Basic Details
Word: Antonym
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A word that means the opposite of another word, as cold is of hot.
Synonyms: opposite
Antonyms: synonym
Word origin: Formed in the 1800s from Greek anti, against, and onyma, name, on the pattern of synonym.
How to Spell Antonym
Syllables: an - to - nym
Tricky part: The last part is nym with a y, and there is no n after the m. Antonim and antonymn are both common slips.
Watch out for: antonim, antanym, antonymn
Memory tip: Anti means against and nym means name, so an antonym is a name set against another. Its nym is spelt the same way as in synonym and homonym.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Our English worksheet asked us to write an antonym for every word in the list.
Example 2: Brave is the antonym of cowardly.
Example 3: Can you think of an antonym for ancient?
Fun Fact
A few words are their own antonyms. Dust can mean to remove dust, as in dust the shelves, or to add a powder, as in dust the cake with sugar.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. synonim 2. antonym 3. pronown 4. homofone
a) a word that sounds like another but differs in meaning
b) a word used in place of a noun
c) a word opposite in meaning to another
d) a word with the same meaning as another
Show answer
c) a word opposite in meaning to another. Antonym is correct as it stands; the right forms of the others are synonym, homophone and pronoun.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
ant_n_m
a) a, i
b) a, y
c) o, i
d) o, y
Show answer
d) o, y. After ant comes an o, and nym takes a y, just as in synonym.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
For the word tall, the nomtany is short, not high.
a) antonym
b) acronym
c) synonym
d) anatomy
Show answer
a) antonym. Anatomy needs a second a in place of the second n; the letters here make antonym, and short is the opposite of tall.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which pair is made of antonyms?
a) early - late
b) quick - fast
c) glad - happy
d) big - large
Show answer
a) early - late
2. The antonym of antonym is ____.
a) synonym
b) pronoun
c) acronym
d) homonym
Show answer
a) synonym
