Synonyms & antonyms

Recognising words with similar and opposite meanings

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Match each word to its synonym (word with a similar meaning). Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: happy, big, quick, angry Right: joyful, enormous, rapid, furious
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2
Match each word to its antonym (word with the opposite meaning). Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: ancient, brave, generous, polite Right: modern, cowardly, selfish, rude
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3
Which word is a synonym for 'beautiful'? A) Stunning B) Ugly C) Ordinary D) Dull
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4
Which word is an antonym of 'confident'? A) Nervous B) Bold C) Certain D) Proud
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5
Write a synonym for the word 'difficult'. A synonym for 'difficult' is ___.
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6
Match each word to its antonym. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: transparent, temporary, artificial, expand Right: opaque, permanent, natural, shrink
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7
In the sentence 'The teacher gave a concise explanation', which word is closest in meaning to 'concise'? A) Brief B) Detailed C) Confusing D) Loud
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8
Write an antonym for 'optimistic'. An antonym for 'optimistic' is ___.
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9
Which pair are NOT synonyms? A) Dusk and dawn B) Start and begin C) Huge and enormous D) Fast and rapid
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10
Which word can be BOTH a synonym of 'just' AND an antonym of 'wrong'? A) Fair B) Kind C) Good D) True
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Answer key

Synonyms & antonyms · for parents and teachers

1
happy → joyful; big → enormous; quick → rapid; angry → furious
Synonyms have similar meanings: happy/joyful, big/enormous, quick/rapid, angry/furious.
2
ancient → modern; brave → cowardly; generous → selfish; polite → rude
Antonyms are opposites: ancient/modern, brave/cowardly, generous/selfish, polite/rude.
3
Stunning
'Stunning' is a synonym for 'beautiful' - both describe something very attractive or pleasing to look at.
4
Nervous
'Nervous' is the opposite of 'confident'. Someone who is confident feels sure of themselves; someone nervous feels unsure and worried.
5
hard
Words like 'hard', 'challenging', 'tough', and 'tricky' are all synonyms for 'difficult'.
6
transparent → opaque; temporary → permanent; artificial → natural; expand → shrink
Transparent (see-through) vs opaque (cannot see through); temporary (short-term) vs permanent (lasting); artificial (man-made) vs natural; expand (grow) vs shrink (get smaller).
7
Brief
'Concise' means short and to the point, so 'brief' is the closest synonym.
8
pessimistic
'Pessimistic' is the direct antonym of 'optimistic'. An optimist expects the best; a pessimist expects the worst.
9
Dusk and dawn
Dusk (evening twilight) and dawn (morning twilight) are antonyms, not synonyms. The other pairs all mean the same thing.
10
Fair
'Fair' is a synonym of 'just' (meaning morally right) and an antonym of 'wrong' (fair = right, correct).