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.

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Vocabulary and Synonyms Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Find the statement where the given word hasn't been used correctly.

APT

  1. An apt reply is called for.

  2. She proved aptly philanthropic.

  3. He shows an aptitude for the violin.

  4. He is apt to lose his temper quickly.

  5. It is apt for flowers to bloom in spring.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In sentence (2,) the adverb 'aptly' is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced by the adjective 'an apt'. Therefore option (2) is the required answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The question consists of a capitalised word followed by five possible illustrations of the meaning. Choose the one, which is the most suitable illustration.

PROTEAN

  1. A very steadfast and staunch member of a political party.

  2. A punishment so severe that it results in a complete shock.

  3. A kaleidoscopic view of human society.

  4. The ever changing human evolution.

  5. New convert to a faith.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Protean' literally means vary, readily taking on different shapes and forms like in a Kaleidoscope. Option (1) is incorrect as some one steadfast and staunch is inflexible and rigid in structure or ideas. Option (2) refers to situation commonly termed as Trauma. Option (4) is the evolution. Option (5) is a proselyte. Option (3) gives us the correct illustration of the word as Kaleidoscope itself is termed as Protean.

Multiple choice

Directions: The question consists of a capitalised word followed by five possible illustrations of the meaning. Choose the one, which is the most suitable illustration.

ANOMALY

  1. A sudden paroxysm of behaviour spurted at a gross blunder.

  2. Shamelessness in a one to one verbal encounter.

  3. An indifferent attitude expressed towards the things demanding attention.

  4. A humorous, never serious person suddenly starting to behave very seriously.

  5. A paraglider landing into the river.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

'Anomaly' literally means departure from regular arrangement or general rule, i.e. abnormality. So a sentence which gives two contrasting situations can be the correct answer. Option (1) depicts a state of excitement and not of anomaly. The term which can be used to reflect option (2) is impudence or brazenness. The attitude as expressed in option (3) is that of nonchalance, impassibility. (5) could be accidental or by design. Only option (4) depicts state of anomaly.

Multiple choice

Directions: Find the statement where the given word hasn't been used correctly.

PARADE

  1. She likes to parade her wealth.

  2. Visitors enjoy strolling along the parade on the seafront.

  3. There's quite a parading at smart weddings.

  4. New dresses and hairstyles are on parade at the dance.

  5. Don't try to parade your riches.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Usage of the word parade, as implied in sentences (1) and (5) is to show off. The usage implied in sentence (2), is a public place where one can walk leisurely like market, park, row of shops, etc. In sentence (4) the word is used to mean display. In sentence (3) the word used 'parading' is incorrect form of parade. Thus option (3) is the required answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Find the statement where the given word hasn't been used correctly.

AVENUE

  1. They stroll down the shady avenue.

  2. Their avenue is hard work.

  3. We must explore every avenue open to us in an effort to solve the problem.

  4. Hard work is the avenue to success.

  5. The bungalow is along the 5th avenue.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(1) and (5) are correct usages of the term 'avenue' to signify a road or path with trees on either side. Usage of 'avenue' in (3) and (4) is to depict a way of doing or getting something done. (2) is incorrect as the word has been used to mean strength or positive trait which does not mean avenue.

Multiple choice

Directions: Against the question is given a word with its definition. Choose the alternative that does not fit the definition.

PUNGENT : stinging

  1. a beehive in spring

  2. an odour emanating from a laboratory

  3. intemperate criticism

  4. slanderous writing

  5. sharp, but stimulating speech
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1): Meaning of the term pungent is 'stinging'. But 'a beehive in spring' in option (1) means full of honey and, therefore, is not stinging. Hence, option (1) is the answer. 

Multiple choice

Directions: For the word given at the top of the table, match the dictionary definitions on the left (1, 2, 3, 4) with their corresponding usage on the right (a, b, c, d). Out of the five possibilities given in the boxes below the table, select the one that has all the definitions and their usage correctly matched. CHICANERY

Meaning | Usage | | 1. Mislead by concealing the truth | (A) The thief was so good at chicanery that he could rob any one even in broad daylight. | | 2. Take away money or valuables | (B) Politicians resorting to chicanery during election campaign is not uncommon now a days. | | 3. Cheat someone | (C) Ramu was known for chicanery, as he always used to evade the principal after making trouble in the campus. | | 4. Escape blame by lying | (D) Now a days businessmen are so good at chicanery that the customers end up paying a higher price for a low quality product. |
  1. 1. b
    2. c
    3. a
    4. d
  2. 1. b
    2. c
    3. d
    4. a
  3. 1. b
    2. d
    3. a
    4. c
  4. 1. b
    2. a
    3. d
    4. c
  5. 1. b
    2. a
    3. c
    4. d
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The usage 'a' of chicanery describes the thief being so skilled at chicanery, that he could rob anyone in daylight. So the only meanings that suit this usage are '2' and '3'. Suitable usages for 'b', are in 1 and 3. Now looking at answer choices, our options are (3) and (4). Now for usage d, 3 is the correct meaning and not 2. Thus option (4) is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: The question consists of a CAPITALISED word followed by five possible illustrations of the meaning. Choose the one, which is the most unsuitable illustration.

VEIN

  1. There’s often a vein of cruelty in practical jokes.

  2. I prefer the veined marble tiles to the plain colours.

  3. Knowing the test was not important, she veined it in a frivolous attitude.

  4. Satirists find a rich vein of humour in the doings of politicians.

  5. There is a vein of pride in his demeanour.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Of all these options, (3) depicts incorrect usage of ‘vein’, as it reflects “approached” in this sentence, which is not one of its meanings. Rephrase the sentence by restoring vein (a temporary attitude) in place of attitude, which will be the correct sentence. “Vein” in (1) and (5) means a streak or tendency, in (2), a seam of a different mineral running through a rock and in (4), it emphasizes a source of a particular characteristic. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The question consists of a CAPITALISED word followed by five possible illustrations of the meaning. Choose the one, which is the most unsuitable illustration.

PERVERSE

  1. She gets a perverse sense of pleasure out of shocking me.

  2. By lying, the course of justice perverted the accused.

  3. That perverse old man takes advice from no–one.

  4. The witness’s statement proved to be perversion.

  5. You may accuse him of being queer, not perverse.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

‘Perverse’ as used in option (1) is correct as it means to do something unacceptable, unreasonable deliberately, and in option (3), it means wrongfully self-willed, or stubborn. ‘Perversion’ in (4) and (5) implies a distortion. But in option (2) the sentence should read, ‘By lying, he was accused of perverting the course of justice’. Hence, option (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The question consists of a CAPITALISED word followed by five possible illustrations of the meaning. Choose the one, which is the most unsuitable illustration.

FIRM

  1. Can you firm on your holiday dates so the rest of the staff can plan theirs?

  2. He’s got a firm offer of a job in Honor and plans to move soon.

  3. He has held firmly to his beliefs all these years.

  4. The country demands firm leadership.

  5. The firm’s fortunes have nose-dived of late.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) is incorrect as the correct preposition is ‘up’, not ‘on’, which shall make the correct sentence read as: ‘Can you firm up on your holiday dates so the rest of staff can plan theirs?’

Multiple choice

Directions: The question consists of a CAPITALISED word followed by five possible illustrations of the meaning. Choose the one, which is the most unsuitable illustration.

FILTER

  1. An audio filter will eliminate rumble and scratch from records.

  2. Guests filtered into the reception room after the speech.

  3. The filter in the beaker was crystal clear.

  4. News of his promotion filtered out to his colleagues.

  5. Parents often try to filter out undesirable influences from their children.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Filter in (1) is used correctly as a device to block out certain electrical or sound waves. Option (2) implies that the guests trickled (to move, come, go etc little by little) to the reception room after the speech, which is the correct usage. ‘Filter’ in (3) is incorrect. It should actually be ‘filtrate’ (a part of a substance that has passed through a filtering mechanism) that is in the beaker. ‘Filtered out’ in (4) means to become known, and is correct. ‘Filtered out’ in (5) means to keep out. Hence, (3) is the required answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The question consists of a CAPITALISED word followed by five possible illustrations of the meaning. Choose the one, which is the most unsuitable illustration.

PIGEON

  1. Please put these letters into his pigeonhole.

  2. You can see by the way he stands that he is pigeon-toed.

  3. We didn’t have time to discuss the matter at the meeting so it has been pigeonholed until the next meeting.

  4. She felt that she had been pigeon-toed as a troublemaker.

  5. He is no pigeon; you can’t fool him so easily.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

‘Pigeonhole’ is a term used for one of a series of small compartments for papers or letters. This marks option (1) correct. The word pigeon-toed, as used in option (2), refers to the condition of body in which a person’s toes are turned inwards. As used in option (3), pigeonholed implies postponed. Pigeon in (5) means gullible. Pigeon-toed cannot be used to refer to non-physical attributes. This implies option (4) as the required answer choice

Multiple choice

Directions: For the word given at the top of each table, match the dictionary definitions on the left (1, 2, 3, 4) with their corresponding usage on the right (a, b, c, d). Out of the five possibilities given in the boxes below the table, select the one that has all the definitions and their usage correctly matched.

LACERATE Meaning | Usage | | 1. To make suffer mentally or physically | a. The explosion lacerated through the hotel. | | 2. To tear violently and quickly | b. He is lacerated with severe rheumatism. | | 3. To destroy by twisting | c. A young girl was lacerated by sniper fire. | | 4. To cause injury | d. As he read the poem out loud, he lacerated the rhythm so badly that it scarcely made any sense. |
  1. 1. b
    2. c
    3. d
    4. a
  2. 1. d
    2. a
    3. b
    4. c
  3. 1. b
    2. a
    3. d
    4. c
  4. 1. a
    2. b
    3. d
    4. c
  5. 1. a
    2. b
    3. c
    4. d
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

For usage 'a', 'The explosion lacerated through the hotel', there are two meanings which suit; 2 and 3, but the word twisting (in 3) can't be in relation to hotel. Thus 2a shall be part of any logical sequences. In usage 'b', one can infer that lacerated is used in relation to the health of a person. This marks 1b to be another part of the logical sequencing. This is available in option (3), and, therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: For the word given at the top of each table, match the dictionary definitions on the left (1, 2, 3, 4) with their corresponding usage on the right (a, b, c, d). Out of the five possibilities given in the boxes below the table, select the one that has all the definitions and their usage correctly matched.

GROUSEMeaning | Usage | | 1. Making fuss about something silly | a. He has bad habit of grousing about his wife's cooking. | | 2. Grumble | b. There is no point grousing about the hotel as we are here only for one night. | | 3. Nag persistently | c. There are some who grouse about silly things and thereby make life miserable for others. | | 4. Complain very often | d. My mom is always grousing me to get my hair cut. |
  1. 1. c
    2. d
    3. b
    4. a
  2. 1. c
    2. a
    3. d
    4. b
  3. 1. c
    2. a
    3. b
    4. d
  4. 1. c
    2. b
    3. a
    4. d
  5. 1. c
    2. b
    3. d
    4. a
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

For usage 'a', meanings 2 as well as 4 can be used. For usage 'c', the term 'silly' can be related to meaning 1. For usage 'd', 'Nag persistently' is suitable to describe antics of mother. Thereby appropriate option to answer this question is option (5).

Multiple choice

Directions: A word is given with its definition. Choose the alternative that does not fit the definition.

REDUNDANT: superfluous (Repetition in expressing ideas)

  1. Arguing after being vanquished.

  2. A paragraph in which there is not a single unnecessary word.

  3. Arguments that beg the question.

  4. Old computers being retained when new models are installed.

  5. Answering the sixth question when you were required to answer five.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of the word redundant as given in question is superfluous meaning in excess and unnecessary. Sentence (2) conveys a positive meaning and nothing is redundant in the situation. Therefore, option (2) does not fit the definition. Rest of the options potray irrelevant situations. Answering sixth question when only five need to be answered..... wasted effort. Retaining old computers when new ones are installed..... wasteful activity. Arguments that are questionable is waste of energy and effort. Arguing after being defeated is also wasted effort.