Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
Which word means the OPPOSITE of “heal”?
- mindful
- pleased
- worsen
- none
Answer: worsen — An antonym of heal is worsen.
11+ antonyms questions
Antonyms questions test the vocabulary and precision an 11+ English paper is really examining. Here is what is being asked, how to reason it out rather than guess, and five worked examples with full explanations, rising in difficulty.
English · examined by GL and CEM · 5 worked examples
What your child needs to know
- An antonym is a word that means the OPPOSITE.
- The opposite of ‘ancient’ is ‘modern’.
Where marks get lost: Watch out for synonyms hiding among the options — you want the opposite!
Worked examples
Every question below is generated by the same engine your child practises on, and every answer is derived by our checker rather than written by hand — which is why we can put them on a public page at all.
Example 2 · level 2 — typical of early practice
Which word means the OPPOSITE of “polite”?
- sad
- rude
- submissive
- ignorance
Answer: rude — An antonym of polite is rude.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
Which word means the OPPOSITE of “laborious”?
- slow
- lower
- descend
- simple
Answer: simple — An antonym of laborious is simple.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
Which word means the OPPOSITE of “meticulous”?
- cruel
- finite
- audible
- careless
Answer: careless — An antonym of meticulous is careless.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
Which word means the OPPOSITE of “mottled”?
- uniform
- effortless
- substantial
- loquacious
Answer: uniform — An antonym of mottled is uniform.
How to practise this at home
- Vocabulary is cumulative, so a small number of words revisited over weeks beats a long list crammed the night before.
- Ask your child to use a new word in a sentence about their own day — a word they can only define is a word they will lose under pressure.
- When a question turns on a shade of meaning, talk about why the near-miss option is wrong. That is the skill being examined.
Practise antonyms with a tutor that explains
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