Synonyms & Antonyms - Language Skills PDF

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Language Skills...

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RESOURCE LI ST

SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS

CODING SYSTEM:

A B C

Easiest Intermediate Most difficult

Used in oral language; concrete concepts Harder words; more likely used in writing Advanced vocabulary and concepts

Often a range of levels is given since the difficulty will vary according to the word selection. Most students find antonyms easier than synonyms since opposites tend to be more concrete concepts than similarities. However, since synonym substitution is a key strategy for improving written communication, study of synonyms is more beneficial. WORD

SYNONYMS

ANTONYMS

abandon

desert, forsake

keep

abbreviate

shorten, condense

lengthen, increase

ability able

skill, aptitude capable, qualified

incompetence, inability incapable

B B

above

overhead

below

A

abundant

ample, sufficient

scanty, insufficient

accurate achieve

correct, right accomplish, attain

wrong fail

active

energetic, animated, lively

lethargic, idle, sluggish

B-C

adamant

firm, unyielding

maneuverable, yielding

C

add adequate

increase, total sufficient, enough, ample

subtract insufficient, sparse

adjourn

postpone, recess

recommence, continue

C

adult

grown-up

child

A

advocate after

support, recommend following, next

oppose before

B-C A

afraid

frightened, scared

courageous, brave

A-B

aggressive

assertive, pushy, militant

passive, peaceful

B-C

aid always

help, assist forever

hinder never

B A

amateur

beginner, novice

professional

B

ambitious

aspiring, driven

lazy, indifferent

antagonize apparent

provoke, embitter obvious, evident

soothe, tranquilize hidden, obscure

approve

accept, ratify, endorse

disapprove, censure

arrive

reach, come

depart, leave

arrogant artificial

haughty, stuck-up fake, synthetic

humble, modest real, authentic

Copyright © Reading Manipulatives, Inc.

LEVEL B B-C

B-C B B

A-B B-C

B-C C C B-C B B-C B-C

Synonyms & Antonyms p. 1

WORD

SYNONYMS

ANTONYMS

ask

question, inquire

answer

atrocious

dreadful, contemptible, vile

kind, wonderful

authentic average

genuine, real, factual ordinary, fair

false, artificial unusual, exceptional

C B-C

awful

dreadful, atrocious

pleasant

B-C

awkward

clumsy, uncoordinated

graceful

B

ban barren

prohibit, forbid, outlaw unproductive, infertile

allow, permit fertile, productive

B C

bashful

shy, timid

outgoing, assured

B

beautiful

pretty, attractive, lovely

ugly

A

before beginning

prior, earlier start, initiate

after, behind finish, end

A-B A-B

believe

trust, accept

doubt, distrust

A-B

below

under, lower

above

beneficial best

helpful, useful, advantageous finest, choice

harmful, adverse worst

B-C A-B

birth

beginning

death, end

A-B

blend

combine, mix

separate

bottom brave

base, foundation courageous, bold, heroic

top cowardly, timid

A-B B

break

fracture, burst

repair, heal

A-B

brief

short, concise

long

B

broad busy

wide, expansive active, occupied, working

narrow idle, inactive

B B

buy

purchase

sell

calm

quiet, tranquil, still

excited, turbulent

B

capture care

apprehend, seize, arrest concern, protection

free, release neglect

B B

careful

cautious, watchful

careless, reckless

B

cease

stop, discontinue

continue, recommence

B-C

certain charming

positive, sure, definite delightful, appealing, enchanting

uncertain, unsure obnoxious, gross, vulgar

B B-C

chilly

cool, nippy

warm

chubby

plump, pudgy

thin, skinny

clarify close

explain, simplify shut, fasten

confuse open

B A

close

near, imminent

far

B

Copyright © Reading Manipulatives, Inc.

LEVEL A-B C

A

B

A-B

A A-B

Synonyms & Antonyms p. 2

WORD

SYNONYMS

ANTONYMS

LEVEL

coarse

bumpy, rough

fine, smooth

B

colossal

enormous, immense, mammoth

tiny, insignificant, trivial

combine comical

blend, unite, join amusing, funny, humorous

separate tragic, sorrowful

complex

complicated, intricate

simple

B-C

competent

capable, qualified

incompetent, inept

B-C

comprehend complete

understand, grasp conclude, finish

confuse, misinterpret incomplete

B-C B

complex

complicated, intricate

simple

B-C

compress

crush, condense, squeeze

expand

B-C

concrete concur

real, tangible, solid agree, cooperate

abstract, flimsy disagree

condemn

censure, denounce

approve

condense

compress, concentrate

expand, enlarge

confess confine

admit, acknowledge contain, enclose, restrain

deny free, release

conflict

oppose, differ, clash

agree

conflict

fight, battle, struggle

peace, harmony

B-C

conform confuse

comply, submit complicate, muddle, jumble

dissent, dispute clarify

B-C B

congested

overcrowded, stuffed

empty, unfilled

B-C

connect

join, link, attach

separate, disconnect

B

conscientious conscious

scrupulous, virtuous aware, cognizant

neglectful, careless unaware, unconscious

C C

consecutive

successive, continuous

interrupted

C

conservative

cautious, restrained

radical, extreme

C

considerate constantly

thoughtful, sympathetic, mindful always, continually

thoughtless, selfish scarcely, seldom

C B

contaminate

pollute, defile, infect

purify

B-C

contented

satisfied, pleased

dissatisfied, unhappy

B-C

continue convalesce

persist, persevere recuperate, recover, heal

discontinue, stop relapse

B-C C

convenient

handy, accessible

inconvenient

conventional

customary, traditional

unusual

B-C

correct courage

accurate, right, proper bravery, valor

wrong, incorrect cowardice

A-B B

courteous

polite, civil

rude

Copyright © Reading Manipulatives, Inc.

B-C B B

C B B-C C B B-C B

B

B Synonyms & Antonyms p. 3

WORD

SYNONYMS

ANTONYMS

cover

conceal, hide

expose

B

cozy

comfortable, snug, homey

uncomfortable

B

cranky crazy

cross, irritable insane, daft, mad

good-humored sane

B B

cruel

mean, heartless, ruthless

kind, humane

B

cry

sob, weep

laugh

A

dally damage

loiter, linger hurt, impair, harm

rush remedy, repair

dangerous

unsafe, hazardous, perilous

safe

daring

bold, audacious

cautious

B-C

dark dawn

dismal, black daybreak, sunrise

light evening

A-B B

dead

lifeless, deceased

alive, active

A-B

decay

rot, spoil

bloom, flourish

B

deduct defend

subtract, remove protect, shield

add attack, assault

B B

defy

resist, challenge

obey, comply

B

delicate

fragile, dainty

sturdy

B

demolish denounce

destroy, wreck blame, censure, indict

restore commend

B C

dense

thick, heavy, compressed

sparse, empty

depart

leave, exit

arrive

B

deposit desolate

store, place barren, forsaken

withdraw dense, verdant

B C

despise

hate, detest, loathe

love

B

destitute

poor, penniless

wealthy

C

destroy detach

ruin, wreck, devastate separate, unfasten, remove

restore attach

B B

deter

hinder, prevent

encourage

B

determined

sure, convinced, resolute

doubtful

B-C

die different

expire, perish distinct, unlike

live same, alike

A-B B

difficult

hard, challenging

easy

A-B

dilute

weaken, thin

strengthen

B

diminish dirty

curtail, lessen, decrease soiled, messy

increase, amplify clean

C A

disagree

differ, dispute

agree

B

Copyright © Reading Manipulatives, Inc.

LEVEL

B-C B B

B-C

Synonyms & Antonyms p. 4

WORD

SYNONYMS

ANTONYMS

dispute

debate, oppose

agree

B

diverse

different, distinct

same, similar

C

divide docile

separate, split tame, gentle

unite wild, stubborn

dormant

sleeping, inactive

awake, active

B

doubt

mistrust, dispute

believe

B

drab drastic

dull, lifeless severe, extreme, tough

bright mild, moderate

B B-C

dreadful

terrible, unpleasant

splendid, super

B

dry

arid, parched

wet

A-B

dubious dull

doubtful, questionable blunt, dreary

certain sharp, bright

B-C B

dumb

stupid, dense

smart

A-B

early

premature, beforetime

late

A-B

easy eccentric

simple peculiar, unusual

hard normal

A C

ecstasy

joy, rapture, elation

sadness, depression

C

empty

drain, unload

fill

encourage enemy

promote, support, urge opponent, foe

discourage ally, friend

B B

enjoy

like, appreciate

dislike, hate

B

enlarge

expand, magnify

reduce, shrink

B

enormous enough

vast, immense, colossal sufficient, ample, plenty

tiny, microscopic insufficient

B B

entirely

wholly, completely, solely

partly

B

eternal

always, perpetual, everlasting

temporary, passing

B

evident evil

apparent, obvious, clear bad, wrong, wicked

doubtful, vague good

exceptional

remarkable, outstanding

ordinary, commonplace

excite

arouse, provoke, incite

compose, calm

exhilarated explicit

overjoyed, ecstatic, elated exact, distinct, unmistakable

depressed, dejected, sad indefinite, unclear

C C

exquisite

delightful, charming, lovely

revolting, repulsive

C

exterior

outside, outer

interior

B

extravagant fabulous

extreme, excessive, luxurious marvelous, amazing

meager unexciting

C B

face

confront, meet

avoid

B

Copyright © Reading Manipulatives, Inc.

LEVEL

B B-C

A-B

B-C A C B-C

Synonyms & Antonyms p. 5

WORD

SYNONYMS

ANTONYMS

fair

honest, just, impartial

unjust, unfair

B

fake

imitation, phony, artificial

real, genuine

B

false fancy

incorrect, untrue elaborate, ornate, fussy

true simple, plain

B B-C

fantastic

incredible, outrageous

ordinary, usual

fast

rapid, quick, swift

slow

A-B

fat fatal

chubby, plump, stout deadly, mortal, killing

thin

A-B B

fatigue

tire, exhaust

feasible

possible, attainable, practical

impossible

B-C

feeble ferocious

weak, frail fierce, savage, brutal, savage

strong tame, gentle

B B-C

fertile

fruitful, productive

unproductive, barren

C

many

A

few

LEVEL

B

B

fiction fill

fantasy, untruth, myth load, pack

truth empty

B A

fix

mend, repair

break

A

flaw

defect, fault, blemish

perfection

B

flimsy flippant

frail, fragile, delicate impudent, sassy

sturdy, strong polite, respectful

B C

fluid

liquid

solid

B

foe

enemy, adversary, opponent

friend

B-C

follow forbid

succeed, trail prohibit, ban, bar

lead, precede encourage

A-B B

forgive

pardon, excuse, absolve

former

previous, earlier

latter

B

fraction frank

part, portion, segment candid, straightforward, blunt

whole evasive

B B

frenzy

fury, rage

serenity, calmness

fresh

unused, new

old, stale

friend frigid

comrade, buddy freezing, frosty

enemy warm, hot

A-B B

frivolous

trivial, unimportant, silly

important, serious

B-C

front

fore

back

A

full furious

packed, stuffed angry, enraged, infuriated

empty calm, placid

A B

future

coming, tomorrow

past

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B

B-C B

A-B Synonyms & Antonyms p. 6

WORD

SYNONYMS

ANTONYMS

gain

acquire, obtain, receive

lose

B

gallant

chivalrous, stately

ungentlemanly

C

gather gaudy

collect, accumulate, compile showy, garish, vulgar

scatter, disperse tasteful, refined

B B-C

gaunt

scrawny, skinny, thin

overweight, plump

B-C

generous

giving, selfless, big-hearted

selfish, stingy

gentle genuine

tender, mild real, authentic, sincere

rough, harsh fake, phony

A-B B

gigantic

immense, colossal, enormous

tiny, minute

B

give

donate, present, offer

take, receive

A-B

glad gloomy

happy, pleased, delighted dark, dismal, depressing

sad, unhappy cheery, bright

A-B B

glorious

splendid, magnificent, superb

terrible, awful

B-C

good

nice, fine, well-behaved

bad, awful

gorgeous gratitude

ravishing, dazzling, stunning thankfulness, appreciation

hideous, unattractive ungratefulness

great

outstanding, remarkable

insignificant, unimportant

B

handy

useful, convenient, skillful

inconvenient, inept

B

hard hate

firm, solid, difficult loathe, detest

soft, easy love

help

aid, assist

hinder, thwart

high

elevated, lofty

low

hold honest

grasp, grip, retain truthful, sincere, frank