Direction: Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word. The mountain range lookednon-intimidatingfrom afar, but the experienced climbers were undaunted by the challenge.
Formidable
Finding the Antonym of Non-intimidating
The question asks us to find the most appropriate antonym for the underlined word "non-intimidating". An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word.
Understanding "Non-intimidating"
The word "non-intimidating" is formed by adding the prefix "non-" to the word "intimidating".
- "Intimidating" means making someone feel timid or afraid, especially so as to discourage or prevent them from doing something. It suggests something that inspires fear, awe, or discouragement due to its power, size, or difficulty.
- "Non-" is a prefix that means "not".
Therefore, "non-intimidating" means not intimidating; not causing fear or apprehension; appearing harmless, approachable, or easy to deal with.
In the sentence, "The mountain range looked non-intimidating from afar," it means that from a distance, the mountain range did not look scary, threatening, or difficult to climb.
Analyzing the Options for the Antonym
We need to find a word that means the opposite of "non-intimidating". The opposite should describe something that *is* intimidating, scary, difficult, or inspires fear/awe.
- Poised: This means calm, confident, and in control. It does not relate to causing fear or lack thereof. So, it is not the antonym.
- Formidable: This word means inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable. A formidable challenge or opponent is difficult to overcome. This word directly suggests something that *is* intimidating.
- Tranquil: This means peaceful, calm, quiet, and undisturbed. It is similar in meaning to "non-intimidating" or its effect (a non-intimidating place might feel tranquil), not its opposite.
- Huge: This simply means extremely large. While something huge *can* be intimidating (like a huge mountain), the word "huge" itself only describes size, not the feeling it inspires. "Formidable" is a better antonym for "non-intimidating" as it directly addresses the aspect of causing fear or difficulty.
Identifying the Correct Antonym
Comparing the meanings, "Formidable" is the word that best represents the opposite of "non-intimidating". If something is non-intimidating, it doesn't scare you or seem difficult. If something is formidable, it does scare you or seems very difficult to handle.
Thus, the most appropriate antonym for "non-intimidating" is "Formidable".
| Word | Meaning | Relationship to "Non-intimidating" |
|---|---|---|
| Non-intimidating | Not causing fear or apprehension; approachable | The word in question |
| Poised | Calm, confident | Not an antonym |
| Formidable | Inspiring fear/respect; difficult to overcome | Antonym |
| Tranquil | Peaceful, calm | Similar meaning, not antonym |
| Huge | Extremely large | Describes size, not directly antonym |
Revision Table: Vocabulary Building
| Word | Synonyms | Antonyms | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimidating | Scary, frightening, daunting, formidable | Encouraging, welcoming, non-threatening, approachable | The complex task seemed intimidating at first. |
| Non-intimidating | Approachabless, welcoming, friendly, harmless | Intimidating, formidable, scary, daunting | The small dog was non-intimidating to children. |
| Formidable | Intimidating, daunting, challenging, difficult, powerful | Easy, simple, weak, non-intimidating | Facing a formidable opponent requires courage. |
| Poised | Composed, self-assured, calm, collected | Nervous, flustered, unsure | She remained poised under pressure. |
| Tranquil | Peaceful, calm, serene, quiet | Noisy, chaotic, disturbed, agitated | We enjoyed a tranquil evening by the lake. |
| Huge | Enormous, massive, giant, vast | Tiny, small, miniature | They explored a huge cave system. |
Additional Information: Understanding Antonyms and Synonyms
Antonyms and synonyms are crucial concepts in vocabulary building for English language tests.
- Synonyms: Words that have similar meanings. For example, happy and joyful are synonyms.
- Antonyms: Words that have opposite meanings. For example, happy and sad are antonyms.
Learning synonyms helps you express yourself in different ways, while learning antonyms helps you understand the nuances of word meanings and contrasts. When tackling antonym questions, always consider the context in which the word is used in the sentence to choose the most appropriate opposite.
Important Questions from Synonyms or Antonyms
Directions: Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four options, (a), (b), (c) and (d). Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response accordingly.
He had the audacity to blame him.
Directions: Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four options, (a), (b), (c) and (d). Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response accordingly.
There is exponential growth in the development of the scientific researches in the recent few decades.
Directions : Item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words/group of words (a), (b), (c) and (d). Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response in the Answer Sheet accordingly.
The itinerary of the group’s visit to the hills was given to everyone.
Directions : Item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words/group of words (a), (b), (c) and (d). Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response in the Answer Sheet accordingly.
All mortal elements are impermanent.
Directions : Item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words (a), (b), (c) and (d). Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response in the Answer Sheet accordingly.
The novel depicts the hapless status of certain sections of society.
