Synonyms & Antonyms Dr.Roba Al-Agha

A synonym is a word that means the same, or almost the same, as another word. An antonym is a word that is the opposite meaning of another. It comes from the Greek words “anti” for opposite and “onym” for name.

Medical term: “ Healthy” Synonyms : hearty ,active , athletic , strong , well , tough , firm , muscular , vigorous. Antonyms : diseased , sick , ill ,delicated , unhealthy , inactive , weak .

Medical term: “ Pain” Synonyms : ache , cramp , tenderness , spasm , tingle , throb ,hurt , trouble . Antonyms : ease , relief , peace , comfort .

Medical term: “ Faint” Synonyms : Black out , drop , keel over , collapse , become unconscious , swoon . Antonyms : rise , improve , win , strengthen , ascend .

Medical term: “ Analgesic” Synonyms : painkiller ( medicine to kill pain) , antiodontalgic , tranquilizer , sedative , pain reliever .

Categories of Antonyms There are three categories of antonyms:

1) Graded antonyms deal with levels of the meaning of the words, like if something is not “good”, is may still not be “bad.” There is a scale involved with some words, and besides good and bad there can be average, fair, excellent, terrible, poor, or satisfactory. Examples include: Big and small Young and old

Clever and foolish Last and first Fast and slow Smart and dumb Risky and safe Bad and good Cool and hot Optimistic and pessimistic Simple and challenging

2) Complementary antonyms : have a relationship where there is no middle ground. There are only two possibilities, either one or the other. Examples include: Dead and alive Off and on Absent and present Sink or float

True or false Pass and fail Question and answer Identical and different Yes and no Sharp and dull Fantasy and reality Natural or artificial

3) Relational antonyms : are sometimes considered a subcategory of complementary antonyms. With these pairs, for there to be a relationship, both must exist. Examples are: Doctor and patient Buy and sell Predator and prey

Offense and defense Teach and learn Servant and master Floor and ceiling

Adding a Prefix Sometimes, an antonym can be easily made by adding a prefix. Examples of antonyms that were made by adding the prefix “un” are: Likely and unlikely Able and unable Fortunate and unfortunate Forgiving and unforgiving

By adding the prefix “non” you can make these pairs: Entity and nonentity Conformist and nonconformist Payment and nonpayment

Lastly, adding the prefix “in” can make the following pairs : Tolerant and intolerant Visible and invisible