Opposite words form an important part of competitive exams. Candidates frequently encounter questions related to opposites or antonyms in the English language section of various government exams such as SSC, Bank, Railways, and more. Attempting these questions accurately is one of the easiest ways to score 4 to 5 marks, but candidates with a weaker vocabulary tend to lose these marks. In this article, we will explore the importance of opposite words in English and their applications in various competitive exams. We will also provide insights into the types of Opposite words asked in competitive exams.
Opposite Words in English
Mastering opposite words is essential for candidates preparing for competitive exams. Opposite words are an important part of the English section of various government exams. Candidates can easily score well in this section if they are familiar with the opposite words frequently asked in these exams. At least 4 to 5 questions related to antonyms are asked in these examinations, and, of course, no one can afford to lose even one mark amidst such fierce competition. So, for your reference, we have mentioned 1000+ opposite words in English A to Z.
What are Antonyms/Opposite Words?
Opposite words, also known as antonyms, are words or phrases that have contrasting or reverse meanings. They are words that cancel or nullify each other's significance, often creating a striking difference in connotation, intensity, or direction.
For example, words like "hot" and "cold", "big" and "small", or "happy" and "sad" are antonyms, as they convey opposite sensations, sizes, or emotions. Recognizing and understanding opposite words is not only essential for competitive exams but is also important for precise language usage and effective communication. Here are some of the examples for your understanding.
Opposite word of Kind
The opposite words of "kind" are unkind, inconsiderate, mean, and cruel. The meaning of "kind" is generous, polite, caring, etc.
Opposite word of Brave
Other words synonymous with brave are courageous, fearless, and heroic. The opposites are coward, timid, and fearful.
Opposite word of Wise
The antonyms of wise are unwise, foolish, dense, dull, simple, slow etc.
Candidates preparing for the exam must also check out the following articles:
Opposite Words in English from A to Z
Enhance your vocabulary and boost your performance in exams with our comprehensive list of opposite words. This list is a valuable resource not only for candidates preparing for government exams but also for students in Classes 5th, 6th, and 7th. Take a look at our list below and start learning opposite words to improve your vocabulary and overall scores.
Word | Opposite |
Absent | Present |
Accept | Reject |
Begin | End |
Bold | Timid |
Calm | Agitated |
Cruel | Kind |
Dangerous | Safe |
Dark | Light |
Early | Late |
Empty | Full |
Fast | Slow |
Fat | Thin |
Generous | Stingy |
Giant | Dwarf |
Happy | Sad |
Heavy | Light |
Innocent | Guilty |
Increase | Decrease |
Joyful | Sorrowful |
Just | Unjust |
Kind | Cruel |
Knowledgeable | Ignorant |
Lazy | Industrious |
Lost | Found |
Major | Minor |
Mature | Immature |
New | Old |
Noisy | Quiet |
Optimist | Pessimist |
Open | Closed |
Peace | War |
Polite | Rude |
Quick | Slow |
Quiet | Loud |
Rich | Poor |
Rough | Smooth |
Success | Failure |
Soft | Hard |
Tall | Short |
Thick | Thin |
Useful | Useless |
Urban | Rural |
Victory | Defeat |
Virtue | Vice |
Weak | Strong |
Wealthy | Poor |
Xenial | Hostile |
Xenophobic | Tolerant |
Young | Old |
Yes | No |
Zenith | Nadir |
Zealous | Indifferent |
30 Opposite Words in English from A to Z
Absent | Present |
After | Before |
Active | Lazy |
Brave | Afraid |
Bitter | Sweet |
Beginning | End |
Blunt | Sharp |
Big | Small / Little |
Cheap | Expensive |
Clean | Dirty |
Close | Open |
Deep | Shallow |
Day | Night |
Down | Up |
Daughter | Son |
Early | Late |
Easy | Difficult / Hard |
Enter | Exit |
Far | Near / Close |
Friend | Enemy |
Fast | Slow |
Fat | Thin / Skinny |
Full | Empty |
Good | Bad |
Happy | Sad |
Heavy | Light |
Happy | Sad |
Here | There |
High | Low |
Hot | Cold |
In | Out |
Inside | Outside |
Interesting | Boring |
Light | Dark |
Long | Short |
Loud | Soft |
Many | Few |
Male | Female |
New | Old |
Near | Far |
Over | Under |
Rich | Poor |
Right | Left |
Right | Wrong |
1000+ Opposite/ Antonyms Words
In the table below, we have mentioned 1000+ opposite words for your reference.
Word | Opposite |
Abundant | Scarce |
Accurate | Inaccurate |
Active | Inactive |
Admit | Deny |
Advanced | Primitive |
Affectionate | Cold |
Afraid | Brave |
Alive | Dead |
Ally | Enemy |
Amuse | Bore |
Ancient | Modern |
Angelic | Demonic |
Answer | Question |
Approve | Disapprove |
Arrival | Departure |
Ascend | Descend |
Ask | Answer |
Assemble | Disperse |
Attack | Defend |
Attractive | Repulsive |
Awake | Asleep |
Awful | Wonderful |
Back | Front |
Beautiful | Ugly |
Before | After |
Best | Worst |
Bitter | Sweet |
Bless | Curse |
Blunt | Sharp |
Borrow | Lend |
Brave | Cowardly |
Broad | Narrow |
Build | Destroy |
Buy | Sell |
Careful | Careless |
Catch | Throw |
Ceiling | Floor |
Certain | Uncertain |
Cheap | Expensive |
Cheerful | Miserable |
Clean | Dirty |
Clever | Stupid |
Close | Open |
Cold | Hot |
Come | Go |
Comedy | Tragedy |
Comfort | Discomfort |
Common | Rare |
Compliment | Insult |
Complicated | Simple |
Connect | Disconnect |
Consonant | Vowel |
Constant | Variable |
Construct | Demolish |
Courage | Fear |
Create | Destroy |
Cry | Laugh |
Damage | Repair |
Danger | Safety |
Dawn | Dusk |
Day | Night |
Defend | Attack |
Difficult | Easy |
Divide | Unite |
Domestic | Wild |
Down | Up |
Drunk | Sober |
Dull | Interesting |
Empty | Full |
Encourage | Discourage |
Enter | Exit |
Expand | Contract |
Exterior | Interior |
Failure | Success |
False | True |
Fancy | Plain |
Float | Sink |
Foreground | Background |
Forgive | Blame |
Free | Captive |
Frequent | Seldom |
Fresh | Stale |
Full | Empty |
Generous | Stingy |
Gentle | Rough |
Giant | Tiny |
Gloomy | Cheerful |
Grand | Humble |
Happiness | Sadness |
Harmful | Harmless |
Heaven | Hell |
Hero | Villain |
High | Low |
Honest | Dishonest |
Host | Guest |
Humid | Dry |
Hungry | Full |
Include | Exclude |
Increase | Decrease |
Inside | Outside |
Intense | Mild |
Join | Separate |
Junior | Senior |
Knowledge | Ignorance |
Land | Water |
Laugh | Cry |
Lazy | Active |
Legal | Illegal |
Lend | Borrow |
Like | Dislike |
Liquid | Solid |
Long | Short |
Loud | Quiet |
Major | Minor |
Marvelous | Awful |
Download Opposite Words in English PDF for FREE
If you think that your vocabulary section is not up to par and you are lagging behind in the competitive exams, fret not, we will provide the Opposite Words PDF here for your preparation. It comprises Opposite words from A to Z in the English language that will help you boost your scores.
Opposite Words Questions for Government Competitive Exams
1. SURREPTITIOUS
Options:
- Secret
- Lazy
- Open
- Slow
Answer: 3. Open
Solution: Surreptitious mean something done secretly or kept secret. Hence, the most appropirate opposite of Surreptitious is Open.
Also, read:
2. Constant
Options:
- Competent
- Static
- Unchanging
- Fluctuating
Answer: 4. Fluctuating
Solution: Constant mean something happening a lot or all the time. Hence, the opposite word of Constant is fluctuating which means to change or vary frequently.