Analogies

A word analogy draws a relationship between two words by comparing them to two other words.
When you write, it is important to understand how words are related. A word analogy shows how word pairs are
related. Once you determine how the two words are related, you find the same relationship among the pairs in the
answer choices.
There are different kinds of analogies:
Synonyms
Antonyms
Part/whole relationship
Category

Car : automobile : : world : earth

Happy : sad : : beautiful : ugly
House : room : : book : chapter
Animal : horse : : plant : tomato

In a story, an author describes crowded buildings and a packed harbor. Crowded and packed are related in the same
way that wrecked and ruined are related: they are synonyms, or words that have the same or similar meanings. So we
can put these two word pairs together in a synonym analogy.
crowded : packed : : wrecked : ruined (you read this as, crowded is to packed as wrecked is to ruined in
other words, crowded is similar to packed in the same way that wrecked is similar to ruined)
Smile and frown are related in the same way that mountain and valley are related: they are antonyms, or opposites. So
we can put these two word pairs together to form an antonym analogy.
smile : frown : : mountain : valley
In a part/whole analogy, the first word in each pair names a part of what the second word names. An article is a part
of a newspaper. A chapter is a part of a book.
article : newspaper : : chapter : book
Category analogies show a relationship between a category and something that resides within that category. An
insect is the category under which a bumblebee falls. The nervous system is the category that contains the brain.
insect : bumblebee : : nervous system : brain

Exercise A
Decide what the relationship is between the first two words in each analogy. Then complete the analogy with one of
the words in parentheses. If you are unsure of a words meaning, consult a dictionary for clarification. Write answers
on a separate piece of paper. DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAPER.
Example:
Answer:

wrong : right : : sky : _______________ (toy, fly, earth)

wrong : right : : sky : earth

1. begin : end : : open : ___________________ (reach, unlock, close)

2. detective : inspector : : teacher : ___________________ (professor, student, child)
3. incognito : disguised : : foolish : ___________________ (smart, funny, senseless)
4. insect : mosquito : : dog : ___________________ (cat, bone, collie)
5. nose : face : : elbow : ___________________ (arm, wrist, knee)
6. intelligence : stupidity : : beautiful : ___________________ (glamorous, ugly, pretty)
7. bird : parrot : : vermin : ___________________ (poison, animal, mouse)
8. tires : ambulance : : knob : ___________________ (horn, door, typewriter)
9. clue : hint : : cup : ___________________ (mug, saucer, drink)
10. boy : girl : : day : ___________________ (sun, night, star)

Exercise B
Decide what the relationship is between the first two words in each analogy. Then complete the analogy with one of
the words in parentheses. If you are unsure of a words meaning, consult a dictionary for clarification. Write answers
on a separate piece of paper. DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAPER.

1. pick : select : : couch : ___________________ (window, ladder, sofa)

2. center : middle : : sea : ___________________ (ocean, fish, land)
3. neighborhood : city : : pupil : ___________________ (game, class, end)
4. want : desire : : find : ___________________ (discover, remain, fall)
5. top : bottom : : large : ___________________ (huge, small, many)
6. flour : bread : : water : ___________________ (soup, salad, eat)
7. hear : listen : : see : ___________________ (feel, watch, smell)
8. angry : calm : : clean : ___________________ (neat, lost, dirty)
9. win : succeed : : push : ___________________ (shove, lose, find)
10. soldier : army : : player : ___________________ (ball, field, team)

Exercise C
In the following section, try to define the relationship between the first pair of words given below. From the four
answer choices, choose the pair of words that has the same relationship as the original pair of words. Write answers
on a separate piece of paper. DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAPER.
_____ 1. Ensue : follow : :
A. run : lead
B. pursue : chase
C. permit : play
D. object : quit

_____ 6. Omen : future : :

A. entertainment : shows
B. weather : patterns
C. clouds : rain
D. knowledge: ignorance

_____ 2. Chamber : room : :

A. diary : record
B. garage : house
C. privacy : property
D. title : book

_____ 7. Haughty : arrogant : :

A. timid : unfriendly
B. impatient : mad
C. happy : relaxed
D. frank : sincere

_____ 3. Chaos : order : :

A. stinginess : strictness
B. regulation : rule
C. moisture : droplets
D. courage : cowardice

_____ 8. Ravage : destroy : :

A. tarnish : soil
B. instigate : riot
C. purify : pollute
D. defend : decorate

_____ 4. Astound : amaze : :

A. blend : separate
B. postpone : delay
C. afford : sell
D. excel : surprise

_____ 9. Silhouette : portrait : :

A. wall : building
B. fingerprint : identification
C. paintbrush : painting
D. style : contrast

_____ 5. Dwindle : shrink : :

A. begin : start
B. grow : plant
C. forego : choose
D. attend : disappear

_____ 10.
A.
B.
C.
D.

Insolent : rude : :
spoiled : cranky
outrageous : shocking
careless : selfish
generous : rich