SYNONYMS

EXERCISE 1

 Directions for questions 1 to 5: Each question gives a word followed by four choices. From the choices, select the most
suitable synonym (word which means the same) for the main word and mark its number as the answer.

1. FAMISHED
(1) agricultural (2) hungry (3) prestigious
(4) feasible
2. UMPTEEN
(1) numerous (2) youthful (3) rainy
(4) convergent
3. OVATION
(1) applause (2) growth (3) abuse
(4) attraction
4. FAD
(1) illness (2) tradition (3) obesity
(4) vogue
5. ZEST
(1) humour (2) push (3) attitude
(4) enthusiasm

 Directions for questions 6 to 20: For each of the words below, a contextual usage is provided. Pick the word/phrase from
the alternatives that is most appropriate in the given context.

6. Oblivious: The minister seemed oblivious of the prejudices that prevailed in the village.
(1) aware (2) unaware (3) insouciant
(4) enthusiastic
7. Inveterate: Alex Abraham, an inveterate traveller, has put together various anecdotes from his life.
(1) creative (2) energetic (3) habitual
(4) respectable
 8. Regaled: He regaled the passengers with humorous stories and one-liners.
(1) amused (2) derided (3) refreshed
(4) stimulated

9. Bonhomie: Another aspect of Islam’s utilitarian paradox has been its bonhomie with authoritarian regime.
(1) enmity (2) association (3) friendship
(4) relation

10. Maelstrom: Pakistan is being sucked into the maelstrom of religious extremism.
(1) storm (2) sphere (3) control
(4) whirlpool

11. Trite: It may be trite to admit that parliament is our seat of power.
(1) commonplace (2) shameful (3) original
(4) impressive

12. Propitious: The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has not had a propitious beginning.
(1) unfavourable (2) quick (3) promising
(4) inauspicious

13. Stringent: Given the tight deadlines and stringent demands at work, there isn’t much time to interact with colleagues.
(1) exacting (2) strange (3) excessive
(4) oppressive

14. Plausible: All the theories seemed individually plausible.

(1) attractive (2) correct (3) credible
(4) unlikely

15. Snowballed: What began as a harmless problem has snowballed into a crisis.
(1) swelled (2) weakened (3) changed
(4) petered out

16. Renege: North Korea has effectively reneged on the commitments it made.
(1) upheld (2) backed out (3) enforced
(4) transformed

17. Rigmarole: I cannot face the whole rigmarole of getting a work permit again.
(1) problem (2) hardship (3) enigma
(4) complicated process

18. Munificent: Not every one can find a munificent patron.

(1) generous (2) interested (3) supportive
(4) understanding

19. Cognizant: The NDA benches were cognizant of the occasion’s importance.
(1) ignorant (2) familiar (3) apathetic
(4) aware

20. Inadvertently: We had inadvertently left without paying the bill.

(1) deliberately (2) unintentionally (3) suddenly
(4) cautiously
 EXERCISE 2

 Directions for questions 1 to 16: Each question gives a word followed by four choices. From the choices, select the
most suitable synonym (word which means the same) for the main word and mark its number as the answer.

1. ABSTRACT
(1) peculiar (2) summary (3) normal
(4) diagnostic

2. COMPLACENT
(1) disappointed (2) Evasive (3) satisfied
(4) flimsy

3. EXTERMINATE
(1) evict (2) dissociate (3) accuse
(4) annihilate

4. STALWART
(1) watchful (2) Sturdy (3) delicate
(4) subtle

5. SIMULATE
(1) accumulate (2) Smile (3) pretend
(4) gamble

6. BEDLAM
(1) comfort (2) Flesh (3) lament
(4) tumult

7. CHAGRIN
(1) current (2) annoyance (3) charge
(4) intoxication

8. DUNK
(1) douse (2) Stale (3) wet
(4) smell

9. INNOCUOUS
(1) inept (2) indomitable (3) harmless
(4) indecent

10. BIZARRE
(1) bookish (2) Odd (3) tasty
(4) jubilant

11. PANACEA
(1) wonder (2) Elixir (3) placebo
(4) honey
12. EXACERBATE
(1) excoriate (2) eradicate (3) erupt
(4) aggravate

13. LISSOME
(1) pretty (2) Petite (3) lithe
(4) tiny

14. PALLIATE
(1) alleviate (2) Denude (3) mollify
(4) approbate

15. RESILIENT
(1) stretchable (2) Spirited (3) rigid
(4) buoyant

16. MORBID
(1) dry (2) ethereal (3) inflatable
(4) macabre

 Directions for questions 17 to 30: For each of the words below, a contextual usage is provided. Pick the word/phrase
from the alternatives that is most appropriate in the given context.

17. Transgress: Mumbai’s burgeoning suburbia has residential and commercial complexes that transgress just about
every construction norm that exists.
(1) contradict (2) obey (3) oppose
(4) violate

18. In tandem: The organization has a network of doctors and volunteers who work in tandem.
(1) sequentially (2) together (3) in shifts
(4) diligently

19. Tactical: Their decision to suspend violent campaign has been shaped by tactical considerations.
(1) selfish (2) humanitarian (3) reticent
(4) shrewd

20. Detriment: European Union’s protectionist policy is to the detriment of farmers in the developing world.
(1) advantage (2) impairment (3) destruction
(4) deterioration

21. Abjectly: It is because politicians abjectly fail in their jobs that they have to resort to gimmicks.
(1) visibly (2) unexpectedly (3) regularly
(4) ignominiously

22. Attrition: Human Resource heads of call centres are struggling with a high level of attrition.
(1) retrenchment (2) employee turnover (3) change
(4) hostility

23. Vindicate: The performance of the Indian stock markets has vindicated the confidence reposed in it by global investors.
(1) belittled (2) increased (3) belied
(4) justified
24. Complicity: The corrupt bureaucrat wanted to rationalize his complicity in the brutal killing.
(1) duplicity (2) support (3) innocence
(4) collusion

25. Lamentable: Any one in India who prides himself on the purity of his culture shows a lamentable lack of historical
knowledge.
(1) deplorable (2) mournful (3) distressful
(4) wistful

26. Supercilious: Murali Manohar Joshi had his usual supercilious expression.
(1) benevolent (2) superior (3) doleful
(4) cheerful

27. Preposterous: Their claims to the inheritance is absolutely preposterous.

(1) legal (2) justified (3) outrageous
(4) ethical

28. Surreptitious: She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch.

(1) furtive (2) brazen (3) straight
(4) sharp

29. Rigours: The soldiers at Kargil were unable to face the rigours of a harsh climate.
(1) troubles (2) severity (3) chill
(4) vagaries

30. Presumptuous: Would it be presumptuous of me to ask to borrow your car?

(1) careless (2) disrespectful (3) impertinent
(4) shameless

EXERCISE 3

 Directions for questions 1 to 14: Each question gives a word followed by four choices. From the choices, select the
most suitable synonym (word which means the same) for the main word and mark its number as the answer.

1. OSTENSIBLE
(1) strong (2) desirable (3) Apparent
(4) fateful

2. MUNIFICENCE
(1) animosity (2) exhilaration (3) administration
(4) generosity

3. ABYSMAL
(1) shameless (2) dangerous (3) Profound
(4) horrible

4. EMBARGO
(1) challenge (2) Restraint (3) departure
(4) quarrel
 5. GROTESQUE
(1) bulky (2) Murky (3) cumbersome
(4) weird

6. HUCKSTER
(1) cheat (2) Peddler (3) Simulator
(4) sweeper

7. DISTRAUGHT
(1) agitated (2) Tranquil (3) Rugged
(4) uneven

8. BESMEAR
(1) colour (2) Add (3) Apply
(4) sully

9. FUMBLE
(1) grope about (2) Grumble (3) Fall
(4) falter

10. PALPABLE
(1) visible (2) perceivable (3) Audible
(4) presentable

11. QUIXOTIC
(1) cowardly (2) Rational (3) Foreign
(4) impractical

12. TACITURN
(1) obstinate (2) introvert (3) uncommunicative
(4) unapproachable

13. VAPID
(1) insipid (2) Inspiring (3) Vacuous
(4) lazy

14. WRY
(1) shrunk (2) Wiry (3) Distorted
(4) wrinkled

 Directions for questions 15 to 20: For each of the words below, a contextual usage is provided. Pick the word/phrase
from the alternatives that is most appropriate in the given context.

15. Paucity: Developing countries face paucity of financial capital.

(1) scarcity (2) interruption (3) deluge
(4) abundance

16. Emasculated: Vinoba was a lean figure, almost emasculated.

(1) enfeebled (2) ineffective (3) wizened
(4) shrivelled
 17. Ignominy: Casting away the ignominy of thumb impression and replacing it with signature is the first objective.
(1) disgrace (2) need (3) glory
(4) disadvantage

18. Pugnaciously: Roosevelt had said pugnaciously that it would count in the end not who fired the first shot but who
fired the last.
(1) peacefully (2) aggressively (3) pithily
(4) vigorously

19. Penchant: Israel has not shed its penchant for insisting on conditions that Palestine cannot meet.
(1) option (2) inclination (3) predisposition
(4) obsession

20. Reprehensible: The use of helicopter launched missile has been reprehensible.
(1) commendable (2) exemplary (3) deplorable
(4) suppressed

ANTONYMS

EXERCISE 4

 Directions for questions 1 to 5: Each question has a word followed by four choices. From the choices, identify the one
which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the main word and mark its number as your answer.

1. CONSIDERATE
(1) Comprehensive (2) Atrocious (3) Malignant
(4) Indifferent

2. HAPHAZARD
(1) Cumbersome (2) Concocted (3) Orderly
(4) Zigzag

3. ROBUST
(1) Sturdy (2) Imaginaive (3) Muscular
(4) Feeble

4. BOISTEROUS
(1) Serene (2) Rowdy (3) Violent
(4) Tumultuous

5. DULL
(1) Monstrous (2) Fascinating (3) Horrid
(4) Ghastly

 Directions for questions 6 to 20: In each question below, a word with its usage given. Select as your answer, the word
that is inappropriate as a replacement to the word in the main sentence.

6. Precocious : The precocious child has been the talk of the town of late.
(1) talented (2) gifted (3) garrulous
(4) bright
 7. Novice : The ex-cricketer said that he was basically a sportsman and hence a novice at dancing.
(1) tyro (2) non-professional (3) rookie
(4) savant

8. Genial : Our Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee comes across as a very genial person.
(1) charming (2) amiable (3) listless
(4) affable

9. Enthused : Nehru, Gokhale and Subhash Chandra Bose enthused the masses with their patriotic speeches.
(1) excited (2) regaled (3) energised
(4) castigated

10. Altercation : The altercation between the two families attracted the attention of the neighbours.
(1) merriment (2) dispute (3) argument
(4) discord

11. Philanthrope : The philanthrope decided to move to another town as he wanted to help the poor there.
(1) altruist (2) artful person (3) samaritan
(4) generous person

12. Providence : Only providence saved them from getting gravely injured in that major accident.
(1) Almighty (2) nature (3) the constitution
(4) Lady Luck

13. Trepidation : The panicky patient waited in trepidation for the trolley which would take him to the operation theatre.
(1) dread (2) eagerness (3) alarm
(4) agitation

14. Deteriorated : The condition of the patient deteriorated and his temperature soared to 104°.
(1) declined (2) aggravated (3) worsened
(4) mitigated

15. Longed : The child longed to be with her parents rather than be in a hostel.
(1) craved (2) yearned (3) pined
(4) detested

16. Scurrying : The dock was abuzz with activity with labourers in khaki uniform scurrying around and unloading the ships.
(1) hastening (2) scuttling (3) sleuthing
(4) scampering

17. Malicious : Those with malicious intent accused him of handing over official documents to the enemy.
(1) spiteful (2) ignorant (3) ill-willed
(4) depraved

18. Void : The death of one’s beloved leaves a void in one’s heart.
(1) hole (2) chasm (3) abyss
(4) vacuity

19. Diffused : The tube light that cast a diffused milky glow over my bed has now been replaced by a blue night lamp.
(1) muffled (2) morbid (3) mild
(4) diluted
20. Wilts : If he wilts under pressure now, the team is sure to lose.
(1) droops (2) sags (3) butchers
(4) withers

EXERCISE 5

 Directions for questions 1 to 15: Each question has a word followed by four choices. From the choices, identify the one
which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the main word and mark its number as your answer.

1. IMMACULATE
(1) Unclean (2) Immobile (3) Motherly
(4) Accumulated

2. AGGRAVATE
(1) Segregate (2) Adulterate (3) Ameliorate
(4) Accommodate

3. FRAGRANT
(1) Malodorous (2) Utopian (3) Capricious
(4) Ulterior

4. CRUDE
(1) Cruel (2) Sophisticated (3) Malevolent
(4) Primeval

5. MELLOWED
(1) Ripened (2) Sensational (3) Immature
(4) Ridiculous

6. VINDICTIVE
(1) Forgiving (2) Relentless (3) Revengeful
(4) Disproving

7. ALTRUISM
(1) Kindness (2) Selfishness (3) Tenderness
(4) Benevolence

8. MITIGATE
(1) Soothe (2) Abate (3) Assuage
(4) Aggravate

9. NOVICE
(1) Adept (2) Dilettante (3) Amateur
(4) Greenhorn

10. OBLIVION
(1) Obscurity (2) Capacity (3) Consciousness
(4) Strength
11. CHASTE
(1) Defiled (2) Refined (3) Faithful
(4) Immune

12. BARREN
(1) Covered (2) Bare (3) Fecund
(4) Unleashed

13. CALLOUS
(1) Compassionate (2) Wrinkled (3) Bloated
(4) Emaciated

14. LAGGARD
(1) Novice (2) Neophyte (3) Expert
(4) Pioneer

15. PEDESTRIAN
(1) Mobile (2) Regular (3) Dull
(4) Imaginative

 Directions for questions 16 to 30: In each question below, a word with its usage given. Select as your answer, the word
that is inappropriate as a replacement to the word in the main sentence.

16. Astute: The new CMD seems to be a very astute leader of men.
(1) mediocre (2) sagacious (3) shrewd
(4) keen

17. Enchanting: Sometimes it is better to be detached from all attachments, however enchanting they may seem to be.
(1) alluring (2) mystifying (3) engrossing
(4) riveting

18. Advocate: Gandhiji advocated the philosophy of non-violence.

(1) propagated (2) upheld (3) propounded
(4) emancipated

19. Tranquil: Sachin Tendulkar’s tranquil nature has endeared him to the connoisseurs as well as the critics.
(1) serene (2) introvert (3) sedate
(4) equanimous

20. Scrupulously: The royal family scrupulously hid their internal discords and presented a united front to all their
subjects.
(1) meticulously (2) carefully (3) unanimously
(4) assiduously

21. Contention: If the government has failed in its duty; it is our contention that the government should be forced to do its
duty.
(1) point of view (2) prerogative (3) submission
(4) assertion
22. Ameliorating: Nelson Mandela always felt that agitation, within the framework of the law, was the only safe method of
ameliorating the condition of the Blacks in his country.
(1) deciding (2) mitigating (3) alleviating
(4) improving

23. Profound: Neils Bohr once remarked:“The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. The opposite of a
profound truth may well be another profound truth.”
(1) complex (2) regal (3) philosophical
(4) weighty

24. Intrinsic: What is important is the intrinsic truth of the story and therefore, let us not get into a debate on whether the
date is accurate or not.
(1) inherent (2) underlying (3) mysterious
(4) innate

25. Appalled: I was appalled when Diana told me that her father often beat her mother.
(1) wonder-struck (2) horrified (3) shocked
(4) disgusted

26. Lucid: The phenomenon wasn’t easy to describe but the child, surprisingly, gave a very lucid explanation.
(1) articulate (2) perplexing (3) intelligible
(4) graphic

27. Woes : An empathy towards the woes of your friends will help you in building a lasting relationship.
(1) tribulations (2) adversities (3) misery
(4) jubilations

28. Fatigued : Though he looked fatigued, the man’s eyes gleamed at the sight of his young daughter.
(1) strained (2) fathomless (3) exhausted
(4) jaded

29. Manifestation : This is just a manifestation of his immense talent.

(1) expression (2) indication (3) display
(4) coincidence
30. Harnessed : His boundless energy needs to be harnessed constructively for his benefit.
(1) bridled (2) yoked (3) undergirded
(4) channelled

EXERCISE 6

 Directions for questions 1 to 15: Each question has a word followed by four choices. From the choices, identify the one
which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the main word and mark its number as your answer.

1. IGNOMINIOUS
(1) Crooked (2) Dishonest (3) Ominous
(4) Laudable

2. GROUCHY
(1) Cantankerous (2) Grumpy (3) Contented
(4) Surly
 3. IMPUDENT
(1) Rude (2) Courteous (3) Impertinent
(4) Insolent

4. SALUBRIOUS
(1) Hale (2) Robust (3) Unhealthy
(4) Hygienic

5. TRAITOROUS
(1) Perfidious (2) Recreant (3) Devoted
(4) Treacherous

6. COGNIZANT
(1) Observant (2) Perceptive (3) Conscious
(4) Oblivious

7. VIRULENT
(1) Unpleasant (2) Soft (3) Clear
(4) Benign

8. INSUBORDINATE
(1) Observant (2) Servile (3) Calculating
(4) Depressed

9. EXPOSTULATION
(1) Immigration (2) Susceptibility (3) Elegance
(4) Approbation

10. DISPARAGE
(1) Evolve (2) Expose (3) Appreciate
(4) Converge

11. FORTITUDE
(1) Benefit (2) Eruption (3) Chivalry
(4) Cowardice

12. GERMANE
(1) Considerate (2) Genuine (3) Irrelevant
(4) Upstart

13. OSSIFICATION
(1) Liquefaction (2) Flexibility (3) Vigour
(4) Viability

14. CAPRICIOUS
(1) Greedy (2) Mutable (3) Rigid
(4) Resolute

15. OPPROBRIOUS
(1) Respectful (2) Miscible (3) Inspiring
(4) Imitable
 Practice Exercises

 Directions for questions 16 to 20: In each question below, a word with its usage given. Select as your answer, the word
that is inappropriate as a replacement to the word in the main sentence.

16. Abstruse: Mr Dixon gave a very abstruse explanation in support of his theory.
(1) obscure (2) scholarly (3) recondite
(4) vague

17. Gaucherie: It is said that even a great orator like Abraham Lincoln was a picture of gaucherie for the first few moments
whenever he addressed a gathering.
(1) aesthetic beauty (2) awkwardness (3) clumsiness
(4) maladroitness

18. Penchant: He displayed an amazing penchant for numbers and it was evident that we would hear of his achievements
more often.
(1) talent (2) propensity (3) abhorrence
(4) proclivity

19. Pompous: No one was impressed by the pompous speech of the young man.
(1) ponderous (2) pretentious (3) stilted
(4) bombastic

20. Chicanery: The Greeks resorted to chicanery when it became obvious that the Trojans could not be overcome by
might alone.
(1) skulduggery (2) ruse (3) subterfuge
(4) truce
 Practice Exercises

Answer
Keys
 Practice Exercises

3 7. 4 10. 1 13. 4 16. 3 19. 1 22. 1 25. 2 28. 1

2. 1 5. 2 8. 4 11 4 14. 2 17. 4 20. 2 23. 2 26. 1 29. 3
3. 4 6. 4 9. 3 .12. 2 15. 2 18. 1 21. 4 24. 3 27. 2 30. 4

1. 4 3. 2 5. 1 7. 3 9. 4 11 2 13. 4 15. 4 17. 3 19. 2

2. 1 4. 1 6. 2 8. 2 10. 4 .
12. 4 14. 3 16. 3 18. 4 20. 2

1. 2 3. 1 5. 3 7. 2 9. 3 11 3 13. 1 15. 3 17. 3 19. 4

2. 1 4. 4 6. 2 8. 4 10. 2 .
12. 2 14. 2 16. 4 18. 2 20. 1

Exercise 11
1. 4 4. 2 7. 3 10. 1 13. 4 16. 4 19. 2 22. 2 25. 1 28. 3
2. 1 5. 4 8. 4 11 1 14. 4 17. 2 20. 3 23. 3 26. 3 29. 1
3. 3 6. 2 9. 2 .
12. 4 15. 4 18. 1 21. 3 24. 4 27. 2 30. 4

Exercise 12
1. 4 3. 4 5. 1 7. 3 9. 2 11 2 13. 1 15. 3 17. 1 19. 4
2. 2 4. 3 6. 4 8. 1 10. 1 .12. 4 14. 2 16. 1 18. 2 20. 3