Antonyms | English Grammar

Antonyms, in simple terms are words with the opposite meaning. They allow you to express contrasting ideas while also improving your vocabulary and comprehension skills writing and communication. 

For eg:

  • "Hot" is the opposite of "cold."
  • "Up" is the opposite of "down."
  • "Good" is the opposite of "bad."

As we all know, in Kerala PSC exams synonyms and antonyms are frequently tested in the English language section to evaluate vocabulary skills.

The below list  explores important antonyms within the context of English grammar, aiding your preparation, enhance your vocabulary and improve your scores with targeted study materials.


List of Antonyms for Kerala PSC

A


  • Abash x Uphold.
  • Abjure x Sanction.
  • Abolish x Establish.
  • Abound x Destitute.
  • Absolve x Compel.
  • Abuse x Praise.  (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
  • Abundance x Scarcity,
  • Accept x Reject / Refuse.
  • Accidental x Intentional. (SI Mains, 2024)
  • Accord x Discord.
  • Accurate x Inaccurate. (Male/Female Warden, 2018)
  • Adapt x Misfit.
  • Adept x Inept. (Salesman/Saleswoman (HANTEX), 2017)
  • Adhere x Condemn.
  • Adjacent x Remote.
  • Amateur x Professional.
  • Admire x Detest.
  • Admonish x Approve.
  • Advancing x Retreating. (Marketing Organizer, 2024)
  • Adversity x Prosperity. 
  • Affluence x Poverty. (Beat Forest Officer, 2018)
  • Alien x Native.
  • Alleviate x Aggravate. (Typist/LD Typist/Reporter Gr II, 2023; Civil Police Officer, 2018)
  • Ancestor x Descendent. (Armed Police SI, SR for ST only, 2023)
  • Arrived x Departed.
  • Ascend x Descend.
  • Assemble x Disperse. (Woman Police Constable, 2018)
  • Asset x Liability. 
  • Audacious x Timid.


    B


    • Barren x Fertile / Fruitful.
    • Belittle x Praise.
    • Benevolent x Malevolent.
    • Bestow x Take away.
    • Bleak x Cheerful.
    • Bless x Curse.
    • Blunt x Sharp.
    • Boon x Curse. (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
    • Bravery x Cowardice. (Lab Assistant, HSE, 2017)
    • Brittle x Tough.
    • Broad x Narrow
    • Borrow x Lend.

    C

    • Calamity x Fortune.
    • Callous x Concerned.
    • Calm x Turbulent.
    • Captivate x Repel.
    • Carnal x Spiritual.
    • Cautious x Reckless. (Degree level prelims Stage iii, 2024) 
    • Cease x Begin.
    • Celestial x Terrestrial.
    • Cheap x Dear. (LDC Tamil & Malayalam knowing, 2023)
    • Civilized x Barbarian.
    • Clear x Murky. (Theatre Assistant (Main Exam), 2024)
    • Clockwise x Counter clockwise. (Secretary, Local Self Govt, 2024)
    • Clumsy x Graceful.
    • Comfort x Distress.
    • Comfortable x Uncomfortable (Degree Prelims Stage III, 2024)
    • Compulsory x Voluntary. (LDC, 2017)
    • Conceal x Reveal.
    • Concede x Deny.
    • Concurrence x Disapproval. (Armed Police Sub-Inspector (Trainee), 2017)
    • Condemn x Praise / Exonerate.
    • Confident x Diffident.
    • Consent x Object.
    • Consolidate x Separate.
    • Contaminate x Purify. (LDC Idukki, 2024)
    • Convict x Acquit.
    • Crooked x Straight.



    D


    • Dainty x Clumsy.
    • Dawn x Dusk. (Assistant Prison Officer, 2023)
    • Death x Life.
    • Deep x Shallow.
    • Defeat x Triumph. (Lab Assistant, Officer Attender Gr II, Care taker, LD Clerk, 2023)
    • Deft x Clumsy.
    • Deficit x  Surplus. (Clerk (various), 2024)
    • Defiance x Submission. (Matron Gr II, 2024)
    • Demolish x Erect. (LDC SR for SC/ST, 2017)
    • Denial x Acceptance.
    • Despair x Hope.
    • Diminish x Increase. (Assistant Prison Officer (Male), 2018)
    • Disgusted x Pleased. (Assistant/Auditor, 2018)
    • Disseminate x Withhold. (LDC SR for SC/ST, 2017)
    • Dreary x Cheerful.
    • Dynamic x Static.


    E

    • Fact x Fiction. (Degree Level Prelims Stage I, 2021)
    • Economise x Waste.
    • Emaciation x Invigoration. (Degree level prelims Stage ii, 2024) 
    • Entry x Exit.
    • Excessive x Moderate. (Drugs control Lab attender, 2024)
    • Extravagance x Miserliness.



    F

    • Fabulous x Actual.
    • Facilitate x Impede. (Junior Project Assistant, 2023)
    • Feeble x Strong.
    • Frailty x Strength.


    G
    • Gallant x Coward. (Junior Assistant/ Cashier /Assistant Grade II/Clerk Gr.I, 2018)
    • Gain x Loss.
    • Generous x Selfish.

    H

    • Harmonious x Discordant. (LDC Kottayam, 2024)
    • Haughty x Humble.
    • Heavy x Light.
    • Hostile x Friendly.


    I

    • Ignorance x Knowledge.
    • Indigenous x Exotic.
    • Innocent x Guilty. (LDC, 2017)
    • Indigent x Affluent. (University Assistant, 2019)


    L

    • Literate x Illiterate.
    • Lugubrious x Cheerful. (KAS, 2020)

    J

    • Jubilant x Despondent. (Care Taker (Male), 2018)


    K

    • Kindle x Extinguish.  (Assistant/LD Clerk/Cashier/Branch Manager, 2024)
    • Knowledge x Ignorance.


    M

    • Mad x Sane. (University Assistant, 2023)
    • Malice x Goodwill.
    • Mandatory x Optional.
    • Miserly x Generous. (LDC Kottayam, 2024)
    • Mitigate x Aggravate.
    • Motion x Rest.


    N

    • Naive x Sophisticated. (Field Officer Main Exam, 2023)
    • Novice x Veteran.

    O

    • Oblivion x Memory.  (Woman Police Constable, 2017)
    • Obtuse x Intelligent.
    • Onerous x Easy.
    • Opaque x Transparent. (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
    • Oriental x Occidental.


    P

    • Pacify x Provoke, Agitate, Irritate.
    • Pale x Ruddy. (Women Civil Excise Officer, 2018)
    • Permit x Prohibit.
    • Persuade x Dissuade. 
    • Petrified x Brave.  (Office Attender Gr II, 2024)
    • Pompously x Humbly. (Fire & Rescue Officer, 2023)
    • Prose x Verse.
    • Proud x Humble.
    • Pride x Humility. (VEO, 2019)



    Q

    • Quiescent x Active. (KAS Officer, 2020)


    R
    • Redundant x Necessary. (Fire & Rescue Officer (Trainee), 2023)
    • Regular x Irregular. (LDC Pathanamthitta, 2024)
    • Reward x Punish. (Eligibility Test Jr Asst KSFE, 2022)
    • Rigid x Flexible.

    S

    • Sagacious x Foolish. (Woman Police Constable, 2023)
    • Senility x Youth.
    • Sober x Intoxicated.
    • Sovereign x Subordinate.
    • Stale x Fresh.
    • Summit x Base.
    • Surplus x Deficit.
    • Synonym x Antonym. (Eligibility Test Lab Assistant, KHSE, 2019)


    T

    • Thick x Thin. (Instructor in Commerce, 2023)
    • Thrift x Extravagant. 
    • Tranquil x Agitated.
    • Transparent x Opaque.



    U

    • Urbane X Rural. (Drugs control Lab attender, 2024)


    V
    • Vain x Modest.
    • Vernacular x Foreign.
    • Vice x Virtue.
    • Vivid x Vague. (University Assistant, 2023)
    • Voluntary x Compulsory.

    W

      • Wary x Careless.
      • Wax x Wane.  (Aeromodelling Helper Sergeant, 2017)

      Hope this study material will help you expand your vocabulary and refine your grammatical skills to confidently navigate the English section of the Kerala PSC exams.

      Thanks for reading!!!