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EQV-03-02

Analogies — Synonyms & Antonyms

The two simplest relationships — "means the same as" and "means the opposite of" — and how to keep them apart.

~5 min read•Difficulty 2/5

The most common analogy bridges are also the cleanest: the two words either mean the same or mean the opposite.

The two bridges

RelationshipBridge sentenceExample
Synonym"X means the same as Y"HAPPY : JOYFUL
Antonym"X means the opposite of Y"BRAVE : COWARDLY

Your answer pair must use the same bridge — a synonym pair matches a synonym pair, an antonym pair matches an antonym pair.

Watch the degree

Synonyms are not always perfect twins. HAPPY : ECSTATIC is not a plain synonym pair — ecstatic is far stronger (that is a degree relationship, covered in EQV-03-05). For a synonym match, the two words should sit at roughly the same intensity.

The decision in two questions

  1. Same or opposite? Set the bridge.
  2. Same intensity? Reject pairs that are "sort of similar but much stronger/weaker".
Be strict: "related in meaning" is not enough. Decide same vs opposite, then confirm the intensities line up.

Quick contrast

  • TIDY : NEAT synonyms, same strength ✅ synonym match
  • TINY : LARGE opposites ✅ antonym match
  • WARM : SCORCHING same direction but very different strength not a clean synonym pair

Worked examples

Example 1 (difficulty 2/5)
Choose the pair whose words relate in the same way as: GENEROUS : STINGY

◎ Predict the answer first:

Tips

  • Settle "same or opposite" before reading further — it removes most choices at once.
  • For a synonym match, the two words should be about equally strong, not one mild and one extreme.
  • A pair that is "in the same area" but neither synonym nor antonym is a distractor.

Common mistakes

Matching a synonym pair to an antonym question (or vice versa)
Why: Both involve "meaning", so the categories blur under time pressure.
Fix: State the bridge explicitly: "means the same as" vs "means the opposite of".
Accepting a much stronger word as a synonym
Why: HAPPY and ECSTATIC feel like the same idea.
Fix: Check intensity; large strength gaps signal a degree relationship, not a synonym.
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