English Language

Vocabulary and Synonyms

17,324 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 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.

The product of a ________ religious home, he often found ________ in prayer.

  1. conscientious, befuddlement

  2. devoutly, solace

  3. vigourously, comfort

  4. fervidly, reassurance

  5. pious, answers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct answer is option 2. The person comes from a religious background. So, he/she finds comfort or solace in prayers.

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.

Unruly people may become __________ when they are treated with ______ by those around them.

  1. angry, kindness

  2. placated, obeisance

  3. peaceful, abuse

  4. riveted, change

  5. dangerous, love
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In this sentence, we are talking about disorderly people and the change in their behaviour because of the respectful treatment given to them by the people surrounding them. They are often pacified when others treat them with respect. So, the best possible answer is option (2).

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The ingenuous appearance of the young sales manager belied his _________ negotiating skills, so that buyers were often floored by his _______________.

  1. sharp, approach

  2. innovative, ingenuity

  3. keen, debonairness

  4. clever, failures

  5. canny, acumen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The ingenuous or innocent appearance belies the (opposite of innocent) skills so that the buyers get deceived. A close study of all the options makes option (5) the best.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

They are actually aware of the _________ of any mass protest at this __________ stage, when the nation is at war.

  1. indispensability, grave

  2. futility, captious

  3. calamity, irascible

  4. detonation, awkward

  5. backlash, crucial
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence tells about a war condition where protest is futile. And the only option that suits in the blanks well is (2).

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose appropriate meanings of the words in bold as per their contextual use.

The child revered her mother.

  1. hold in deep respect out of affection

  2. hold in deep respect out of fear

  3. ignore somebody's pleadings

  4. hold in disrespect
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Revered means to feel deep respect or admiration for someone. The option hold in deep respect out of affection correctly captures the positive, love-based nature of reverence, unlike option B which is based on fear.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose appropriate meanings of the words in bold as per their contextual use.

The government showed callous attitude towards the sufferings of earthquake victims.

  1. sympathetic

  2. insensitive

  3. unconcerned

  4. extremely soft
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Callous means showing no sympathy or concern for others. Insensitive is the correct meaning - someone who is callous is emotionally hardened and indifferent to suffering, which matches the context of showing no concern for earthquake victims.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose appropriate meanings of the words in bold as per their contextual use.

Thousands attended the congregation.

  1. political gathering

  2. religious gathering

  3. entertainment program

  4. social gathering
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Congregation typically refers to a gathering of people, especially for religious worship. While it can sometimes mean any assembly, in most contexts it specifically means a religious gathering, making option B correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose appropriate meanings of the words in bold as per their contextual use.

On her wedding day, the bride was elegantly dressed and no one could take eyes off her.

  1. gracefully

  2. untidily

  3. expensively

  4. exotically
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Elegantly describes doing something with style, grace, and refined sophistication. Gracefully (A) captures this refinement perfectly. Untidily (B) is the opposite, while expensively (C) focuses on cost and exotically (D) on foreignness - neither captures the refined grace essential to elegance.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose appropriate meanings of the words in bold as per their contextual use.

The relationship is illicit as the lady is already married.

  1. complicated

  2. tense

  3. forbidden

  4. relaxed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Illicit means forbidden by law, rules, or custom - something not allowed or socially unacceptable. Forbidden (C) captures this prohibition perfectly. Complicated (A) suggests complexity, tense (B) means strained, and relaxed (D) means calm - none relate to legality or permission.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose appropriate meanings of the words in bold as per their contextual use.

Michelle was very upset. So, her husband had to do a lot of things to pacify her.

  1. calm

  2. satisfy

  3. annoy

  4. reward
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

To pacify someone means to calm them down or soothe their anger. In this context, Michelle's husband needs to do things to make her feel calm and appeased. 'Calm' directly captures this meaning, while satisfy, annoy, and reward don't fit the context of soothing an upset person.