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English practice

Synonyms Questions with Answers

Synonyms questions ask you to pick the word closest in meaning to a given word. SSC CGL, CHSL and MTS use them in the vocabulary part of the English section, and bank prelims such as IBPS and SBI sometimes frame them with a sentence. The skill is knowing words well enough to see which option fits, not just which looks familiar. Tip: when a sentence is given, use it to confirm the meaning before choosing.

Rules to remember

  • A synonym is the closest match in meaning and part of speech, not an exact replacement in every sentence.
  • Words can have several meanings; if the word is in a sentence, use the context to fix which one is meant.
  • Learn in clusters: abandon - desert - forsake; brave - valiant - courageous; conceal - hide - cloak.
  • Roots help: 'bene' means good (benevolent, benefit), 'mal' means bad (malice, malfunction), 'dict' means speak.
  • Antonyms are placed among the options as traps; check that the option does not reverse the meaning.
  • Look-alike words are traps too: do not choose an option only because it sounds like the stem.
  • If two options look close, choose the one that matches the formality of the stem word.

Worked examples

Q1. Choose the word closest in meaning to RAPID. (a) Slow (b) Swift (c) Late (d) Weak

  1. Rapid means moving or happening quickly.
  2. Slow is the opposite, so it is a trap.
  3. Swift means fast, so it matches.

Answer: (b) Swift

Q2. Choose the word closest in meaning to CANDID. (a) Frank (b) Secretive (c) Polite (d) Cunning

  1. Candid means truthful and straightforward in speech.
  2. Secretive is the opposite.
  3. Polite and cunning describe different qualities.
  4. Frank means open and honest, so it matches.

Answer: (a) Frank

Q3. Choose the word closest in meaning to OBDURATE. (a) Stubborn (b) Gentle (c) Clever (d) Fearful

  1. Obdurate means refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
  2. Gentle is an opposite quality.
  3. Clever and fearful have no link to refusing to change.
  4. Stubborn is the closest match.

Answer: (a) Stubborn

Shortcuts that save time

  • Eliminate antonyms first, since they are placed among the options as traps. Then compare the remaining two against what you know of the stem word.
  • Use word roots and prefixes to guess an unknown word's rough meaning, but only act on it if at least one option can be eliminated with confidence.
  • Skip a question when you cannot narrow to two options, as wrong answers lose marks in these exams.

Where this appears

SSC CGL Tier-1English Comprehension section
SSC CHSL Tier-1English Language section
SSC MTSEnglish Language and Comprehension section
IBPS/SBI PO PrelimsEnglish Language section
IBPS/SBI Clerk PrelimsEnglish Language section

Synonyms

Practice Set
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Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Vigorous

English · stress-free practice · answers reveal instantly · difficulty adapts as you go

Synonyms questions with answers

10 sample questions from this topic with the correct option and the solution.

  1. Q1. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Contaminate

    1. Clean
    2. purify
    3. Excel
    4. Pollute

    Answer: (D) Pollute

    Solution
    'Pollute' shares the same meaning as the highlighted word.

  2. Q2. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Benevolent

    1. Enthusiastic
    2. Kind
    3. Mysterious
    4. Hostile

    Answer: (B) Kind

    Solution
    'Kind' shares the same meaning as the highlighted word.

  3. Q3. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Entangle

    1. Intrude
    2. Engross
    3. Trap
    4. Enlarge

    Answer: (C) Trap

    Solution
    'Trap' shares the same meaning as the highlighted word.

  4. Q4. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Abandon

    1. Hold
    2. Weave
    3. Leave
    4. Claim

    Answer: (C) Leave

    Solution
    'Leave' shares the same meaning as the given word.

  5. Q5. Select the most appropriate synonym of ‘scanty’ in the sentence given below. India has varied regions which have excess, moderate and deficient rainfall all through the year. A) Excess B) Moderate C) Deficient D) Varied Correct Ans: C 01/10/2024 Right: 58.9% Wrong: 31.16% 15/10/2024 Right: 59.2% Wrong: 31.29% 18/10/2024 Right: 59.58% Wrong: 32.63% 14/10/2024 Right: 59.6% Wrong: 29.23% 07/10/2024 Right: 59.62% Wrong: 29.59% 14/11/2024 Right: 60.03% Wrong: 38.04% 14/11/2024 Right: 60.83% Wrong: 34.99% 29/10/2024 Right: 61.2% Wrong: 30.46% Right: 62.09% Wrong: 34.48% 12/11/2024 Right: 62.73% Wrong: 33.11% 11/11/2024 Right: 62.88% Wrong: 27.46% Q69) Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Futile

    1. Vicious
    2. Adequate
    3. Useless
    4. Thoughtful

    Answer: (C) Useless

    Solution
    'Useless' shares the same meaning as the highlighted word.

  6. Q6. Select the most appropriate synonym of the word given in brackets to fill in the blank. The rivals in the institution _____ (fabricated) evidence and manipulated the whole dataset.

    1. destroyed
    2. forged
    3. fluctuated
    4. wrecked

    Answer: (B) forged

    Solution
    'forged' shares the same meaning as the highlighted word.

  7. Q7. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Antique

    1. Novel
    2. Young
    3. Ancient
    4. Modern

    Answer: (C) Ancient

    Solution
    'Ancient' shares the same meaning as the highlighted word.

  8. Q8. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Inspire A) Reach B) Stimulate C) Aspire D) Daunt Correct Ans: B 01/10/2024 Right: 54.6% Wrong: 41.84% 05/11/2024 Right: 54.71% Wrong: 40.0% Q58) Select the most appropriate synonym of the underlined word. The order will be operational from 1st of November.

    1. considered
    2. provoked
    3. scrapped
    4. effective

    Answer: (D) effective

    Solution
    'effective' shares the same meaning as the highlighted word.

  9. Q9. Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Ephemeral

    1. persistent
    2. Fleeting
    3. Durable
    4. Permanent

    Answer: (B) Fleeting

    Solution
    'Fleeting' shares the same meaning as the highlighted word.

  10. Q10. Select the most appropriate synonym of the underlined word. The management gave kudos to Jithin for his performance.

    1. praise
    2. criticism
    3. punishment
    4. admonishment

    Answer: (A) praise

    Solution
    'praise' shares the same meaning as the highlighted word.