English Language

Vocabulary and Synonyms

18,261 Questions

Vocabulary and synonyms are essential components of English language sections across competitive exams. This topic tests word associations, context meanings, and precise vocabulary skills. Regular practice helps test takers score higher in SSC, banking, and railway recruitment tests.

Finding exact synonymsWord substitutionVocabulary in contextAssociated word groups

Vocabulary and Synonyms Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question has a sentence or a paragraph with one italicized and underlined word that does not make sense. Choose the most appropriate replacement for that word from the options given below the sentence/ paragraph.

Am I supposed to turn my head away and avoid confronting the movement? But I have not lost my mind here, I have not given up on my professional ethics and I am not indulging in Vaudeville. I know simply that this phenomenon is wrong and someone needs to stand up and say so.

  1. vulgarity

  2. utopianism

  3. transgression

  4. heresy

  5. recklessness
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Simply telling something that is wrong is not heresy.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question has a sentence or a paragraph with one italicized and underlined word that does not make sense. Choose the most appropriate replacement for that word from the options given below the sentence/ paragraph.

Piety is not a religious issue; it's the ability to foppish at the simple beauty that exists in the simpler things of life, without breaking it down into cold, hard facts and equations as the technological bent of our mind dictates.

  1. revel

  2. regale

  3. bewilder

  4. fascinate

  5. marvel
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

You can only marvel at the simple beauty.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, the word at the top is used in five different ways, numbered (1) to (5). Choose the option in which the usage of the words is INCORRECT or INAPPROPRIATE.

Notice

  1. The notice was punched on to the display board of the college.

  2. He was given a notice for his coming late to the office.

  3. Sorry! I never noticed the carpet.

  4. A copy of the notice was circulated in the school.

  5. Did you notice the expressions on his face?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The notice to an individual is served and not given.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, the word at the top is used in five different ways, numbered (1) to (5). Choose the option in which the usage of the words is INCORRECT or INAPPROPRIATE.

CRUSH

  1. Don't take it as a crushing load; you can possibly manage it.

  2. The reticent man had a crush on her, but could not express it.

  3. Crush the onion into fine paste.

  4. The crush of people stoned the shopping mall.

  5. The clothes look crushed and soiled.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

'Creased' or 'crumpled' (not crushed).

Multiple choice

Directions: The word below is provided with a context. From the given alternatives, pick the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the given word in context.

Vertiginous: The vertiginous height of India's pristine glory is part of the Indian folklore.

  1. whirling

  2. spinning

  3. dizzying

  4. bewildering

  5. flabbergasting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Going by the dictionary meaning alone, a few of the answer options may be right. But going by the flow of the argument it is 'dizzying' alone.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, the word at the top is used in five different ways, numbered (1) to (5). Choose the option in which the usage of the words is INCORRECT or INAPPROPRIATE.

THROW

  1. He threw up his hands in despair.

  2. It's a throwback to medieval times.

  3. Do not throw the food in the bin, give it to the maid.

  4. I was thrown off balance by the sheer audacity of the beggar.

  5. The match was decided by the throw of a coin.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

A coin is tossed. 'Toss' should replace 'throw'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, the word at the top is used in five different ways, numbered (1) to (5). Choose the option in which the usage of the words is INCORRECT or INAPPROPRIATE.

SINK

  1. The boy that was sinking, shouted for help, but nobody came to his rescue.

  2. The shark sank its teeth into the warm flesh.

  3. The boatman sank the spade into the ground.

  4. The Himalayas have been sinking by almost an inch a year.

  5. The patient is sinking.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Living things drown. 'Drowning' should replace 'sinking' in (1).

Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Being aggressive in behavior and harsh in language are a manifestation of savagery.

  1. are a manifestation of savagery

  2. is a manifestation of savagery

  3. are a manifestation to savagery

  4. is a manifestation to savagery

  5. are a manifestation for savagery
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence has an error of subject-verb agreement. Manifestation is singular noun and needs singular verb.

Justification for (2): The sentence has an error of subject-verb agreement. Manifestation is singular noun and needs singular verb. This option rectifies the error.  (Manifestation of savagery ‘is’)

Explanation for (3): This option does not rectify the error of subject-verb agreement.
Explanation for (4): This option rectifies the error of subject-verb agreement, but introduces another error of preposition (‘to savagery’ in place of ‘of savagery’). Explanation for (5): This option does not rectify the error of subject-verb agreement and introduces another error of preposition (‘for savagery’ in place of ‘of savagery’).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has two blanks. Beneath the sentence are five sets of words. Choose the set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

_________ mob began to form full of angry men _______ incoherent threats.

  1. A huge, waving

  2. A lynch, muttering

  3. An ugly, gesturing

  4. A listless, shouting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

“Angry men” is a clue here. Other words like 'huge', 'ugly', 'enthusiastic' and ';listless' are incompatible with angry men who are giving threats. So the best answer is (2).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labelled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Much love and _________ had gone into _______ one of the most undignified diseases known to man.

  1. devotion, submerging

  2. care, enduring

  3. sympathy, overpowering

  4. discipline, defeating

  5. dedication, tackling
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The first part of the sentence highlights the positive aspect, whereas the latter part is negative as indicated by 'most undignified diseases'. It implies that some positive effort has gone into handling something negative.  So, the word 'tackling' best suits here.