Creating Opposites of Words

Using prefixes to create opposite meanings

If you have ever wanted to increase your vocabulary knowledge, this exercise will help you do so with half the effort. You can create many words by simply adding the correct prefix to create the opposite meaning. Not convinced? Have a look at the examples below.

Be careful

Not all words can be combined with all prefixes. You’ll need to memorize the correct combinations.

 


Listen to the speaker discuss the status of a project. Which words using prefixes do you hear?

Can you create the opposites of the words below by choosing the correct prefix? Think back to the audio to help you.

1. relevant – important for the situation

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. expected – planned or anticipated

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3. happy – in a pleasant state of mind

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4. possible – can be done

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5. honest – truthful, does not lie

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

6. practical – similar to feasible, opposite of theoretical

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

7. successful – to have positive results from a situation, to be seen as “a winner” by others

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

8. regular – of a repeated or recurring nature, something which happens in frequent time frames

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

9. legible – able to be read

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

10. accurate – synonym for correct

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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2 replies
  1. Robert
    Robert says:

    11. managed:

    In my opinion there are 2 meanings:
    – not managed at all -> unmanaged
    – wrongly managed -> mismanaged

    Is my understanding correct?

    Reply
    • Hooria Mahmood
      Hooria Mahmood says:

      Thank you for your comment! Yes you are correct, unmanaged gives you the sense something is unregulated, not controlled e.g. an unmanaged department as opposed to a mismanaged department which means not managed correctly/ or managed wrongly. Thanks for pointing this out!

      Reply

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