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

Which of the following is synonym of the word 'Inculcate'?

  1. Encrusting

  2. Validate

  3. Impress

  4. Indisputable

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

Inculcate means to instill an idea, attitude, or habit by persistent instruction. 'Impress' in the sense of imprinting or instilling captures this meaning. The other options are unrelated.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is synonym of the word 'Incursion'?

  1. Bending into a curve

  2. Drawing a line

  3. Indecipherable

  4. Sudden attack

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

Incursion means an invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one. 'Sudden attack' accurately captures this meaning. The other options are unrelated to attacks or invasions.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is synonym of the word 'Demeanour'?

  1. Feelings

  2. Superior

  3. Outward behaviour

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

Demeanour refers to a person's outward behavior, conduct, or manner of behaving towards others. Option C directly captures this meaning. Feelings (A) are internal emotions, not outward display. Superior (B) is an attitude, not behavioral display. Gratitude (D) is a specific emotion, not a behavioral pattern.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'contagious', as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Vaccines
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. Vaccines were first used by Edward Jenner (England) in the 1770s to inoculate small pox using the cow microbe. Vaccines have resulted in the eradication of small pox, one of the most contagious and deadly diseases known to man.
A vaccine is usually made from a weakened or attenuated form of the microbe that it is intended to fight. When the body recognizes the virulent microbe attack, it neutralises the target microbe before it can enter body cells.

  1. toxic

  2. unwholesome

  3. infectious

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

'Tag' is touch; contagious is a disease contacted by touch with the infected person.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'virulent' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Vaccines
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. Vaccines were first used by Edward Jenner (England) in the 1770s to inoculate small pox using the cow microbe. Vaccines have resulted in the eradication of small pox, one of the most contagious and deadly diseases known to man.
A vaccine is usually made from a weakened or attenuated form of the microbe that it is intended to fight. When the body recognizes the virulent microbe attack, it neutralises the target microbe before it can enter body cells.

  1. revengeful

  2. large

  3. hostile

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

Relate virulent with virus.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'immunity' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Vaccines
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. Vaccines were first used by Edward Jenner (England) in the 1770s to inoculate small pox using the cow microbe. Vaccines have resulted in the eradication of small pox, one of the most contagious and deadly diseases known to man.
A vaccine is usually made from a weakened or attenuated form of the microbe that it is intended to fight. When the body recognizes the virulent microbe attack, it neutralises the target microbe before it can enter body cells.

  1. protection

  2. resistance

  3. vulnerability

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

Immunity (resistance) is from within; protection is from outside.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'neutralises' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Vaccines
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. Vaccines were first used by Edward Jenner (England) in the 1770s to inoculate small pox using the cow microbe. Vaccines have resulted in the eradication of small pox, one of the most contagious and deadly diseases known to man.
A vaccine is usually made from a weakened or attenuated form of the microbe that it is intended to fight. When the body recognizes the virulent microbe attack, it neutralises the target microbe before it can enter body cells.

  1. nullifies

  2. fades

  3. hampers

  4. destroys
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The immune system 'neutralises' the microbe - meaning it renders it harmless or eliminates it. 'Destroys' is the best synonym in this medical context because the immune system actively eliminates the target microbe before it can cause harm. While 'nullifies' is linguistically close, 'destroys' better captures the immune system's action of eliminating pathogens.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'pursuing' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

For those pursuing a bachelor’s degree in security, it is important to understand the basic components of crisis management. A bachelor’s degree in security suggests the degree holder has a comprehension of tactics and tools which would assist in the asset protection of an organisation. Much of that knowledge is likely to be focused on physical protection systems, liabilities, and security’s role in the organization.
Crisis management, sometimes referred to as incident management, is a field of study in which practitioners attempt to stop the emergency situation or at least reduce its negative impact. This mitigation comes via threat assessments, planning, training, incident response, and continuation of operational duties.
The continuum of services is essential to the emotional and financial well-being of an organization.

  1. coming

  2. getting

  3. following

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

In academic contexts, pursuing a degree means actively working toward obtaining or studying for it. Getting is the closest match - getting a bachelor's degree means the same as pursuing one in this context. Coming doesn't fit grammatically or semantically, following would mean studying/observing others, and searching implies looking for something already lost.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'practitioners' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

For those pursuing a bachelor’s degree in security, it is important to understand the basic components of crisis management. A bachelor’s degree in security suggests the degree holder has a comprehension of tactics and tools which would assist in the asset protection of an organisation. Much of that knowledge is likely to be focused on physical protection systems, liabilities, and security’s role in the organization.
Crisis management, sometimes referred to as incident management, is a field of study in which practitioners attempt to stop the emergency situation or at least reduce its negative impact. This mitigation comes via threat assessments, planning, training, incident response, and continuation of operational duties.
The continuum of services is essential to the emotional and financial well-being of an organization.

  1. physicians

  2. examiners

  3. professors

  4. professionals

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

Practitioners are people who actively practice a profession - they work in the field applying their knowledge. In crisis management, practitioners are the professionals who actually handle emergencies. Professionals is the correct synonym. Physicians is too specific (only doctors), examiners is not the same as practitioners, and professors are educators, not practitioners.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'referred' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

For those pursuing a bachelor’s degree in security, it is important to understand the basic components of crisis management. A bachelor’s degree in security suggests the degree holder has a comprehension of tactics and tools which would assist in the asset protection of an organisation. Much of that knowledge is likely to be focused on physical protection systems, liabilities, and security’s role in the organization.
Crisis management, sometimes referred to as incident management, is a field of study in which practitioners attempt to stop the emergency situation or at least reduce its negative impact. This mitigation comes via threat assessments, planning, training, incident response, and continuation of operational duties.
The continuum of services is essential to the emotional and financial well-being of an organization.

  1. suggested

  2. transferred

  3. mentioned

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

When something is referred to as something else, it means it's called, named, or mentioned by that term. The passage says crisis management is sometimes referred to as incident management - meaning it's called/mentioned by that name. Mentioned is the best fit. Suggested means proposed (not called), transferred means moved, and directed means guided.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'comprehension' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

For those pursuing a bachelor’s degree in security, it is important to understand the basic components of crisis management. A bachelor’s degree in security suggests the degree holder has a comprehension of tactics and tools which would assist in the asset protection of an organisation. Much of that knowledge is likely to be focused on physical protection systems, liabilities, and security’s role in the organization.
Crisis management, sometimes referred to as incident management, is a field of study in which practitioners attempt to stop the emergency situation or at least reduce its negative impact. This mitigation comes via threat assessments, planning, training, incident response, and continuation of operational duties.
The continuum of services is essential to the emotional and financial well-being of an organization.

  1. passage

  2. understanding

  3. capacity

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

Comprehension means the ability to understand something. In the passage, a degree in security suggests the holder has comprehension (understanding) of tactics and tools. Understanding is the correct synonym. Passage is incorrect (not what comprehension means), capacity means ability/potential, and direction means guidance - none capture the meaning of grasping or comprehending information.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word that does not have a similar meaning to the given word. Ameliorate

  1. Amend

  2. Impair

  3. Mollify

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

Ameliorate means to make something better or improve a situation. Impair means to make something worse or damage it - the direct opposite. Amend, Mollify, and Placate all relate to improvement or calming, making them similar to Ameliorate, so Impair is the correct answer for 'does NOT have a similar meaning'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word that is similar in meaning to the given word.

Pageantry

  1. Melancholy

  2. Spectacle

  3. Ritual

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

Pageantry refers to a splendid display, ceremony, or spectacle. Spectacle means a visually impressive display or performance - the closest match. Melancholy means sadness, Pathos means pity or sadness, and Ritual refers to a religious ceremony - none capture the grand, visual display aspect of Pageantry.