Synonyms and Antonyms — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. While most council members agreed, three voted to dissent from the controversial new rule.
Dissent is the precise antonym used when officials formally disagree with a majority decision.
2. After weeks of rain, mushrooms became abundant in the forest, popping up after every shower.
Abundant is the antonym of scarce and best describes mushrooms appearing everywhere.
3. Despite losing the first set, Maya remained optimistic that she could still win the match.
Optimistic is the antonym of pessimistic and matches Maya's continued belief in winning.
4. The lecture hall is proximate to the science wing, so students can move quickly between classes.
Proximate is the formal antonym of distant and accurately describes nearby buildings.
5. When you cool a balloon in the freezer, the air inside will contract, making it look smaller.
Contract is the antonym of expand and explains why cooled air in a balloon shrinks.
6. Although honey was scarce at the market, the village still had enough sugar for everyone.
Scarce is the antonym of abundant and signals that honey was hard to find that day.
7. The senator chose to dissent with the bill rather than support a policy he believed unfair.
Dissent matches the formal political register and is the antonym of concur, meaning to disagree.
8. Every winter, the steel railway tracks contract slightly because of the freezing temperatures.
Contract is the precise antonym of expand and describes how cold metal shrinks.
9. Even after losing his backpack, Leo stayed optimistic that someone honest would return it soon.
Optimistic is the antonym of pessimistic and reflects Leo's hopeful expectation about the backpack.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
concur
→ dissent
pessimistic
abundant
→ scarce
dissent
expand
→ contract
scarce
optimistic
→ pessimistic
contract
Knowing antonym pairs deepens vocabulary and helps readers track contrasts in complex texts.