Tips to learn Antonyms, Synonyms, and Homonyms
How to prepare Antonyms, Synonyms, and Homonyms for competitive exams?
English has become an integral part of the modern world today and hence; it is very important for an individual to at least learn to speak and write basic English. Every competitive exam that is there in the educational market has English as a mandatory language. In this article, we will learn about antonyms, synonyms, and homonyms. Learning them will help you to score better.
Synonyms:
Synonyms are words that are similar or have similar meaning of another word. Basic idea behind using synonyms is to avoid repetitive words when it comes to writing. Therefore, if you are aware of various synonyms, it becomes easier for you to write a particular piece. Also, sometimes the word that you are looking for may not be the appropriate word, which is where a synonym comes handy to interpret the exact meaning of your words.
Antonyms:
Antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning to another word. For instance, the antonym of ‘small’ will be ‘big’. The idea behind using antonyms is to enhance your vocabulary and improve your writing skills. You can always look for antonyms of a particular word in order to understand its meaning better. Primary focus of understanding a particular word is to improve your skills in English that will help you prepare for your exam.
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Let us understand synonyms and antonyms with the help of some examples:
Sr No. | Word | Synonym | Antonym |
1 | Awareness | Acumen, Brilliance | Stupidity, Ignorance |
2 | Abolish | Comply, Observe | Condemn, Disjoin |
3 | Awkward | Rude, Blundering | Adroit, Clever |
4 | Base | Vulgar, Coarse | Summit, Noble |
5 | Barrier | Barricade, Obstacle | Link, Assistance |
6 | Bind | Predicament | Release |
7 | Busy | Active, Engaged | Idle, Lazy |
8 | Capable | Competent, Able | Incompetent, Inept |
9 | Cease | Terminate, Desist | Begin, Originate |
10 | Compassion | Kindness, Sympathy | Cruelty, Barbarity |
11 | Confident | Bold, Undaunted | Different, Cowardly |
12 | Courtesy | Generosity, Reverence | Disdain, Rudeness |
13 | Creation | Formation, Foundation | Destruction |
14 | Decay | Collapse, Decompose | Flourish, Progress |
15 | Decipher | Interpret, Revel | Misinterpret, Distort |
16 | Deliberate | Cautious, Intentional | Rash, Sudden |
17 | Demolish | Ruin, Devastate | Repair, Construct |
18 | Deprive | Despoil, Divest | Restore, Renew |
19 | Denounce | Blame Boycott | Defend |
20 | Destructive | Catastrophic, Pernicious | Creative, Constructive |
These are some of the basic words that are used in our day-to-day lives while speaking in English. The best way to put them in practice is by using them in your sentences.
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Now, we come to the next part which is Homonyms;
Homonyms:
Homonyms are words with similar spelling and pronunciation but different meanings and origins. These words are important to understand because words that look alike can have different meanings. It is very important to pay attention to the context of a sentence that you are reading in order to avoid misinterpretations of what is being said because of homonyms.
Let us understand the same with the help of few examples:
Sr No. | Word | Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 |
1 | Atmosphere | The gases surrounding the earth | The mood of the situation |
2 | Bail | To clear out water | To release a prisoner |
3 | Band | A ring | A musical group |
4 | Beat | To overcome something | To feel exhausted |
5 | Capital | The chief city of a state | A crime punishable by death |
6 | Cleave | To split or sever | To adhere to |
7 | Dive | To go down quickly | An unpleasant place |
8 | Employ | To put in use | To hire someone for a job |
9 | File | To store computer data | To make a formal request |
10 | Fine | Being of high quality | Sum of money as penalty |
11 | Grave | Something very serious | A place to bury the dead |
12 | Hide | To keep something secret | The skin of an animal |
13 | Iron | To press or smooth | Silvery gray material |
14 | Jade | A hard, green stone | A hardened or bad-tempered woman |
15 | Lark | A small bird | Something done for fun |
16 | Objective | Not being influenced by prejudice | The lens of a microscope or a camera |
17 | Plaque | An ornamental plate | A deposit of teeth prone to bacteria |
18 | Refrain | To stop oneself from doing something | A repeated line in music or poetry |
19 | Reticule | At a distance or disconnected | Unlikely possibility |
20 | Tender | Sensitive or painful to touch | Soft food |
Important Note: Homonyms are not to be confused with homophones or homographs. Homographs are words with the same spelling but with different meaning and pronunciation. Homophones are words with the same pronunciation but with different meanings and spellings.
Conclusion:
The more you practice these words, the better are your chances to crack the exam in English. As we all know, there is no shortcut to success and as the famous saying goes, ‘practice makes a man perfect’ should be followed if you really want to ace in your examination.
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