Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context

Key Notes:

Understanding Antonyms:

• Definition: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.
• Examples: Hot vs. Cold, Happy vs. Sad, Strong vs. Weak.

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Role of Antonyms in Context:

• Antonyms help us understand the meaning of a word by providing contrast.
• Context clues from antonyms can reveal what a word means based on its opposition.

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How to Use Antonyms to Determine Meaning:

• Identify the Word: Find the word whose meaning you need to determine.
• Locate Antonyms: Look for words in the text that are antonyms of the target word.
• Analyze Context: Observe how the antonym is used in relation to the target word to infer its meaning.

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Steps to Determine Meaning:

• Read the Sentence: Understand the overall meaning of the sentence.
• Find the Antonym: Identify any antonyms present in the sentence.
• Infer the Meaning: Use the contrast between the antonym and the target word to deduce the meaning of the target word.

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Example:

• Sentence: “Although the test was challenging, it was not as difficult as the final exam.”
• Antonym: The word “challenging” is contrasted with “difficult.”
• Inference: If “challenging” is less severe than “difficult,” it suggests that “challenging” means something that is demanding but not overly hard.

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Importance of Context:

• Context provides clues about how antonyms are related and helps in understanding subtle differences in meaning.

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