Prefix & Suffix
Make Antonyms & Synonyms
What are Synonyms?
A Synonym is a word or phrase that has the same meaning as another word in the same language. ‘Syno’ means same, and ‘nym’ means name. If the meaning is not the same, the words have a very similar meaning in context.
Examples:
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| Close-Shut | Sofa-Couch |
Why are Synonyms Important?
- Synonyms provide a variety of words that can be used in speech and writing. Also, when you are aware of synonyms, you avoid repetition of the word.
- Sometimes, there may be more than one meaning of a particular word. The meaning of the word can only be used according to the usage in the sentence.
Check the list of examples:
| Group of Synonyms | |
|---|---|
| afraid, scared, frightened | car, vehicle, automobile | big, large, huge | blank, empty, hollow | bunny, rabbit, hare | cap, hat | center, middle, inside | sofa, couch | evil, bad, wicked | famous, well-known, popular | funny, silly | garbage, trash, waste | hide ,cover ,conceal | gloomy, sad, unhappy | afraid, scared, frightened | car, vehicle, automobile | happy, joyful, glad | house, home, abode | ill, sick, unwell | idea thought | jog, run | listen, hear | little, small, tiny, mini | look, see, glance | mad, angry, furious | mother, mom, mama | neat, tidy, spotless | present, gift, reward | quick, fast, rapid, swift | quiet, silent | rest ,relax, calm | rock ,pebble ,stones | rug, carpet | sack, bag | sniff, smell, | strange, odd, weird |
What are Antonyms?
- Antonyms are words that are opposite to a word in the same language.
- It originates from the Greek word ‘anti’, which stands for opposite, and ‘nym’ for the name.
Examples:
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| a) Hot – cold | b) Up-down |
Check the other examples:
| Pair of Antonyms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Add -subtract | After -before | Last – first |
| Above – below | Aware -asleep | Lost – found |
| Bad – good | Better – worse | On-off |
| Big -little | Clean – dirty | Less -More |
| Cold- hot | Dark – light | High -low |
| East-west | Even – odd | Rich -poor |
| False – true | Float – sink | Lost -found |
| In – out | Hard -soft | Fail-pass |
| Love-hate | Present – absent | Quick – slow |
| Polite -rude | Rough – smooth | Same – different |
| Sell - buy | Stop-go | White – black |
| Win -lose | Wet – dry | Young- old |
Use Prefix to Make Antonyms
Prefix and suffix are the letters that are added to the main word to change the meaning of the main word. We use all different prefixes and suffixes in our daily speech and writing. For instance, Happy –unhappy, Finished –unfinished, and Lucky –unlucky.
Examples:
We can see that we added the prefix ‘un’ to the word friendly. The word ‘un’ means ‘not’; hence Shaman is not friendly to everyone
| a) Rohan looks friendly;he shares his tiffin with everyone. | b) Shaman looks unfriendly; he is always rude to everyone. |
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Meaning of Prefixes
Prefix changes in the meaning of a word since some prefixes in the own meaning. Most of the prefixes change the words with the negative words.
| Prefix | Meaning | Sample Words |
|---|---|---|
| dis- | Not, opposite of | Dislike |
| in, im | Not | Incorrect, impossible |
| mis | Incorrectly | Misunderstand |
| re | Again | Revision |
| un | Not | Interesting |
| under | Below, lower than | Underwater, underdeveloped |
Use Suffix to Make Antonyms
A suffix is a group of letters added at the end of the word to change its meaning completely.
Examples:
- Present – presentable
- Advise -advisable
- Comfort – comfortable
Use Suffix to Make Synonyms:
A suffix is a word part added to the end of a word that changes the word’s meaning.
Examples:
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -an,-ian | One who is, or does related to. | Human, agrarian |
| -ant,-ent | Performing or being. | Important, independent. |
| -ish | Having the quality of | Selfish, Spanish, bookish. |
| -ion | Action or process. | Section, portion, region, location |
Common Errors with Incorrect Prefixes and Suffixes:
- Sometimes there could be confusion in using the correct prefix. Using incorrect or similar meaning prefixes to frame antonyms.
- There are times when incorrect usage of a suffix in a sentence.
Examples:
The other team is so strong that ours is at unadvantage.
The other team is so strong that ours team is at a disadvantage.
Examples:
She is beautiness.
She is beautiful.