Synonyms & Antonyms
🔒 Log in to trackThe root-word method: decode words you have never seen
🔒 Log in to trackMost hard English words are built from small parts: a prefix, a root and a suffix. If you know about 40 of these parts, you can work out the meaning of words you have never seen. Use this method to guess an unknown word in a synonym or antonym question.
Why roots help
An unknown word is not a dead end. Most exam words are built from prefix + root + suffix.
Take MALEVOLENT. Male- means bad. Vol means wish. So the word means "wishing bad". Nearest meaning: hostile.
You do not need the whole dictionary. You only need to remove options that clearly clash with the parts you know.
Prefixes to know
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in-, im-, il-, ir-, un-, dis- | not | illegible, irregular |
| mal- | bad | malicious, malnutrition |
| bene- | good, well | benefactor, benevolent |
| circum- | around | circumvent, circumference |
| pre- / post- | before / after | precaution, postpone |
| sub- / super- | under / above | subordinate, supervise |
| mono- / poly- | one / many | monotone, polyglot |
| auto- | self | autobiography, autograph |
Tip: A good prefix (bene-, eu-) and a bad prefix (mal-, dys-) point in opposite directions. Use this to remove options fast.
Roots to know
| Root | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| spect / spec | look | inspect, spectator |
| vis / vid | see | visible, evident |
| aud | hear | audible, audience |
| dict | say | dictate, contradict |
| loqu | speak | eloquent, soliloquy |
| port | carry | transport, portable |
| tract | pull | attract, extract |
| chron | time | chronological, synchronise |
| anim | mind, spirit | unanimous, magnanimous |
| magn | great | magnitude, magnanimous |
| cred | believe | credible, credulous |
| rupt | break | interrupt, bankrupt |
| path | feeling | sympathy, apathy |
| phil | love | philanthropy, bibliophile |
| phob | fear | phobia, acrophobia |
| ver | truth | verify, veracity |
Four steps to decode a word
- Split the word: MAGNANIMOUS = magn + anim + ous.
- Translate each part: great + spirit.
- Join the meanings: great-spirited, so generous and forgiving.
- Match with the options, and check the part of speech.
Example: SOLILOQUY = soli (alone) + loqu (speak). It means speaking alone, as an actor does on stage.
Suffixes tell the word class
Endings show whether a word is a noun, verb or adjective.
- -ous, -ful, -ive, -able: adjectives (dangerous, helpful).
- -tion, -ment, -ness: nouns (creation, movement).
- -ise, -ify: verbs (simplify).
Options often mix word classes. Matching the class removes one or two of them.
Words that fool you
Five famous words look like they hold a helpful root, but the meaning is different.
- enervate means to weaken. It does not mean to give energy.
- restive means restless and hard to control. It does not mean calm.
- inflammable means easily set on fire. It does not mean "cannot burn".
- invaluable means extremely valuable. It does not mean worthless.
- noisome means foul-smelling. It has nothing to do with noise.
Watch: If you already know a word, trust your memory over the root. Use roots only to guess unknown words.
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
Prefix gives the direction
The word starts with a strong prefix (mal-, bene-, in-, un-, dis-). Some options start with the opposite prefix.
Read the prefix: mal = bad, bene = good, in/un/dis = not.
Decide if the meaning is good or bad, or a yes or a no.
Remove options that point the other way.
Pick the nearest of the rest.
Prefixes keep the same meaning in thousands of words.
Nearest in meaning to BENEVOLENT: (a) hostile (b) kindly (c) careless (d) clever
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bene = good, so the word is a warm word.
Hostile and careless are cold or bad. Remove them.
Kindly matches 'wishing good'.
(b) kindly
Root gives the core meaning
The word holds a root you know (spect, port, dict, chron, anim, magn), even if the whole word is new.
Cut off the prefix and suffix.
Recall what the root means.
Join the meanings of all the parts.
Choose the option built on that idea.
Latin and Greek roots keep their meaning in every English word that borrows them.
Nearest in meaning to MAGNANIMOUS: (a) generous (b) proud (c) narrow-minded (d) timid
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magn = great, anim = spirit.
Great in spirit means big-hearted and generous.
(a) generous
Chunk a long word
The word is long and looks technical (circumvent, chronological, indispensable).
Cut the word where a known piece ends.
Translate each piece into plain words.
Join them into one short idea.
Match that idea to an option.
Long exam words are usually two or three small pieces stuck together.
Nearest in meaning to CIRCUMVENT: (a) surround (b) bypass (c) confront (d) protect
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circum = around, vent = come.
To come around something means to go past it.
Bypass matches. Confront is the opposite.
(b) bypass
False-root trap word
An option repeats the surface root: energise for enervate, calm for restive, worthless for invaluable.
Check the stem against the five fixed words.
If it is on the list, use its fixed meaning.
Treat the option that repeats the surface root as the trap.
These five words are famous because their shape misleads.
Nearest in meaning to ENERVATE: (a) energise (b) weaken (c) excite (d) strengthen
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Enervate looks like energy, but it means to drain strength.
Energise, excite and strengthen all point the wrong way.
Weaken is the fixed meaning.
(b) weaken
Root family across two words
You know a root from one word, and the exam gives a new word with the same root.
Find the root in the new word.
Think of a word you know with the same root.
Borrow its meaning.
Pick the option that fits.
One known word unlocks its whole family.
Nearest in meaning to LOQUACIOUS: (a) silent (b) talkative (c) lonely (d) angry
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loqu = speak, as in eloquent.
A word full of 'speak' means talkative.
Silent is the opposite.
(b) talkative
Shortcuts that save time
Cut the unknown word at its joins, translate the parts you know, and remove options that clash. One sure root can remove two options.
BENEVOLENT means: (a) cruel (b) kindly (c) talkative (d) angry
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bene = good.
Cruel and angry clash with good.
Kindly stays.
(b) kindly
Learn words in root groups, not in alphabet order. The dict family: dictate, verdict, predict, contradict. The loqu family: eloquent, loquacious, soliloquy.
Roots carry a feeling. Bene-, eu- and am- are warm. Mal-, dys-, phob- and mis- are cold. When stuck, pick an option with the same feeling.
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Skipping the prefix and guessing from the root alone.
Read the prefix first. It tells you the direction of the meaning.
Trusting a root when you already know the word.
Your memory of the word beats the root. Roots are for unknown words.
Picking energise for ENERVATE because it looks like energy.
Learn the five fixed words: enervate, restive, inflammable, invaluable, noisome.
Ignoring the word class.
Check -ous, -tion, -ise endings. Remove options of a different class.
Learning roots as a list only.
Attach each root to two real words. Use the words to recall the root.
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
Split, translate, join, match, check the word class.
Prefixes: in/un/dis = not, mal = bad, bene = good, circum = around.
Roots: spect = look, port = carry, dict = say, chron = time, anim = spirit, tract = pull, aud = hear.
Five fixed words: enervate, restive, inflammable, invaluable, noisome.
Good prefix and bad prefix point in opposite directions.
Roots are a guessing tool. Known words come first.
Practice: 13 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 13 questions
Suggested time 6 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.