Synonyms and antonyms: what is the opposite of 'brand new'?
I do a daily crossword for 3 main reasons:
1. To stop me from scrolling on my phone.
2. To keep my brain flexible.
3. Because I learn things about language that I can pass on to my students.
When I saw this clue today, it reminded me of an Academic Skills lesson that we teach at university.
I got stuck on this clue because I was thinking for a one-word synonym for "brand new" (there isn't one).
The point of the Academic Skills lesson is to help students to PARAPHRASE.
Most students try to find synonyms/similar words when they paraphrase.
BUT! Another way to paraphrase is to say the OPPOSITE.
e.g.
"It's easy" = "It's not difficult".
"She's young" = "She's not old"
"It's new" = "It's not old"
The opposite of 'new' could be 'old' but it could also be 'used'.
So the answer was 'UNUSED'.
That's how crosswords flex your language muscles.
Can you think of any other example of words that begin with a negative e.g. un, im, il, ir which have one-word synonyms?
e.g.
- sad = unhappy
- single = unmarried
- rare = uncommon
- dangerous = unsafe
- rude = unpleasant, impolite
- messy = untidy, unkempt
- objective = unbiased
- bumpy = uneven
- cruel/mean = unkind
- casual = informal
- trivial = unimportant
- hostile = unfriendly
- reluctant = unwilling
- worried = uneasy
- simple = uncomplicated
- wild = untamed
- deceitful = untruthful
- primitive = unsophisticated
- doubtful = uncertain
- spontaneous = unplanned
- radical = unorthodox
- artificial, synthetic, man-made, fake, manufactured = unnatural
- anonymous = unnamed
- forgettable = unmemorable
- harmful = unhealthy (*e.g. lifestyle, food, habits)
- dirty = not clean/unclean*
- childish = immature
*Not all synonyms work in every context
See my new Quizlet Practice Set for 'un' synonyms.
