Opposite Words in English

An opposite word can be defined as a word that expresses a meaning as opposed to the meaning of a particular word. In this case, the two words are called antonyms of each other. ‘Opposite words’ is an important topic in English Grammar, especially at the school level and students must learn as many as antonyms/opposite words as this would be a great booster for improving their vocabulary and improving their command of the English language. 

Let’s understand the concept of Opposite words with the help of some examples-

  • 'Beautiful' is the opposite word of 'Ugly.'
  • 'Happiness' is the opposite word of 'Sadness.'
  • 'Fast' is the opposite word of 'Slow.'
  • 'Clean' is the opposite word of 'Dirty.' and so on.

1000+ Opposite/ Antonyms Words

The topic “Opposite Words” is vast and impossible for a person to learn the antonyms of all words in the English dictionary. However, there are numerous opposite words that we often use in our daily life but some of us may don’t know the opposite of many other words. For your reference, we have tabulated 1000+ opposite words in this article, read and try to grasp some new words with their opposite meanings. Through this article, you will be able you learn numerous opposite words used in English Grammar and this will definitely enhance your vocabulary especially when you are preparing for Bank Exams, SSC Exams, UPSC, and other competitive exams where you have to prepare for English subject.  

Basic Opposite Words

Help your kid learn opposite words in a fun way from this article as we have separately listed opposite meanings of words alphabetically. The list of basic opposite words is quite important for the students of Classes 5th, 6th, and 7th as this is the time where they have to build a strong base of their vocabulary. 

A list of simple and basic opposite words in English is given below. Use them to improve your English vocabulary. If you are a kid and want to build your vocabulary strong you can read the following simple opposite words.

WordOpposite Word
AntonymSynonym
ApproximatelyExactly
AskReply
AuthenticFake
AwakeAsleep
BadGood
Beautiful Ugly
BeforeAfter
BoyGirl
BoldTimid
Bright Dim
BroadNarrow
BestWorst
ChildAdult
ChangeableConstant
ClemencyRuthlessness
ConciseLengthy
ConstructionDestruction
DeliciousAwful
DescentAscent
DictatorshipRepublic
DomesticForeign
DwindleFlourish
EarlyLate
EntranceExit
Even Odd
EccentricOrdinary
FarNear
Friend Enemy
FullEmpty
Funny Serious
FrequentlyOccasionally
GeneralParticular, Special
GenerousMean
GentleViolent
Give Take
HappySad
HardEasy
HeavyLight
HonestDishonest
HotCold
HopefulDesperate, Hopeless
HorizontalVertical
HumidDry
ImportExport
InsideOutside
InOut
Interesting Boring, Dull
JuniorSenior
KindCruel, Unkind
LargeSmall
LeadFollow
LendBorrow
LightDark
LoveHate
LittleBig
LaughCry
LeftRight
LiquidSolid
MendBreak
MessOrder
ModerateExtreme
More Less
ManWoman
MessyNeat
ModernAncient
NormalStrange
OppositeSame
OpponentSupporter
PraiseCastigate
RefuseAgree
RegretSatisfaction
RichPoor
RudePolite
StartEnd
SunnyCloudy
SweetSour
StrengthenDebilitate
TightLoose
TopBottom
ThickThin
TinyHuge
TruthLie
UnityDivision
UsefulUseless
VictoryDefeat
VictoryDefeat
VisibleInvisible
VisitorHost
WideNarrow
WiseFoolish, Stupid
WhisperScream

Opposite Words in the English Language

An extensive list of opposite words/ antonyms of the most commonly used English words is given below. Let's have a look at important Opposite Words alphabetically from letters A to Z.

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘A’

WordsOpposite Word
AdorableHateful
AdequateInsufficient
AffordableCostly
AttractiveBoring
AwesomeBad
AbundanceLack
AccidentalIntentional
AdvancedElementary
AffableUnfriendly
AmateurProfessional
AmiableGrumpy
AncestorDescendant

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘B’

WordsOpposite Word
BeautyGrotesqueness
BelieveDisbelieve
BelovedUnbeloved
BenefitDrawback
 Balk Impetus
BeneficialDetrimental

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘C’

WordsOpposite Word
CareCarelessness
CarryExclude
CavalierHumble
ClumsyAdroit
CreativeUninventive
CutRestore
CloseFar

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘D’

WordsOpposite Words
DarlingUnbeloved
DearUnbeloved
DeepShallow
DemandDisclaim
DestroyRaise

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘E’

WordsOpposite Words
EffectiveIneffective
EfficientInefficient
EffortEase
EnjoyAbhor
EnoughInadequate
EmigrateImmigrate
EnslaveEmancipate
EphemeralLong-lived
ExcitableTranquil

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘F’

WordsOpposite Words
FabulousOrdinary
FairFoul
FastSlow
FewMany
FlaccidTaut
ForgiveResent

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘G’

WordsOpposite Words
GentleAbrasive
GreatLittle
GeniusStupidity
GladDismayed
GorgeousUninteresting

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘H’

WordsOpposite Words
HabitDisinclination
HappySad
HelpHinder
HumanityInhumanity
HurtHeal

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘I’

WordsOpposite Words
IllegalLegal
IgnominyGlory
ImpressDisappoint
IntrepidCowardly
IndependentDependent
InceptionConclusion
InnocentGuilty
InspireDepress
InstallRemove

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘J’

WordsOpposite Words
JokeHumourless
JollyMiserable
JoyMisery
JusticeInjustice
JustifyDisprove

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘K’

WordsOpposite Words
KeenReluctant
KeepSpend
KickoffEnd
KindUnkind
KnowledgeIgnorance

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘L’

WordsOpposite Words
LittlePlenty
LivelyListless
LostRegain
LoveHatred
LuckMisfortune

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘M’

WordsOpposite Words
MagicAwful
MakeDestroy
MasterServant
MatureImmature
MoralityImmorality

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘N’

WordsOpposite Words
NeatDisorderly
NeedOptional
NextPrevious
NiceUnpleasant
NormalAbnormal

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘O’

WordsOpposite Words
ObjectiveBiassed
OdiumAffection
OfferWithdraw
OmnipotentImpotent
OptimisticPessimistic
OutstandingMediocre

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘P’

WordsOpposite Words
PauseContinue
PeaceNoise
PotentialImpotence
PowerInability
PrettyPlain

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘Q’

WordsOpposite Words
QualifyDisqualify
QualityInadequacy
QuickSlow
QuietLoud
QuitStay

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘R’

WordsOpposite Words
RealUnreal
RecallForget
RelaxTense
ReportSilence
RoughGentle

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘S’

WordsOpposite Words
SimpleDifficult
SincerePerfunctory
SmallBig
SoftHard
SureUnsure

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘T’

WordsOpposite Words
TalentInability
TalkativeTaciturn
TargetDeselect
TaskInactivity
TenderheartedFiendish
TriumphDefeat

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘U’

WordsOpposite Words
UniqueCommon
UpturnSlump
UniteDivide
UnlimitedFinite
UpliftLower
UsefulUseless

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘V’

WordsOpposite Words
ValidInvalid
ValuableWorthless
VarietyUniformity
VastTiny
VictoryDefeat

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘W’

WordsOpposite Words 
WarningNeglect
WealthPoverty
WinnerLoser
WiseStupid
WorthyUnimportant

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘X’

WordsOpposite Words
XenialInhospitable
Xenophobic Impartial
Xeroxes Original

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘Y’

WordsOpposite Word
YoungOld
YieldResist
YearningDisinclination
YouthfulOld
YummyUnappetizing

Opposite Words Starting with the Letter ‘Z’

WordsOpposite Word
ZappyMelancholy
ZanySane
ZealApathy
ZenithNadir, Bottom
ZenDisturbed
ZingySullen

 

Opposite Words Exercise for SSC and UPSC Exams

The aspirants appearing for government examinations frequently face questions related to antonyms/opposite words in the English language section of various exams such as SSC (SSC CGL, CHSL, JE etc.), UPSC (NDA, CDS etc), Banking and more. Opposite Words are asked in the vocabulary section which won’t be as simple as the basic opposite words listed above. Practice for opposite words with a few important questions enlisted below from the perspective of competitive examinations.

Directions: In the following questions, choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word. 

Q1. MELODIOUS 
(a) Harmonious 
(b) Tuneless 
(c) Odious 
(d) Mellifluous 

Ans. (c) 
Sol. Melodious: pleasant to listen to, Odious: extremely unpleasant, horrible. Mellifluous: pleasingly smooth and musical to hear. Hence Melodious and Odious are antonyms to each other. 

Q2. FIENDISH 
(a) Diabolical 
(b) Devilish 
(c) Reimbursement 
(d) Friendly 

Ans. (d) 
Sol. Fiendish: cruel and unpleasant: extremely clever and complicated. Friendly: Behaving in a kind and pleasant way showing kindness. Reimbursement: a sum paid to cover the money that has been spent or lost. Hence Fiendish and Friendly are antonyms to each other. 

Q3. SUBSEQUENT 
(a) Eventual 
(b) Succeeding 
(c) Prior 
(d) Comparative 

Ans. (c) 
Sol. Subsequent: Happening or coming after something else. Prior: Happening or existing before something else. Hence Subsequent and Prior are antonyms to each other.

Q4. SOBRIETY 
(a) Modernization 
(b) Drunkenness 
(c) Despicable 
(d) Stupidity 

Ans. (b) 
Sol. Sobriety: the state of being sober not being drunk; the fact of being sensible and serious. Despicable: deserving hatred and contempt. Drunkenness: the state of being drunk; intoxication. Hence Sobriety and Drunkenness are antonyms to each other. 

Q5. NEFARIOUS 
(a) Slapdash 
(b) Perfect 
(c) Unblemished 
(d) Righteous 

Ans. (d) 
Sol. Nefarious: (typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal. Righteous: morally right or justifiable. Slapdash: done too hurriedly and carelessly. Hence Nefarious and Righteous are antonyms to each other. 

Q6. RECUPERATE 
(a) Relapse 
(b) Rude 
(c) Rush 
(d) Sparse 

Ans. (a) 
Sol. Recuperate: recover from illness or exertion. Relapse: a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement. Sparse: scanty; in short supply. Hence Recuperate and Relapse is antonyms to each other. 

Q7. TREMULOUS 

(a) Healthy 
(b) Steady 
(c) Obese 
(d) Young 

Ans. (b) 
Sol. Tremulous: shaking or quivering slightly. Steady: firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving. Obese: grossly fat or overweight. Hence Tremulous and Steady are antonyms to each other.

Q8. ELUDE 
(a) Dodge 
(b) Support 
(c) Thwart 
(d) Flee 

Ans. (b) 
Sol. Elude: evade or escape from (a danger, enemy or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way. Dodge: avoid (someone or something) by a sudden quick movement. Thwart: prevent (someone) from accomplishing something. Hence Elude and Support are antonyms to each other. 

Q9. CONTEMPTUOUS 
(a) Respected 
(b) Derisive (c) 
Haughty 
(d) Expedite 

Ans. (a) Sol. Contemptuous: showing contempt; scornful. Derisive: expressing contempt or ridicule. Expedite: make (an action or process) happen sooner. Hence Contemptuous and Respected are antonyms to each other. 

Q10. RELISH 
(a) Zest 
(b) Apathy 
(c) Corporal 
(d) Prototype 

Ans. (b) Sol. Relish: Great Enjoyment. Apathy: lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. Hence Relish and Apathy are antonyms to each other.

How Do Opposite Words Help?

Opposite words, or antonyms, play a crucial role in communication, learning, and cognitive development. Overall, antonyms enrich language use, promote better understanding, and foster intellectual growth. Here are some ways they help:

  1. Learning opposite words expands your vocabulary and helps you understand the full spectrum of meanings for difficult words.
  2. Using these opposite words can clarify meanings and make it easier to understand the nuances of a word. For instance, understanding “hot” is enhanced by knowing its opposite, “cold.”
  3. Opposite words enable more precise and varied descriptions. Instead of repeatedly using the same words, you can use opposites to create contrast and emphasis.
  4. Identifying and understanding opposites can enhance critical thinking skills. It encourages comparing and contrasting concepts, which is fundamental to analysis and reasoning.
  5. Creative Writing: In literature and poetry, opposite words are used to create irony, tension, and contrast, making writing more dynamic and engaging.
Opposite Words in English- FAQs

A word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other are called opposite words.

The opposite word of beautiful is ugly.

The opposite word of wise is Foolish or Stupid.

The opposite word of kind is cruel or unkind.

The opposite word of I Love You is I Hate You.

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