentence'. They are harder than they look, for three reasons. First, many words have several senses, and each sense has its own opposite. A 'light' bag is the opposite of a heavy one; a 'light' room is the opposite of a dark one; a 'light' punishment is the opposite of a harsh one. Second, opposites come in different kinds: some are absolute (alive/dead), others lie on a scale (hot/cold). Third, the options almost always include a synonym, set as a trap for candidates who forget which kind of question they are answering. This lesson gives you a method that handles all three problems.
Key concept: kinds of opposite
Antonyms are words or phrases of opposite meaning in a given context. Complementary (absolute) antonyms divide everything into two: alive/dead, pass/fail, true/false. Denying one asserts the other. Gradable antonyms are the two ends of a scale with stages between: hot/cold (warm, cool), rich/poor, generous/mean. 'Not hot' does not mean 'cold'. Relational (converse) antonyms describe one relationship from opposite sides: buy/sell, teacher/pupil, lend/borrow. Antonyms are often formed with negative prefixes: un- (unkind), in-/im-/il-/ir- (incapable, impatient, illegal, irregular), dis- (dishonest), mis- (misunderstand), non- (non-violent). But prefixes are not reliable: 'inflammable' means the same as 'flammable', and 'valuable' and 'invaluable' are not opposites ('invaluable' means extremely useful).
Sense, intensity and phrases
Sense. Decide what the word means in this sentence before thinking of its opposite. 'The dog was KEEN on its food' (eager; opposite: indifferent). 'The knife was KEEN' (sharp; opposite: blunt). 'There was KEEN competition' (intense; opposite: weak or feeble). Intensity. With gradable words, the best antonym sits at the same distance from the middle of the scale. The opposite of 'scorching' is 'freezing', not merely 'cool'; the opposite of 'adore' is 'detest', not 'dislike'. If no option matches exactly, choose the one nearest in strength. Register and connotation. The opposite of a formal word is usually another formal word: 'augment' / 'diminish', not 'cut down'. The opposite of an approving word is usually disapproving: 'thrifty' (careful, approving) versus 'extravagant' (wasteful, disapproving). Phrases and idioms are tested too. 'The project was NIPPED IN THE BUD' (stopped at an early stage); opposite: 'allowed to develop fully'. 'She was ON CLOUD NINE' (extremely happy); opposite: 'in deep despair'. As always, paraphrase first. Relational opposites (lend/borrow, buy/sell, employer/employee) reverse the direction of a relationship. In 'The trader SOLD his shop last year', the opposite is 'bought': the sentence still makes sense, with the trader now on the other side of the deal. Always keep the same grammatical slot: a verb for a verb, a noun for a noun, an adjective for an adjective, and the same tense. Common UTME pairs worth knowing: abundant/scarce, amateur/professional, ascend/descend, benevolent/malevolent, condemn/commend, conceal/reveal, frugal/extravagant, hostile/friendly, humble/arrogant, lenient/strict, optimistic/pessimistic, reluctant/willing, temporary/permanent, timid/bold, verbose/concise.
Worked example 1: a direct opposite
'The commissioner's VERBOSE speech bored the audience.' A. long-winded B. concise C. loud D. dull
Active Worked Example · Predict Step 1
4 stepsWrite down the formula, rule, or first move you would make before revealing Step 1.
Worked example 2: matching intensity
'Harmattan mornings on the Jos Plateau can be FRIGID.' A. cool B. mild C. warm D. sweltering
Active Worked Example · Predict Step 1
4 stepsWrite down the formula, rule, or first move you would make before revealing Step 1.
Worked example 3 (UTME standard): a word with many senses
'Many people felt that the court passed a LIGHT sentence on the corrupt official.' A. dark B. harsh C. bright D. quick
Active Worked Example · Predict Step 1
5 stepsWrite down the formula, rule, or first move you would make before revealing Step 1.
Common traps
• Choosing the synonym: it is in almost every set of options. • Answering for the wrong sense of a word with several meanings. • Ignoring intensity: 'dislike' is a weak opposite of 'adore'; 'detest' is the match. • Trusting prefixes blindly: inflammable = flammable; invaluable is not the opposite of valuable. • Treating gradable pairs as absolute: 'not rich' is not the same as 'poor'.
Summary
• Find the opposite of the word as used in the sentence; name its sense first. • Cross out the synonym trap and options that merely relate to the topic. • Opposites may be absolute, gradable or relational; for gradable pairs, match the intensity. • Keep register and connotation parallel. • Prefixes help but can mislead; idioms and phrases need a paraphrase first.
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