Antonyms and Synonyms Exercises for Class 8 CBSE With Answers – English Grammar
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Antonyms and Synonyms Exercises for Class 8 CBSE With Answers – English Grammar (Word Power)
Synonyms And Antonyms Meaning
| Word | Synonyms | Antonyms |
| abandon | desert, forsake | keep |
| ability | skill, aptitude incompetence, | inability |
| abundant | ample, sufficient scanty, | insufficient |
| achieve | accomplish, attain | fail |
| adjourn | postpone, recess | recommence, continue |
| amateur | beginner, novice | professional |
| artificial | fake, synthetic | real, authentic |
| barren | unproductive, infertile fertile, | productive |
| bashful | shy, timid outgoing, assured | |
| beginning | start, initiate | finish, end |
| blend | combine, mix | separate |
| broad | wide, expansive | narrow |
| calm | quiet, tranquil, still | excited, turbulent |
| chubby | plump, pudgy | thin, skinny |
| coarse | bumpy, rough | fine, smooth |
| competent | capable, qualified | incompetent, inept |
| complex | complicated, intricate | simple |
| condemn | censure, denounce | approve |
| conflict | fight, battle, struggle | peace, harmony |
| congested | overcrowded, stuffed | empty, unfilled |
| conscientious | scrupulous, virtuous | neglectful, careless |
| consecutive | successive, continuous | interrupted |
| contaminate | pollute, defile, infect | purify |
| conventional | customary, traditional | unusual |
| courteous | polite, civil | rude |
| cranky | cross, irritable | good-humored |
| daring | bold, audacious | cautious |
| decay | rot, spoil bloom, flourish | |
| delicate | fragile, dainty | sturdy |
| desolate | barren, forsaken | dense, verdant |
| despise | hate, detest, loathe | love |
| detach | separate, unfasten, remove | attach |
| difficult | hard, challenging | easy |
| diminish | curtail, lessen, decrease | increase, amplify |
| dormant | sleeping, inactive | awake, active |
| drastic | severe, extreme, tough | mild,moderate |
| dumb | stupid, dense | smart |
| eccentric | peculiar, unusual | normal |
| ecstasy | joy, rapture, elation | sadness, depression |
| enormous | vast, immense, colossal | tiny, microscopic |
| eternal | always, perpetual, everlasting | temporary, passing |
| exhilarated | overjoyed, ecstatic, elated | depressed, dejected, sad |
| extravagant | extreme, excessive, luxurious | meagre |
| fabulous | marvelous, amazing | unexciting |
| face | confront, meet | avoid |
| fantastic | incredible, extra-ordinary, | ordinary, normal |
| feasible | possible, attainable, practical | impossible |
| ferocious | fierce, savage, brutal, | tame, gentle |
| flaw | defect, fault, blemish | perfection |
| flimsy | frail, fragile, delicate | sturdy, strong |
| flippant | impudent, sassy | polite, respectful |
| fluid | liquid | solid |
| foe | enemy, adversary, opponent | friend |
| follow | succeed, trail lead, | precede |
| forbid | prohibit, ban, bar | permit |
| frivolous | trivial, unimportant, silly | important, serious |
| furious | angry, enraged, infuriated | calm, placid |
| gaudy | showy, garish, vulgar | tasteful, refined |
| gaunt | scrawny, skinny, thin | overweight, plump |
| generous | giving, selfless, big-hearted | selfish, stingy |
| gentle | tender, mild | rough, harsh |
| genuine | real, authentic, sincere | fake, phony |
| gigantic | immense, colossal, enormous | tiny, minute |
| gloomy | dark, dismal, depressing | cheery, bright |
| glorious | splendid, magnificent, superb | terrible, awful |
| good | nice, fine, well-behaved | bad, awful |
| gorgeous | ravishing, dazzling, stunning | hideous, unattractive |
| gratitude | thankfulness, appreciation | ungratefulness |
| hold | grasp, grip, retain | release, discharge |
| honest | truthful, sincere, frank | untruthful, dishonest |
| hospitable | welcoming, cordial, gracious | rude, unfriendly |
| hostile | antagonistic, aggressive, militant | friendly, cordial |
| huge | vast, immense, great | small, tiny |
| humble | modest, unpretentious | vain, showy |
| humiliate | embarrass, disgrace, dishonour | honour, dignify |
| immaculate | spotless, pure | dirty, filthy |
| immature | childish, inexperienced | mature, adult |
| immune | resistant, exempt | susceptible |
| impartial | neutral, unbiased, fair | prejudiced, partial |
| impatient | eager, anxious, intolerant | patient |
| imperfect | marred, defective, faulty | perfect, flawless |
| impetuous | impulsive, rash, reckless | restrained, careful |
| join | connect, unite, link | separate, disconnect, detach |
| jolly | merry, jovial, joyful | sad, grim, glum |
| jubilant | overjoyed, delighted, elated | dejected, depressed |
| keep | save, protect, guard | discard, lose |
| kind | considerate, tender, thoughtful | mean, cruel, inconsiderate |
| lenient | kind, unrestrained, easy | harsh, strict |
| listless | lethargic, tired | active, energetic |
| logical | sensible, sane, rational | illogical, unreasonable |
| migrant | drifting, traveling, transient | stationary, immovable |
| militant | combative, aggressive,warlike | peaceful |
| minor | lesser, inferior, | secondary major |
| mirth | merriment, fun, laughter | gloom, sadness |
| mischievous | naughty, impish | well-behaved, angelic |
| misfortune | hardship, catastrophe, mishap | good luck, fortune |
| mobile | moveable, changeable | immobile, stationary |
| moderate | temperate, lenient, medium | extreme, harsh |
| momentous | important, powerful, outstanding | unimportant, insignificant |
| monotonous | boring, tedious, | humdrum, interesting |
One Word Substitutions
A. Pertaining to Government:
| 1. | To give up a throne or another office of dignity | Abdicate |
| 2. | A diplomatic minister of the highest order sent by one country to another | Ambassador |
| 3. | Absence of government | Anarchy |
| 4. | A person who is out to destroy all government and order | Anarchist |
| 5. | A person liable to be called to account for his actions | Answerable |
| 6. | Government by one Autocracy | Despotism |
| 7. | Government by the officials/ departments of state | Bureaucracy |
| 8. | Government by the nobles | Aristocracy |
| 9. | The right of self-government | Autonomy |
| 10. | Government of the people, for the people, by the people | Democracy |
B. Pertaining to Sciences and Arts:
| 1. | The study of all heavenly bodies and the earth in relation to them | Astronomy |
| 2. | One who studies the sky and stars | Astronomer |
| 3. | The study of mankind/ the science which treats of man | Anthropology |
| 4. | The study of physical life or living matter | Biology |
| 5. | The study of plants | Botany |
| 6. | The art of beautiful hand-writing | Calligraphy |
| 7. | The art of practicing by statesman and ambassadors | Diplomacy |
| 8. | One who thinks of the welfare of women | Feminist |
| 9. | The study of coins | Numismatics |
| 10. | The study of birds/ the science which treats of the birds | Ornithology |
C. Pertaining to the Literary Arts:
| 1. | A work whose writer is unknown | synonymous |
| 2. | A record of one’s life written by himself | Autobiography |
| 3. | The history of the life of a person | Biography |
| 4. | A humorous play, having a happy ending | Comedy |
| 5. | A list of books in a library | Catalog |
| 6. | A book in which the events of each day are recorded | Diary |
| 7. | A book containing the words of a language with their definitions, in alphabetical order | Dictionary |
| 8. | A book of names and address | Directory |
| 9. | A book containing information on all branches of knowledge | Encyclopedia |
| 10. | A speech delivered without earlier preparation | Extempore |
D. Pertaining to Religion:
| 1. | One who is not sure of the existence of God | Agnostic |
| 2. | One who renounces his religious vows or forsakes his religious principles | Apostate |
| 3. | One who does not believe in the existence of God | Atheist |
| 4. | One who believes in the existence of God | Theist |
| 5. | One who has narrow and prejudiced religious views | Bigot |
| 6. | One who is present everywhere | Omnipresent |
| 7. | One who knows everything | Omniscient |
| 8. | One who is all-powerful | Omnipotent |
| 9. | One who serves the public interest and feels very sympathetic towards human beings | Humanitarian |
E. Pertaining to Death:
| 1. | To destroy completely | Annihilate |
| 2. | Dead and decaying flesh especially of animals | Carrion |
| 3. | A monument set up for persons who are buried elsewhere | Cenotaph |
| 4. | To preserve a dead body from decaying | Embalm |
| 5. | Words inscribed on a tomb | Epitaph |
| 6. | An examination of a dead body | Autopsy/Postmortem |
| 7. | An article in the newspaper about the life of the deceased | of one Obituary |
| 8. | The property left to someone by a will | Legacy |
| 9. | Something occurring after death | Posthumous |
| 10. | The act of killing a human being | Homicide |
F. Pertaining to Marriage/ Family/ Children:
| 1. | One who marries a second wife/ husband while the legal spouse is alive | Bigamist |
| 2. | One vowed to a single or unmarried life | Celibate |
| 3. | One engaged to be married | Fiancee |
| 4. | Children whose parents are dead | Orphan |
| 5. | A hater of marriage | Misogamist |
| 6. | One has more than one wife or husband at a time | Polygamist |
| 7. | State of growth between boyhood and youth | Adolescence |
| 8. | Marrying more than one husband/ wife at a time | Polygamy |
| 9. | Marrying more than one husband at a time | Polyandry |
| 10. | Hater of mankind | Misanthrope |
G. Pertaining to Profession:
| 1. | One who writer books | Author |
| 2. | One who makes or sells candles | Chandler |
| 3. | One who drives a motor car | Chauffeur |
| 4. | One skilled in the care of hands and feet | Chiropodist |
| 5. | One who sells sweets and pastries | Confectioner |
| 6. | One who works in a coal mine | Collier |
| 7. | One who attends to the teeth | Dentist |
| 8. | One who shoes horses | Ferrier |
| 9. | One who studies rocks and soils | Geologist |
| 10. | One who travels from place to place selling articles | Hawker |
H. Denoting Numbers
| 1. | A collection of poems | Anthology |
| 2. | A number of merchant ships protected by warships | Convoy |
| 3. | A number of stars grouped together | Constellation |
| 4. | A number of hired applauders, i.e., persons paid to clap | Claque |
| 5. | A number of people at church | Congregation |
| 6. | A number of people gathered together for some common purpose | Gathering, assembly |
| 7. | People who get together to work for some cause of common interest | Coterie |
| 8. | A number of workmen, prisoners, thieves | Gang |
| 9. | A number of sheep | Flock |
| 10. | A number of ships | Fleet |
I. Miscellaneous
| 1. | Loud enough to be heard | Audible |
| 2. | Not distinct enough to be heard | Inaudible |
| 3. | Fit to be eaten | Edible |
| 4. | Unfit for human consumption | Inedible |
| 5. | Fit to be chosen or selected | Eligible |
| 6. | Not having the qualities of being chosen | Ineligible |
| 7. | Writing that is easy to read | Legible |
| 8. | Writing that is easy to decipher | Illegible |
| 9. | Able to read | Literate |
| 10. | Unable to read | Illiterate |
| 11. | Born of married parents | Legitimate |
| 12. | Born of unmarried parents | Illegitimate |
| 13. | To send back a person to his own country | Repatriate |
| 14. | To banish from one’s country | Expatriate |
| 15. | To move from one country to another | Migrate |
| 16. | One who leaves his country to settle in another | Emigrant |
| 17. | One who comes into a foreign country to settle there | Immigrant |
| 18. | Incapable of being redeemed from evil, i.e., beyond correction | Incorrigible |
| 19. | That which cannot be rubbed out or blotted out | Ineffaceable |
| 20. | That which cannot be conquered | Invincible |
Idioms and Phrases
| Cry for the moon | Ask for the impossible |
| To in a tight corner | In a very difficult situation |
| Cock and bull story | Made up story that one should not believe |
| Cat and dog life | Life full of quarrels |
| Like a cat on hot bricks | Very nervous |
| Have a card up one’s sleeve | Have a secret plan in reserve |
| Tell against | To prove adverse to; to go against |
| Run through | to squander or waste |
| Run over | to drive over |
| Alive and kicking | Active and healthy |
| To burn one’s fingers | To lose on account of foolish behaviour |
| At sea | Confused or lost |
| Behind one’s back | In the absence of |
| To call a spade a spade | To be frank and truthful |
| To break the ice | To break the silence |
| To bell the cat | To face the risk |
| A cold fish | A person devoid of emotions |
| To cross the Rubicon | To take a decisive step |
| Double | dealing – Deceiving |
| To die hard | Change with great difficulty |
| To eat humble pie | To apologize in a humble manner |
| To fight a losing battle | Struggle without hope of success |
| A deadlock | A position where no progress can be made |
| A daredevil | A person who does not care for any consequences |
| Once in a blue moon | Very rarely |
| At a premium | Difficult to get or obtain |
| To play the game | To act honestly |
| To die in harness | To work till the last day of one’s life |
| To plough a lonely furrow | To work without help or support |
| Lock, stock and barrel | Completely |
| The long and the short | The main point |
| Bring to light | Disclose |
| The bottom line | The final criteria |
| To kick one’s heels | To wait with nothing to do |
| Rain cats and dogs | Rain heavily |
| A hard nut to crack | A difficult problem |
| In high spirits | Very happy |
| Like a fish out of water | In a strange situation |
| Smell a rat | Suspect something foul |
| Read between the lines | Understand the hidden meaning |
| Tooth and nail | With all one’s power |
| Spread like wild fire | Spread quickly |
| Hit the nail on the head | Do or say the exact thing |
| Burn the midnight oil | Work or study hard |
| Under his thumb | Under his control |
| With a high hand | Oppressively |
| Gain ground | Become popular |
| By leaps and bounds | Rapidly |
| Make off with | to run away with |
| Pass away | to die |
| To make a pig of oneself | To overeat |
| Donkey’s years | A very long time |
| To pull one’s leg | to joke; tease someone |
| To keep one’s fingers crossed | To hope fervently |
| To call in question | To doubt |
| To talk through one’s hat | To talk ignorantly |
| To make up one’s mind | To decide |
| Hard and fast rules | Rigid rules |
| To make one’s mouth water | To stimulate one’s appetite |
| By word of mouth | By spoken message |
| To get the better of someone | To take advantage of someone |
| To rub shoulders | To come into close contact |
| A snake in the grass | A hidden enemy |
| Between the devil and the deep blue sea | Between two dangers |
| Chew the cud | To discuss matters in a ponderous manner, especially reminiscing |
| To kill two birds with one stone | To achieve two results with one effort |
| A close shave | A narrow escape |
| Chip off the old block | someone as good as one’s father |
| To pull a long face | To look sad |
| Above board | Open and honest |
| To turn a deaf ear | To ignore |
| To turn the tables | To reverse the situation |
| To call someone names | To abuse or insult someone |
| Above board | Honest and open |
| At arm’s length | To keep at a distance |
| At the eleventh hour | At the last moment |
| An apple of discord | A cause of quarrel |
| To burn one’s boats | Make a final decision, destroy all possible ways of going back a situation |
| To build castles in the air | Make imaginary schemes |
| A burning question | An important topic |
| A brown study | Daydreaming |
| Sitting on the fence | Hesitate between two decisions |
Homophones
The words that pronounce the same, but have different meanings are called homophones.
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