Arguments for the meaning of the word versus the meaning of the

word are called contradictions.

antonyms can be classified as follows:

a) Adding a prefix.

b) Change of suffix.

c) In an entirely new word.

a) Adding a prefix.

credible – incredible

compete – incomplete

correct – incorrect

ability – inability

convenient – inconvenient

honest – dishonest

advantage – disadvantage

order – disorder

like – dislike

aware – unaware

clean – unclean

born – unborn

expected – unexpected

equal – unequal

married – unmarried

happy – unhappy

fit – unfit

fortunate – unfortunate

known – unknown

fair – unfair

seen – unseen

necessary – unnecessary

able – unable

Legal – illegal

mortal - immortal

possible – impossible

polite – impolite

permanent – impermanent

partial – impartial

patient – impatient

perfect – imperfect

practicable – impracticable

proper – improper

pure – impure

accurate – inaccurate

adequate – inadequate

animate – inanimate

advisable – inadvisable

suspicious – inauspicious

attentive – inattentive

capable – incapable

calculable – incalculable

b) Change of suffix

useful – useless

careful – careless

fearful – fearless

employer – employee

hopeful – hopeless

c) In an entirely new word

absent – present

barren – fertile

abundance – scarcity

adult – child

ascend - descend

affluence – poverty

ancient – modern

accept – reject

arrive – depart

beautiful – ugly

before – after

big – small

beginning – end

bright – dull

above – below

allow - forbid

birth – death

bitter – sweet

bravery – cowardice

care – neglect

clean – dirty

common – rare

compulsory – optional

conceal – reveal

decrease – increase

cruel – kind

dry – wet

difficult – easy

different – similar

debit – credit

democracy – autocracy

create – destroy

clever – stupid

deep - shallow

encourage – discourage

early – late

dwarf - giant

ever – never

entrance – exit

expand – contract

exterior – interior

fertile – barren

flat – round

include – exclude

excess – shortage

dead - alive

fat – thin

false – true

far – near

fast – slow

Fresh – stale

Full – empty

Freedom – slavery

Gentle – rough

Gain – lose

Hot – cold

Peace – war

Maximum – minimum

Laugh – weep

Majority – minority

Permanent – temporary

Quite – noisy

Wise – foolish

Surplus – deficit

Reject – accept

Victory – defeat

Vertical – horizontal

Warm – cool

Yong – old

Thin – thick

Humble – proud

Happiness – misery

Hate – love

Joy – sorrow

Oral – written

Tight – loose

Low – high

Export – imports

Sharp – blunt

Rough – smooth

Sympathy – antipathy

Solid – liquid

Male – female

Narrow – broad

New – old

Odd – even

Pleasure – pain

Rich – poor

Public – privet

Hard – soft

Junior – senior

Heavy – light

Lend – borrow

Major – minor

Natural – artificial

Praise – blame

Forgot – remember

Complex – simple

Success – failure

Strange – familiar

Strong – week

Rural – urban

Written – verbal

Horizontal – vertical

Mark the correct antonyms for the underlined word in an each questions.

1) I will complete this program with my brother as soon as possible to

provide the annual general meeting. (incomplete /happy / invaluable)

2) They believed that their youngest child brought all the good fortune,

wealth and happiness to their family.

(disarranged/disband/disbelieved)

3) Their ideas and vision are very practical, success and suited to the

current situation of the country. (deficit /failure /strong)

4) Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka will arrive at the Katunayake

International Airport tomorrow at 4 am with the financial support

from Australia for the 'Light Rail Project' (depart/find/reject)

5) Sameera has loved to work very hard since his childhood. Because of

his dedication and persistence, he finally finished the job very well. (

giant / neglect / easy)

6) People like to live in a natural environment with lot of greenery

other than in a hard concrete area. ( modern / vertical / artificial)

7) Please divide this into 10 equal parts and give one part to Ramani

(aware / unequal / honest)

8) This book is relevant and necessary for the advanced level

classes.(unknown / fair/ unnecessary )

9) Please keep this room clean and tidy(unclean/unborn/unhappy)

10) This is a very useful and very valuable artifact.

(careless/useless/incapable)