Synonyms and antonyms

What you will be able to do

• Tell a synonym question from an antonym question on first read.
• Rule out choices that are related in meaning but not close enough to be correct.
• Use word parts and sentence clues to find the closest match when every option looks plausible.

What the lesson concludes

• A synonym question wants the closest match, not a perfect twin. Two words rarely mean exactly the same thing.
• An antonym question wants the true opposite, not just a different or unrelated word.
• Read the stem word in its full sentence first. The same word can point to different synonyms depending on context.
• Eliminate options that share a category with the stem word but do not match its degree or direction.
• When two choices seem close, pick the one that keeps the sentence's tone and intensity, not just its topic.