Antonyms (opposite in meaning) questions appear in almost every GL-style verbal-reasoning paper. Pick the two words most opposite in meaning. Like every VR type, they stop being hard the moment your child has a fixed method — here it is.
What the question looks like
Pick the two words most opposite in meaning. Papers typically include 3–5 of these per test, worth the same marks as any other question — which makes fast, reliable technique on the common types the highest-value preparation there is.
The method
Same drill as synonyms but invert: define, then hunt the reverse. Watch for gradable opposites (hot/cold) versus complementary ones (dead/alive) — the paper wants the cleanest opposition.
Worked example
(generous, rapid, scarce) and (plentiful, mean, sluggish) → generous/mean or scarce/plentiful — pick the STRONGEST opposition offered by the options given.
The traps
Choosing a near-synonym under time pressure; ignoring secondary meanings (mean = unkind vs average).
How to practise this type
Little and often wins: five questions of this type daily for a week beats fifty in one sitting. Our free verbal-reasoning worksheets are organised by exact question type, and the Arena's VR mode gives instant feedback with XP. When the type feels automatic, fold it back into full timed mock papers so pacing develops alongside accuracy. For the full landscape, see the 21 VR types overview.