Chapter 23
Synonyms
Theory
3.1 What is a Synonym?
A synonym (from Greek syn- "together" + onoma "name") is a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in the same language. For example, big, large and huge all express the idea of great size; happy, glad and delighted all express pleasure.
Why exact (perfect) synonyms rarely exist. Although two words may share a core meaning, they almost always differ in at least one of the following respects, so they cannot be substituted in every sentence:
- Connotation — the feeling a word carries. Slim, slender and thin all describe low body weight, but slim/slender are complimentary while scrawny and skinny are unflattering.
- Register — the level of formality. Child (neutral), kid (informal) and offspring (formal/technical) refer to the same person but suit different contexts.
- Degree / intensity — warm, hot and scorching sit on a rising scale.
- Collocation — words that "go together". We say a strong cup of tea, not a powerful cup of tea, though strong and powerful are synonyms elsewhere.
Key idea: In an exam, a synonym question asks for the word nearest in meaning, not an identical word. Choose the option that matches the headword's core sense and its connotation.
3.2 High-Frequency Synonym Bank (A–Z)
The following alphabetically arranged tables list exam-favourite headwords with two or three reliable synonyms and a brief meaning. Learn these thoroughly.
A
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Abandon | desert, forsake, relinquish | to give up or leave completely |
| Abundant | plentiful, copious, ample | existing in large quantity |
| Accurate | precise, exact, correct | free from error |
| Adamant | unyielding, inflexible, firm | refusing to change one's mind |
| Adept | skilful, proficient, expert | very good at something |
| Affable | friendly, genial, amiable | pleasant and easy to talk to |
| Aggravate | worsen, intensify, exacerbate | to make worse |
| Alleviate | relieve, ease, mitigate | to lessen pain or trouble |
| Ambiguous | vague, unclear, equivocal | open to more than one meaning |
| Apprehend | arrest, seize, grasp | to catch or to understand |
| Arduous | difficult, laborious, strenuous | requiring great effort |
| Astute | shrewd, clever, perceptive | quick to understand and act wisely |
| Augment | increase, enlarge, supplement | to make greater |
| Authentic | genuine, real, bona fide | true and not copied |
B
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Banish | expel, exile, deport | to send away as punishment |
| Barren | infertile, unproductive, sterile | not producing crops or fruit |
| Benevolent | kind, charitable, generous | wishing to do good to others |
| Bewilder | confuse, baffle, perplex | to puzzle greatly |
| Bias | prejudice, partiality, inclination | unfair preference |
| Bleak | dismal, gloomy, desolate | cheerless and hopeless |
| Brave | courageous, valiant, intrepid | showing no fear |
| Brief | short, concise, terse | lasting or saying little; not long |
| Brisk | quick, lively, energetic | active and fast |
| Brittle | fragile, breakable, delicate | easily broken |
C
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Candid | frank, honest, straightforward | truthful and direct |
| Captivate | charm, enchant, fascinate | to attract and hold attention |
| Chaste | pure, virtuous, modest | morally pure |
| Cease | stop, halt, discontinue | to come to an end |
| Coarse | rough, crude, vulgar | not smooth or refined |
| Compassion | sympathy, pity, mercy | concern for others' suffering |
| Concur | agree, assent, coincide | to be of the same opinion |
| Condemn | denounce, censure, criticise | to express strong disapproval |
| Conceal | hide, mask, cover | to keep from being seen |
| Conspicuous | noticeable, prominent, obvious | easily seen; standing out |
| Courteous | polite, civil, gracious | showing good manners |
| Cunning | crafty, sly, wily | clever in a deceitful way |
D
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Daunt | intimidate, discourage, dishearten | to make afraid or less confident |
| Decay | rot, decompose, deteriorate | to decline or break down |
| Deceive | mislead, dupe, cheat | to make someone believe a lie |
| Defer | postpone, delay, adjourn | to put off to a later time |
| Deficient | lacking, inadequate, insufficient | not having enough |
| Diligent | hardworking, industrious, assiduous | showing careful, steady effort |
| Discard | reject, dispose of, jettison | to throw away |
| Dispute | argue, quarrel, contest | to disagree or debate |
| Docile | obedient, manageable, compliant | easy to control or teach |
| Dubious | doubtful, questionable, uncertain | not to be relied upon |
E
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Eccentric | odd, unconventional, peculiar | strange in behaviour |
| Elated | overjoyed, thrilled, jubilant | extremely happy |
| Eloquent | fluent, articulate, expressive | speaking well and persuasively |
| Embellish | decorate, adorn, beautify | to make more attractive |
| Eminent | distinguished, renowned, illustrious | famous and respected |
| Endure | tolerate, withstand, bear | to suffer patiently; to last |
| Enormous | huge, immense, colossal | extremely large |
| Enrich | improve, enhance, augment | to make richer or better |
| Erratic | irregular, unpredictable, inconsistent | not steady or reliable |
| Exonerate | acquit, absolve, clear | to free from blame |
F
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Fatigue | tiredness, weariness, exhaustion | extreme tiredness |
| Feeble | weak, frail, faint | lacking strength |
| Ferocious | fierce, savage, violent | cruel and aggressive |
| Fertile | fruitful, productive, rich | able to produce abundantly |
| Fickle | changeable, inconstant, capricious | frequently changing one's mind |
| Flexible | pliable, adaptable, supple | easily bent or changed |
| Fragile | delicate, brittle, frail | easily broken or damaged |
| Frugal | thrifty, economical, sparing | careful with money |
| Futile | useless, pointless, vain | producing no result |
G
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Gallant | brave, chivalrous, valiant | brave and courteous |
| Generous | liberal, magnanimous, bountiful | willing to give freely |
| Genuine | real, authentic, sincere | true and not fake |
| Glee | joy, delight, merriment | great happiness |
| Gloomy | dismal, dejected, melancholy | sad and dark |
| Glut | surplus, excess, oversupply | too great a supply |
| Gregarious | sociable, outgoing, companionable | fond of company |
| Grief | sorrow, sadness, anguish | deep mental pain |
| Grudge | resentment, spite, rancour | a lasting feeling of ill will |
H
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hamper | hinder, impede, obstruct | to prevent free progress |
| Hapless | unlucky, unfortunate, ill-fated | having no luck |
| Harmony | accord, concord, unity | agreement and peaceful coexistence |
| Haughty | arrogant, proud, disdainful | looking down on others |
| Hazard | danger, risk, peril | a source of danger |
| Hideous | ugly, ghastly, repulsive | extremely unpleasant to look at |
| Hostile | unfriendly, antagonistic, aggressive | showing opposition or dislike |
| Humble | modest, meek, unassuming | not proud |
| Hypocrite | pretender, impostor, dissembler | one who feigns virtue |
I
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Idle | lazy, inactive, indolent | not working; doing nothing |
| Impede | hinder, obstruct, hamper | to delay or block progress |
| Impudent | insolent, impertinent, cheeky | rudely bold |
| Inquisitive | curious, prying, questioning | eager to know |
| Insolent | rude, disrespectful, impertinent | showing offensive disrespect |
| Intrepid | fearless, bold, dauntless | showing no fear |
| Intricate | complex, complicated, elaborate | having many parts; detailed |
| Irate | angry, furious, enraged | extremely angry |
J – L
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Jovial | cheerful, jolly, merry | full of good humour |
| Jubilant | elated, exultant, triumphant | feeling great joy |
| Keen | eager, enthusiastic, sharp | very interested; perceptive |
| Kindle | ignite, light, arouse | to set alight or stir up |
| Lament | mourn, grieve, bewail | to express sorrow |
| Languid | sluggish, listless, lethargic | lacking energy |
| Lavish | extravagant, generous, profuse | given in great quantity |
| Lethal | deadly, fatal, mortal | causing death |
| Lucid | clear, intelligible, coherent | easily understood |
| Lure | tempt, entice, allure | to attract by promise of reward |
M
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Malice | spite, ill will, malevolence | desire to harm others |
| Marvel | wonder, amaze, astonish | to be filled with wonder |
| Meagre | scanty, sparse, paltry | lacking in quantity |
| Meticulous | careful, scrupulous, painstaking | very precise about detail |
| Mitigate | lessen, alleviate, moderate | to make less severe |
| Mock | ridicule, deride, taunt | to make fun of |
| Modest | humble, unassuming, reserved | not boastful |
| Monotonous | boring, dull, tedious | dull through lack of variety |
| Munificent | generous, lavish, bountiful | extremely generous |
N – O
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Naive | innocent, unsophisticated, credulous | lacking experience or judgement |
| Nimble | agile, quick, deft | quick and light in movement |
| Novice | beginner, learner, apprentice | a person new to something |
| Obscure | unclear, vague, hidden | not well known; hard to understand |
| Obsolete | outdated, antiquated, defunct | no longer in use |
| Obstinate | stubborn, headstrong, inflexible | refusing to change |
| Ominous | threatening, foreboding, sinister | suggesting evil to come |
| Opaque | non-transparent, dense, unclear | not letting light through |
| Opulent | rich, luxurious, affluent | showing great wealth |
| Ostentatious | showy, flashy, pretentious | designed to impress |
P
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Pacify | calm, soothe, appease | to make peaceful |
| Penury | poverty, destitution, want | extreme poverty |
| Perilous | dangerous, risky, hazardous | full of danger |
| Perpetual | continuous, everlasting, ceaseless | never ending |
| Placid | calm, serene, tranquil | peaceful and untroubled |
| Plausible | believable, credible, reasonable | seeming likely to be true |
| Plentiful | abundant, ample, copious | existing in large amounts |
| Pompous | arrogant, self-important, grandiose | full of self-importance |
| Prudent | cautious, wise, sensible | careful and far-sighted |
| Pungent | sharp, acrid, biting | having a strong sharp taste or smell |
Q – R
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Quaint | charming, old-fashioned, picturesque | attractively unusual or old |
| Quell | suppress, subdue, crush | to put an end to forcefully |
| Rampant | unchecked, widespread, uncontrolled | spreading without restraint |
| Rapid | quick, swift, speedy | happening fast |
| Reckless | rash, careless, heedless | without caution |
| Reluctant | unwilling, hesitant, disinclined | not wanting to do something |
| Remorse | regret, guilt, contrition | deep regret for wrongdoing |
| Resilient | tough, hardy, adaptable | able to recover quickly |
| Reticent | reserved, uncommunicative, taciturn | not revealing one's thoughts |
| Rigorous | strict, severe, exacting | extremely thorough or harsh |
S
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sagacious | wise, shrewd, perceptive | having good judgement |
| Scanty | meagre, sparse, insufficient | too small in amount |
| Scrutinise | examine, inspect, study | to look at closely |
| Serene | calm, tranquil, peaceful | untroubled and undisturbed |
| Severe | harsh, strict, stern | very strict or intense |
| Sluggish | slow, lethargic, inactive | lacking energy |
| Spontaneous | unplanned, impulsive, instinctive | arising naturally without planning |
| Sturdy | strong, robust, solid | strongly built |
| Submissive | obedient, yielding, compliant | ready to obey |
| Subtle | delicate, faint, understated | not obvious; fine in distinction |
| Sumptuous | lavish, luxurious, splendid | rich and expensive |
| Surplus | excess, extra, leftover | more than what is needed |
T
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tedious | boring, monotonous, tiresome | long and dull |
| Tenacious | persistent, determined, dogged | holding on firmly |
| Terse | concise, curt, succinct | brief and to the point |
| Timid | shy, fearful, nervous | lacking courage or confidence |
| Tranquil | calm, peaceful, serene | free from disturbance |
| Transparent | clear, see-through, obvious | allowing light through; easily seen |
| Treacherous | disloyal, deceitful, traitorous | betraying trust; dangerous |
| Trivial | unimportant, trifling, petty | of little value |
| Turbulent | stormy, chaotic, unstable | full of disorder and movement |
U – Z
| Word | Synonyms | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ubiquitous | omnipresent, widespread, everywhere | present everywhere |
| Vague | unclear, indistinct, ambiguous | not precise |
| Valiant | brave, courageous, heroic | showing great courage |
| Vanity | conceit, pride, arrogance | excessive pride in oneself |
| Vehement | forceful, passionate, intense | showing strong feeling |
| Vigilant | watchful, alert, attentive | keeping careful watch |
| Vivid | bright, graphic, vibrant | producing strong, clear images |
| Voracious | greedy, ravenous, insatiable | having a huge appetite |
| Wary | cautious, careful, guarded | watchful of danger |
| Weary | tired, fatigued, exhausted | very tired |
| Wicked | evil, sinful, immoral | morally bad |
| Wither | shrivel, fade, droop | to dry up and decay |
| Zeal | enthusiasm, fervour, passion | great energy in a cause |
| Zenith | peak, summit, apex | the highest point |
3.3 Choosing the BEST Synonym by Context and Shade of Meaning
When two or more options seem correct, apply these filters in order:
- Connotation. Match positive with positive, negative with negative. Slim (positive) vs scrawny (negative) are both "thin", but for the neutral headword thin the neutral synonym is best.
- Register. A formal headword needs a formal synonym. For commence (formal), prefer begin/initiate over the informal kick off.
- Degree. Match intensity. For furious choose enraged, not the mild annoyed.
- Part of speech. The synonym must be the same part of speech as the headword.
- Core sense. A polysemous word has one meaning intended by the question; the surrounding sentence (if given) reveals it.
Worked Example 1. Headword: FRUGAL. Options: (a) extravagant (b) thrifty (c) generous (d) wealthy. Answer: (b) thrifty. "Frugal" means careful with money. "Extravagant" is the opposite; "generous" and "wealthy" are merely related to money but not synonymous.
Worked Example 2. Headword: OBSTINATE. Options: (a) flexible (b) obedient (c) stubborn (d) timid. Answer: (c) stubborn. Both share the sense "refusing to change one's mind". The other three differ in meaning.
Worked Example 3. Headword: LUCID (in: "a lucid explanation"). Options: (a) confusing (b) clear (c) lengthy (d) brilliant. Answer: (b) clear. "Lucid" means easily understood. "Brilliant" is a distractor (bright/clever) that does not match the "easy to understand" sense.
Worked Example 4. Headword: ELOQUENT. Options: (a) silent (b) articulate (c) rude (d) talkative. Answer: (b) articulate. "Talkative" is a trap — speaking a lot is not the same as speaking well.
Worked Example 5. Headword: ZEAL. Options: (a) apathy (b) doubt (c) fervour (d) patience. Answer: (c) fervour. "Zeal" is great enthusiasm; "apathy" is its antonym.
Worked Example 6. Headword: GREGARIOUS. Options: (a) sociable (b) aggressive (c) lonely (d) generous. Answer: (a) sociable. "Gregarious" means fond of company; "lonely" is the opposite.
3.4 Using Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes to Guess Synonyms
When a word is unfamiliar, break it into parts. Knowing common Latin and Greek elements lets you estimate meaning and recognise the synonym among the options.
| Root / Affix | Meaning | Example word | Likely synonym sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| bene- | good, well | benevolent, benign | kind, favourable |
| mal- | bad, ill | malice, malign | harm, ill will |
| magn- | great, large | magnanimous, magnify | generous, enlarge |
| loqu- / loc- | speak | eloquent, loquacious | fluent, talkative |
| vid- / vis- | see | vivid, evident | clear, visible |
| cred- | believe | credible, incredulous | believable, doubting |
| greg- | flock, herd | gregarious, congregate | sociable, gather |
| luc- / lum- | light | lucid, illuminate | clear, brighten |
| frag- / fract- | break | fragile, fracture | breakable, break |
| -able / -ible | capable of | flexible, durable | can be bent / last |
Tip: The prefix tells you the direction (good/bad, in/out), and the root tells you the action or idea. Combine them to spot the closest option even for a word you have never seen.
Common Exam Errors
The following 25 rows capture the connotation and context traps most often set by examiners.
| # | Headword | Wrong synonym chosen | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Famous | notorious | renowned | "Notorious" is negative (famous for bad reasons); "famous" is neutral/positive. |
| 2 | Childlike | childish | innocent | "Childish" is negative (immature); "childlike" is positive (innocent). |
| 3 | Economic | economical | financial | "Economic" relates to the economy; "economical" means money-saving. |
| 4 | Eloquent | talkative | articulate | Speaking much is not speaking well. |
| 5 | Thrifty | stingy | economical | "Stingy" is a negative trait; "thrifty" is praiseworthy care with money. |
| 6 | Confident | arrogant | assured | "Arrogant" carries excessive pride; "confident" is positive self-belief. |
| 7 | Slim | scrawny | slender | "Scrawny" is unflattering; "slim/slender" are complimentary. |
| 8 | Smell (n.) | stench | odour | "Stench" is specifically a bad smell; "smell" is neutral. |
| 9 | Curious | nosy | inquisitive | "Nosy" is negative prying; "curious" is neutral eagerness to know. |
| 10 | Brief | blunt | concise | "Blunt" implies rudeness; "brief/concise" simply means short. |
| 11 | Proud | conceited | dignified | "Conceited" is excessive self-regard; "proud" can be positive. |
| 12 | Cheap | shoddy | inexpensive | "Shoddy" means poor quality; "cheap" can simply mean low-priced. |
| 13 | Persistent | obstinate | tenacious | "Obstinate" is negative stubbornness; "persistent" is positive perseverance. |
| 14 | Old (thing) | obsolete | ancient | "Obsolete" means no longer used; not every old thing is out of use. |
| 15 | Bold | rash | courageous | "Rash" implies recklessness; "bold" is positive daring. |
| 16 | Plan (clever) | scheme | strategy | "Scheme" often carries a dishonest connotation. |
| 17 | Aroma | reek | fragrance | "Reek" is a strong bad smell; "aroma" is pleasant. |
| 18 | Quiet (person) | secretive | reserved | "Secretive" implies hiding; "quiet/reserved" is merely reticent. |
| 19 | Determined | headstrong | resolute | "Headstrong" is negative; "determined/resolute" is positive. |
| 20 | Frank | tactless | candid | "Tactless" adds rudeness; "frank/candid" is honest directness. |
| 21 | Thin (line) | weak | slender | "Weak" is the wrong sense; "thin" here means narrow, not feeble. |
| 22 | Childish laughter | foolish | — | Confusing the negative "childish" sense when the context is playful. |
| 23 | Imitate | mock | copy | "Mock" means to ridicule; "imitate" simply means to copy. |
| 24 | Pride | vanity | self-respect | "Vanity" is excessive and shallow; "pride" can be legitimate self-respect. |
| 25 | Lean (body) | emaciated | slim | "Emaciated" means dangerously thin; "lean" is healthy and trim. |
Exam Tricks
- Read all four options first. The nearest meaning, not the first acceptable one, wins.
- Decide positive vs negative connotation. If the headword is positive (e.g. thrifty), reject negative distractors (stingy, miserly) immediately.
- Watch for "look-alike" distractors placed to trap careless candidates (economic/economical, sensible/sensitive).
- Use elimination. Strike out clear antonyms and unrelated words; this often leaves just two, then apply shade-of-meaning.
- Match part of speech. A noun headword takes a noun synonym.
- Use roots for unfamiliar words (bene = good, mal = bad, loqu = speak).
- Beware of intensity traps. For a strong word, do not choose a mild synonym (furious ≠ annoyed).
- Common distractor types: (i) the antonym, (ii) a related-but-different word, (iii) a homophone/look-alike, (iv) a word of the wrong intensity. Recognise the category and discard it.
Frequently Confused Pairs
Students often treat these word pairs as interchangeable. They are NOT synonyms; learn the distinction.
| Pair | Word 1 — meaning | Word 2 — meaning |
|---|---|---|
| childish / childlike | childish = immature, silly (negative) | childlike = innocent, trusting (positive) |
| famous / notorious | famous = well known (neutral/good) | notorious = well known for bad reasons |
| economic / economical | economic = relating to the economy | economical = thrifty, money-saving |
| sensible / sensitive | sensible = practical, wise | sensitive = easily affected, emotionally responsive |
| continual / continuous | continual = repeated with breaks | continuous = without any break |
| historic / historical | historic = momentous in history | historical = relating to the past |
| respectable / respectful | respectable = worthy of respect | respectful = showing respect |
| credible / credulous | credible = believable | credulous = too ready to believe; gullible |
| literate / literary | literate = able to read and write | literary = relating to literature |
| imaginary / imaginative | imaginary = unreal, existing in the mind | imaginative = creative, inventive |
Exceptions — Important, Rare and Advanced
- Polysemy. A word with several meanings has different synonyms for each. Fine = (penalty) "forfeit", (quality) "excellent", (thin) "delicate". The sentence decides which synonym is "nearest".
- Context-bound collocations. Even true synonyms cannot always swap: a strong argument, not a powerful argument; a heavy smoker, not a weighty smoker.
- Near-synonyms with hidden negativity. Cheap, stink, scheme, notorious look like neutral synonyms but carry disapproval — a frequent advanced trap.
- British vs American shades. Pavement (BrE) = "footpath", but in AmE means "road surface". Standard British English is expected in the TGT paper.
- Rare/literary synonyms. Forsake (abandon), bewail (lament), parsimonious (very frugal), perspicacious (very perceptive) appear in higher-level papers (UGC NET).
- Words that have NO single-word synonym (e.g. petrichor — the smell of rain on dry earth) are usually tested through one-word substitution, not synonyms.
50 MCQs
Easy (1–15)
1. Choose the word nearest in meaning to ABANDON.
(a) keep (b) forsake (c) repair (d) build
Answer: (b) forsake
Explanation: Abandon means to give up or desert, i.e. forsake.
2. Choose the word nearest in meaning to BRIEF.
(a) lengthy (b) concise (c) heavy (d) loud
Answer: (b) concise
Explanation: Brief means short; concise means expressed in few words.
3. Choose the word nearest in meaning to CANDID.
(a) secretive (b) frank (c) rude (d) shy
Answer: (b) frank
Explanation: Candid means truthful and direct, i.e. frank.
4. Choose the word nearest in meaning to DILIGENT.
(a) lazy (b) industrious (c) careless (d) cheerful
Answer: (b) industrious
Explanation: Diligent means hardworking, i.e. industrious.
5. Choose the word nearest in meaning to FRUGAL.
(a) wasteful (b) thrifty (c) wealthy (d) generous
Answer: (b) thrifty
Explanation: Frugal means careful with money, i.e. thrifty.
6. Choose the word nearest in meaning to HOSTILE.
(a) friendly (b) unfriendly (c) calm (d) generous
Answer: (b) unfriendly
Explanation: Hostile means showing dislike or opposition, i.e. unfriendly.
7. Choose the word nearest in meaning to LUCID.
(a) confusing (b) clear (c) dark (d) long
Answer: (b) clear
Explanation: Lucid means easily understood, i.e. clear.
8. Choose the word nearest in meaning to PLACID.
(a) stormy (b) calm (c) angry (d) busy
Answer: (b) calm
Explanation: Placid means peaceful and untroubled, i.e. calm.
9. Choose the word nearest in meaning to RELUCTANT.
(a) eager (b) unwilling (c) able (d) happy
Answer: (b) unwilling
Explanation: Reluctant means not wanting to do something, i.e. unwilling.
10. Choose the word nearest in meaning to TEDIOUS.
(a) exciting (b) monotonous (c) brief (d) easy
Answer: (b) monotonous
Explanation: Tedious means long and dull, i.e. monotonous.
11. Choose the word nearest in meaning to VIVID.
(a) dull (b) graphic (c) faint (d) silent
Answer: (b) graphic
Explanation: Vivid means producing clear, strong images, i.e. graphic.
12. Choose the word nearest in meaning to ZEAL.
(a) boredom (b) fervour (c) fear (d) doubt
Answer: (b) fervour
Explanation: Zeal means great enthusiasm, i.e. fervour.
13. Choose the word nearest in meaning to BRAVE.
(a) timid (b) courageous (c) weak (d) cruel
Answer: (b) courageous
Explanation: Brave means showing no fear, i.e. courageous.
14. Choose the word nearest in meaning to ENORMOUS.
(a) tiny (b) huge (c) narrow (d) average
Answer: (b) huge
Explanation: Enormous means extremely large, i.e. huge.
15. Choose the word nearest in meaning to RAPID.
(a) slow (b) swift (c) steady (d) late
Answer: (b) swift
Explanation: Rapid means happening fast, i.e. swift.
Moderate (16–35)
16. Choose the word nearest in meaning to OBSTINATE.
(a) flexible (b) stubborn (c) obedient (d) shy
Answer: (b) stubborn
Explanation: Obstinate means refusing to change one's mind, i.e. stubborn.
17. Choose the word nearest in meaning to METICULOUS.
(a) careless (b) scrupulous (c) hasty (d) lazy
Answer: (b) scrupulous
Explanation: Meticulous means very careful about detail, i.e. scrupulous.
18. Choose the word nearest in meaning to ELOQUENT.
(a) silent (b) articulate (c) talkative (d) rude
Answer: (b) articulate
Explanation: Eloquent means speaking well; "talkative" is a trap (much, not well).
19. Choose the word nearest in meaning to GREGARIOUS.
(a) solitary (b) sociable (c) generous (d) aggressive
Answer: (b) sociable
Explanation: Gregarious means fond of company, i.e. sociable.
20. Choose the word nearest in meaning to IMPEDE.
(a) assist (b) obstruct (c) ignore (d) hasten
Answer: (b) obstruct
Explanation: Impede means to block progress, i.e. obstruct.
21. Choose the word nearest in meaning to SAGACIOUS.
(a) foolish (b) shrewd (c) talkative (d) timid
Answer: (b) shrewd
Explanation: Sagacious means having good judgement, i.e. shrewd/wise.
22. Choose the word nearest in meaning to ALLEVIATE.
(a) worsen (b) mitigate (c) ignore (d) increase
Answer: (b) mitigate
Explanation: Alleviate means to lessen pain, i.e. mitigate.
23. Choose the word nearest in meaning to ABUNDANT.
(a) scarce (b) copious (c) empty (d) costly
Answer: (b) copious
Explanation: Abundant means existing in large quantity, i.e. copious.
24. Choose the word nearest in meaning to BENEVOLENT.
(a) cruel (b) charitable (c) wealthy (d) idle
Answer: (b) charitable
Explanation: Benevolent means wishing to do good, i.e. charitable/kind.
25. Choose the word nearest in meaning to CONSPICUOUS.
(a) hidden (b) prominent (c) small (d) silent
Answer: (b) prominent
Explanation: Conspicuous means easily seen, i.e. prominent/noticeable.
26. Choose the word nearest in meaning to DUBIOUS.
(a) certain (b) questionable (c) honest (d) eager
Answer: (b) questionable
Explanation: Dubious means doubtful, i.e. questionable.
27. Choose the word nearest in meaning to EMINENT.
(a) obscure (b) distinguished (c) common (d) modest
Answer: (b) distinguished
Explanation: Eminent means famous and respected, i.e. distinguished.
28. Choose the word nearest in meaning to FUTILE.
(a) useful (b) pointless (c) strong (d) clever
Answer: (b) pointless
Explanation: Futile means producing no result, i.e. pointless/vain.
29. Choose the word nearest in meaning to HAUGHTY.
(a) humble (b) arrogant (c) cheerful (d) gentle
Answer: (b) arrogant
Explanation: Haughty means looking down on others, i.e. arrogant/proud.
30. Choose the word nearest in meaning to PRUDENT.
(a) reckless (b) cautious (c) foolish (d) hasty
Answer: (b) cautious
Explanation: Prudent means careful and far-sighted, i.e. cautious/wise.
31. Choose the word nearest in meaning to RESILIENT.
(a) fragile (b) hardy (c) rigid (d) weak
Answer: (b) hardy
Explanation: Resilient means able to recover quickly, i.e. tough/hardy.
32. Choose the word nearest in meaning to TRANQUIL.
(a) noisy (b) serene (c) busy (d) anxious
Answer: (b) serene
Explanation: Tranquil means free from disturbance, i.e. serene/calm.
33. Choose the word nearest in meaning to VIGILANT.
(a) careless (b) watchful (c) sleepy (d) bold
Answer: (b) watchful
Explanation: Vigilant means keeping careful watch, i.e. watchful/alert.
34. Choose the word nearest in meaning to WARY.
(a) reckless (b) cautious (c) cheerful (d) tired
Answer: (b) cautious
Explanation: Wary means watchful of danger, i.e. cautious/guarded.
35. Choose the word nearest in meaning to TENACIOUS.
(a) yielding (b) persistent (c) gentle (d) careless
Answer: (b) persistent
Explanation: Tenacious means holding on firmly, i.e. persistent/dogged.
Difficult (36–50)
36. Choose the word nearest in meaning to MUNIFICENT.
(a) stingy (b) generous (c) modest (d) hostile
Answer: (b) generous
Explanation: Munificent means extremely generous; "stingy" is the antonym.
37. Choose the word nearest in meaning to RETICENT.
(a) talkative (b) reserved (c) rude (d) cheerful
Answer: (b) reserved
Explanation: Reticent means not revealing one's thoughts, i.e. reserved/taciturn.
38. Choose the word nearest in meaning to EXONERATE.
(a) convict (b) absolve (c) accuse (d) punish
Answer: (b) absolve
Explanation: Exonerate means to free from blame, i.e. absolve/acquit.
39. Choose the word nearest in meaning to UBIQUITOUS.
(a) rare (b) omnipresent (c) hidden (d) ancient
Answer: (b) omnipresent
Explanation: Ubiquitous means present everywhere, i.e. omnipresent.
40. Choose the word nearest in meaning to VORACIOUS.
(a) full (b) insatiable (c) slow (d) calm
Answer: (b) insatiable
Explanation: Voracious means having a huge appetite, i.e. insatiable/ravenous.
41. Choose the word nearest in meaning to OSTENTATIOUS.
(a) modest (b) showy (c) plain (d) honest
Answer: (b) showy
Explanation: Ostentatious means designed to impress, i.e. showy/flashy.
42. Choose the word nearest in meaning to FICKLE.
(a) steady (b) capricious (c) loyal (d) honest
Answer: (b) capricious
Explanation: Fickle means frequently changing one's mind, i.e. capricious/inconstant.
43. Choose the word nearest in meaning to PENURY.
(a) wealth (b) destitution (c) comfort (d) health
Answer: (b) destitution
Explanation: Penury means extreme poverty, i.e. destitution/want.
44. Choose the word nearest in meaning to ERRATIC.
(a) regular (b) unpredictable (c) steady (d) careful
Answer: (b) unpredictable
Explanation: Erratic means not steady or reliable, i.e. unpredictable/irregular.
45. Choose the word nearest in meaning to TREACHEROUS.
(a) loyal (b) deceitful (c) honest (d) friendly
Answer: (b) deceitful
Explanation: Treacherous means betraying trust, i.e. deceitful/disloyal.
46. Choose the word nearest in meaning to ADAMANT.
(a) flexible (b) unyielding (c) gentle (d) doubtful
Answer: (b) unyielding
Explanation: Adamant means refusing to change one's mind, i.e. unyielding/firm.
47. Choose the word nearest in meaning to ASTUTE.
(a) dull (b) shrewd (c) honest (d) timid
Answer: (b) shrewd
Explanation: Astute means quick to act wisely, i.e. shrewd/perceptive.
48. Choose the word nearest in meaning to OPULENT.
(a) poor (b) affluent (c) plain (d) humble
Answer: (b) affluent
Explanation: Opulent means showing great wealth, i.e. affluent/luxurious.
49. Choose the word nearest in meaning to PERPETUAL.
(a) brief (b) ceaseless (c) rare (d) sudden
Answer: (b) ceaseless
Explanation: Perpetual means never ending, i.e. ceaseless/everlasting.
50. Choose the word nearest in meaning to VEHEMENT.
(a) mild (b) forceful (c) calm (d) doubtful
Answer: (b) forceful
Explanation: Vehement means showing strong feeling, i.e. forceful/passionate.