Opposite Words in English
An opposite word can be defined as a word that expresses a meaning as opposed to the meaning of a particular word. In this case, the two words are called antonyms of each other. ‘Opposite words’ is an important topic in English Grammar, especially at the school level and students must learn as many as antonyms/opposite words as this would be a great booster for improving their vocabulary and improving their command of the English language.
Let’s understand the concept of Opposite words with the help of some examples-
- 'Beautiful' is the opposite word of 'Ugly.'
- 'Happiness' is the opposite word of 'Sadness.'
- 'Fast' is the opposite word of 'Slow.'
- 'Clean' is the opposite word of 'Dirty.' and so on.
1000+ Opposite/ Antonyms Words
The topic “Opposite Words” is vast and impossible for a person to learn the antonyms of all words in the English dictionary. However, there are numerous opposite words that we often use in our daily life but some of us may don’t know the opposite of many other words. For your reference, we have tabulated 1000+ opposite words in this article, read and try to grasp some new words with their opposite meanings. Through this article, you will be able you learn numerous opposite words used in English Grammar and this will definitely enhance your vocabulary especially when you are preparing for Bank Exams, SSC Exams, UPSC, and other competitive exams where you have to prepare for English subject.
Basic Opposite Words
Help your kid learn opposite words in a fun way from this article as we have separately listed opposite meanings of words alphabetically. The list of basic opposite words is quite important for the students of Classes 5th, 6th, and 7th as this is the time where they have to build a strong base of their vocabulary.
A list of simple and basic opposite words in English is given below. Use them to improve your English vocabulary. If you are a kid and want to build your vocabulary strong you can read the following simple opposite words.
| Word | Opposite Word |
|---|---|
| Antonym | Synonym |
| Approximately | Exactly |
| Ask | Reply |
| Authentic | Fake |
| Awake | Asleep |
| Bad | Good |
| Beautiful | Ugly |
| Before | After |
| Boy | Girl |
| Bold | Timid |
| Bright | Dim |
| Broad | Narrow |
| Best | Worst |
| Child | Adult |
| Changeable | Constant |
| Clemency | Ruthlessness |
| Concise | Lengthy |
| Construction | Destruction |
| Delicious | Awful |
| Descent | Ascent |
| Dictatorship | Republic |
| Domestic | Foreign |
| Dwindle | Flourish |
| Early | Late |
| Entrance | Exit |
| Even | Odd |
| Eccentric | Ordinary |
| Far | Near |
| Friend | Enemy |
| Full | Empty |
| Funny | Serious |
| Frequently | Occasionally |
| General | Particular, Special |
| Generous | Mean |
| Gentle | Violent |
| Give | Take |
| Happy | Sad |
| Hard | Easy |
| Heavy | Light |
| Honest | Dishonest |
| Hot | Cold |
| Hopeful | Desperate, Hopeless |
| Horizontal | Vertical |
| Humid | Dry |
| Import | Export |
| Inside | Outside |
| In | Out |
| Interesting | Boring, Dull |
| Junior | Senior |
| Kind | Cruel, Unkind |
| Large | Small |
| Lead | Follow |
| Lend | Borrow |
| Light | Dark |
| Love | Hate |
| Little | Big |
| Laugh | Cry |
| Left | Right |
| Liquid | Solid |
| Mend | Break |
| Mess | Order |
| Moderate | Extreme |
| More | Less |
| Man | Woman |
| Messy | Neat |
| Modern | Ancient |
| Normal | Strange |
| Opposite | Same |
| Opponent | Supporter |
| Praise | Castigate |
| Refuse | Agree |
| Regret | Satisfaction |
| Rich | Poor |
| Rude | Polite |
| Start | End |
| Sunny | Cloudy |
| Sweet | Sour |
| Strengthen | Debilitate |
| Tight | Loose |
| Top | Bottom |
| Thick | Thin |
| Tiny | Huge |
| Truth | Lie |
| Unity | Division |
| Useful | Useless |
| Victory | Defeat |
| Victory | Defeat |
| Visible | Invisible |
| Visitor | Host |
| Wide | Narrow |
| Wise | Foolish, Stupid |
| Whisper | Scream |
Opposite Words in the English Language
An extensive list of opposite words/ antonyms of the most commonly used English words is given below. Let's have a look at important Opposite Words alphabetically from letters A to Z.
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘A’
| Words | Opposite Word |
|---|---|
| Adorable | Hateful |
| Adequate | Insufficient |
| Affordable | Costly |
| Attractive | Boring |
| Awesome | Bad |
| Abundance | Lack |
| Accidental | Intentional |
| Advanced | Elementary |
| Affable | Unfriendly |
| Amateur | Professional |
| Amiable | Grumpy |
| Ancestor | Descendant |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘B’
| Words | Opposite Word |
|---|---|
| Beauty | Grotesqueness |
| Believe | Disbelieve |
| Beloved | Unbeloved |
| Benefit | Drawback |
| Balk | Impetus |
| Beneficial | Detrimental |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘C’
| Words | Opposite Word |
|---|---|
| Care | Carelessness |
| Carry | Exclude |
| Cavalier | Humble |
| Clumsy | Adroit |
| Creative | Uninventive |
| Cut | Restore |
| Close | Far |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘D’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Darling | Unbeloved |
| Dear | Unbeloved |
| Deep | Shallow |
| Demand | Disclaim |
| Destroy | Raise |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘E’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Effective | Ineffective |
| Efficient | Inefficient |
| Effort | Ease |
| Enjoy | Abhor |
| Enough | Inadequate |
| Emigrate | Immigrate |
| Enslave | Emancipate |
| Ephemeral | Long-lived |
| Excitable | Tranquil |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘F’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Fabulous | Ordinary |
| Fair | Foul |
| Fast | Slow |
| Few | Many |
| Flaccid | Taut |
| Forgive | Resent |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘G’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Gentle | Abrasive |
| Great | Little |
| Genius | Stupidity |
| Glad | Dismayed |
| Gorgeous | Uninteresting |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘H’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Habit | Disinclination |
| Happy | Sad |
| Help | Hinder |
| Humanity | Inhumanity |
| Hurt | Heal |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘I’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Illegal | Legal |
| Ignominy | Glory |
| Impress | Disappoint |
| Intrepid | Cowardly |
| Independent | Dependent |
| Inception | Conclusion |
| Innocent | Guilty |
| Inspire | Depress |
| Install | Remove |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘J’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Joke | Humourless |
| Jolly | Miserable |
| Joy | Misery |
| Justice | Injustice |
| Justify | Disprove |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘K’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Keen | Reluctant |
| Keep | Spend |
| Kickoff | End |
| Kind | Unkind |
| Knowledge | Ignorance |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘L’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Little | Plenty |
| Lively | Listless |
| Lost | Regain |
| Love | Hatred |
| Luck | Misfortune |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘M’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Magic | Awful |
| Make | Destroy |
| Master | Servant |
| Mature | Immature |
| Morality | Immorality |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘N’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Neat | Disorderly |
| Need | Optional |
| Next | Previous |
| Nice | Unpleasant |
| Normal | Abnormal |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘O’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Objective | Biassed |
| Odium | Affection |
| Offer | Withdraw |
| Omnipotent | Impotent |
| Optimistic | Pessimistic |
| Outstanding | Mediocre |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘P’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Pause | Continue |
| Peace | Noise |
| Potential | Impotence |
| Power | Inability |
| Pretty | Plain |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘Q’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Qualify | Disqualify |
| Quality | Inadequacy |
| Quick | Slow |
| Quiet | Loud |
| Quit | Stay |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘R’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Real | Unreal |
| Recall | Forget |
| Relax | Tense |
| Report | Silence |
| Rough | Gentle |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘S’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Simple | Difficult |
| Sincere | Perfunctory |
| Small | Big |
| Soft | Hard |
| Sure | Unsure |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘T’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Talent | Inability |
| Talkative | Taciturn |
| Target | Deselect |
| Task | Inactivity |
| Tenderhearted | Fiendish |
| Triumph | Defeat |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘U’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Unique | Common |
| Upturn | Slump |
| Unite | Divide |
| Unlimited | Finite |
| Uplift | Lower |
| Useful | Useless |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘V’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Valid | Invalid |
| Valuable | Worthless |
| Variety | Uniformity |
| Vast | Tiny |
| Victory | Defeat |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘W’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Warning | Neglect |
| Wealth | Poverty |
| Winner | Loser |
| Wise | Stupid |
| Worthy | Unimportant |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘X’
| Words | Opposite Words |
|---|---|
| Xenial | Inhospitable |
| Xenophobic | Impartial |
| Xeroxes | Original |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘Y’
| Words | Opposite Word |
|---|---|
| Young | Old |
| Yield | Resist |
| Yearning | Disinclination |
| Youthful | Old |
| Yummy | Unappetizing |
Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘Z’
| Words | Opposite Word |
|---|---|
| Zappy | Melancholy |
| Zany | Sane |
| Zeal | Apathy |
| Zenith | Nadir, Bottom |
| Zen | Disturbed |
| Zingy | Sullen |
Opposite Words Exercise for SSC and UPSC Exams
The aspirants appearing for government examinations frequently face questions related to antonyms/opposite words in the English language section of various exams such as SSC (SSC CGL, CHSL, JE etc.), UPSC (NDA, CDS etc), Banking and more. Opposite Words are asked in the vocabulary section which won’t be as simple as the basic opposite words listed above. Practice for opposite words with a few important questions enlisted below from the perspective of competitive examinations.
Directions: In the following questions, choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
Q1. MELODIOUS
(a) Harmonious
(b) Tuneless
(c) Odious
(d) Mellifluous
Ans. (c)
Sol. Melodious: pleasant to listen to, Odious: extremely unpleasant, horrible. Mellifluous: pleasingly smooth and musical to hear. Hence Melodious and Odious are antonyms to each other.
Q2. FIENDISH
(a) Diabolical
(b) Devilish
(c) Reimbursem*nt
(d) Friendly
Ans. (d)
Sol. Fiendish: cruel and unpleasant: extremely clever and complicated. Friendly: Behaving in a kind and pleasant way showing kindness. Reimbursem*nt: a sum paid to cover the money that has been spent or lost. Hence Fiendish and Friendly are antonyms to each other.
Q3. SUBSEQUENT
(a) Eventual
(b) Succeeding
(c) Prior
(d) Comparative
Ans. (c)
Sol. Subsequent: Happening or coming after something else. Prior: Happening or existing before something else. Hence Subsequent and Prior are antonyms to each other.
Q4. SOBRIETY
(a) Modernization
(b) Drunkenness
(c) Despicable
(d) Stupidity
Ans. (b)
Sol. Sobriety: the state of being sober not being drunk; the fact of being sensible and serious. Despicable: deserving hatred and contempt. Drunkenness: the state of being drunk; intoxication. Hence Sobriety and Drunkenness are antonyms to each other.
Q5. NEFARIOUS
(a) Slapdash
(b) Perfect
(c) Unblemished
(d) Righteous
Ans. (d)
Sol. Nefarious: (typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal. Righteous: morally right or justifiable. Slapdash: done too hurriedly and carelessly. Hence Nefarious and Righteous are antonyms to each other.
Q6. RECUPERATE
(a) Relapse
(b) Rude
(c) Rush
(d) Sparse
Ans. (a)
Sol. Recuperate: recover from illness or exertion. Relapse: a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement. Sparse: scanty; in short supply. Hence Recuperate and Relapse is antonyms to each other.
Q7. TREMULOUS
(a) Healthy
(b) Steady
(c) Obese
(d) Young
Ans. (b)
Sol. Tremulous: shaking or quivering slightly. Steady: firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving. Obese: grossly fat or overweight. Hence Tremulous and Steady are antonyms to each other.
Q8. ELUDE
(a) Dodge
(b) Support
(c) Thwart
(d) Flee
Ans. (b)
Sol. Elude: evade or escape from (a danger, enemy or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way. Dodge: avoid (someone or something) by a sudden quick movement. Thwart: prevent (someone) from accomplishing something. Hence Elude and Support are antonyms to each other.
Q9. CONTEMPTUOUS
(a) Respected
(b) Derisive (c)
Haughty
(d) Expedite
Ans. (a) Sol. Contemptuous: showing contempt; scornful. Derisive: expressing contempt or ridicule. Expedite: make (an action or process) happen sooner. Hence Contemptuous and Respected are antonyms to each other.
Q10. RELISH
(a) Zest
(b) Apathy
(c) Corporal
(d) Prototype
Ans. (b) Sol. Relish: Great Enjoyment. Apathy: lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. Hence Relish and Apathy are antonyms to each other.
My familiarity with the concept of antonyms, or opposite words, runs deep. Antonyms are words with contrary meanings to each other, essentially expressing opposition or contrast. The significance of antonyms in English grammar, particularly for educational purposes, cannot be overstated. For instance, 'beautiful' and 'ugly,' 'happiness' and 'sadness,' 'fast' and 'slow'—these pairs serve as quintessential examples.
In the vast landscape of the English language, comprehending and memorizing all antonyms is an ambitious undertaking. However, I can delve into a myriad of examples from your provided list that span various letters of the alphabet. From 'beautiful' juxtaposed with 'ugly' to 'happy' contrasted with 'sad,' these antonyms resonate with learners at multiple levels of linguistic proficiency.
Exploring the nuances, we encounter pairs such as 'rich' and 'poor,' 'true' and 'false,' 'visible' and 'invisible.' These antonyms elucidate the dichotomies in our language, enhancing vocabulary and facilitating a more profound grasp of linguistic intricacies, especially for students preparing for competitive examinations like Bank Exams, SSC Exams, and UPSC.
From 'adjective' to 'zeal,' the exhaustive list of antonyms you've provided exemplifies the breadth and depth of this linguistic realm. Each pair, meticulously arranged from 'adorable' paired with 'hateful' to 'youthful' juxtaposed with 'old,' accentuates the diversity and richness of antonyms.
Moreover, the inclusion of exercises tailored for competitive exams like SSC and UPSC demonstrates the practical application of understanding antonyms in real exam scenarios. Questions like determining the antonym for 'melodious' as 'odious' and 'fiendish' as 'friendly' underscore the importance of a robust grasp of antonyms in these assessments.
Antonyms serve as indispensable tools in fortifying one's vocabulary and language proficiency, enabling effective communication and comprehension across diverse contexts and examinations.
