Use the sentence
Most vocabulary questions give the word in a sentence. The sentence usually contains a definition, an example, a contrast or a cause that reveals the meaning.
Definition: "She was frugal, careful never to waste money."
Contrast: "Unlike his candid brother, he rarely said what he thought." (candid = frank)
Example: "Obsolete devices, such as pagers and floppy drives…"
Substitute each option into the sentence and keep the one that preserves the meaning.
Roots and prefixes
Part | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
bene- | good | benevolent, benefit |
mal- | bad | malpractice, malfunction |
ambi- | both | ambiguous, ambivalent |
-phobia | fear | claustrophobia |
chron- | time | chronic, chronology |
un-, in-, im-, dis- | not | unclear, inadequate, impartial, dishonest |
High-frequency words
Word | Meaning | Opposite |
|---|---|---|
abundant | plentiful | scarce |
meticulous | very careful about detail | careless |
candid | frank, honest | evasive |
ambiguous | open to more than one meaning | clear |
benevolent | kind, generous | malicious |
frugal | economical, thrifty | extravagant |
obsolete | no longer in use | modern |
ephemeral | lasting a very short time | permanent |
diligent | hardworking | lazy |
reluctant | unwilling | eager |
Synonyms and antonyms
A synonym question asks for the closest meaning, not an exact copy.
An antonym question asks for the opposite; watch for options that are synonyms placed as traps.
Words can have several meanings; the sentence tells you which one is meant.
Shortcuts and tricks
The standard way is to know the word. When you don't, roots and context narrow the options quickly.
Use roots
Example: the opposite of MALEVOLENT.
Standard way: recall that malevolent means wishing harm to others, so the opposite is kind.
Shortcut: "mal" means bad (malfunction, malnutrition), so the opposite will be a word for good intentions: benevolent or kind.
Predict before you look
In a sentence question, cover the options and guess the meaning from the clues. Words such as "unlike", "despite" and "but" signal an opposite meaning.
Beware look-alikes
Test makers add options that look similar but mean something else: ambiguous and ambitious, abundant and abandoned. Check the meaning, not the spelling.
Exam tips
Don't choose a word just because it looks or sounds similar.
Eliminate options you know are wrong before guessing between the rest.
Learn words in pairs with their opposites; it doubles what you remember.