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: Pick out the correct meaning of the word in bold.

AUTOCRACY

  1. self-governing community

  2. mob rule

  3. absolute rule by an individual

  4. government of ecclesiastics
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Autocracy refers to a system of government by one person with absolute power. The autocrat holds supreme authority and is not restricted by laws, constitutions, or opposition. This differs from democracy where power is distributed among many.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Inspired interim responses to hitherto unknown problems, new deal economic stratagems became ________ as a result of bureaucratization, their flexibility and adaptability destroyed by their transformation into rigid policies.

  1. politicized

  2. consolidated

  3. ossified

  4. ungovernable

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

"...their flexibility and adaptability destroyed by their transformation into rigid policies." Ossification means to turn to bone or become rigid and stagnant.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Changes of fashion and public taste are often __________ and resistant to analysis, and yet they are among the most ________ gauges of the state of the public’s collective consciousness.

  1. transparent ….useful

  2. ephemeral …sensitive

  3. faddish … underutilized

  4. arbitrary … problematic

  5. permanent … reliable
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Changes of fashion and public taste are often aephemeral (short-lived) and resistant to analysis, and yet they are among the most  sensitive (fits with gauges) gauges of the state of the public’s collective consciousness.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

A leading chemist believes that many scientists have difficulty with stereochemistry because much of the relevant nomenclature is _________ , in such a way that it combines concepts that should be kept ____________.

  1. obscure … interrelated

  2. specialized … intact

  3. subtle … inviolate

  4. descriptive … separate

  5. imprecise … discrete
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

A leading chemist believes that many scientists have difficulty with stereochemistry because much of the relevant nomenclature is imprecise (vague or ill-defined) , in such a way that it combines concepts that should be kept discrete (secret).

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

In many science fiction films, the opposition of good and evil is portrayed as a _________ between technology, which is ___________, and the errant will be of a depraved intellectual.

  1. fusion … useful

  2. struggle … dehumanizing

  3. parallel … unfettered

  4. conflict … beneficent

  5. similarity … malevolent
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Opposition cannot be called fusion or similarity though struggle or conflict are correct. Dehumanizing doesn't fit here whereas Beneficent refers to be beneficial.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Although often extremely critical of the medical profession as a whole, people are rarely willing to treat their personal doctors with equal _________.

  1. impetuosity

  2. sarcasm

  3. mockery

  4. contempt

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

Here, "extreme criticism" refers to the word contempt. Moreover, "treat with mockery or treat with sarcasm" do not make any sense.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Ironically, Carver’s precision in sketching lives on the edge of despair ensures that his stories will sometimes be read too narrowly, much as Dickens’ social - reformer role once caused his broader concerns to be ___________.

  1. ignored

  2. reinforced

  3. contradicted

  4. diminished

  5. diversified
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Here, keyword is 'read too narrowly' which suggests that the stories were actually ignored and not much read.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Liberty is not easy, but far better to be an ________ fox, hungry and threatened on its hill, than a __________ canary, safe and secure in its cage.

  1. unfriendly …fragile

  2. aging … young

  3. angry … content

  4. unfettered … well-fed

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

Unfettered means to be free from restraints. As the sentence talks about liberty, this fits the blank correctly. As the rest of the words with canary are positive to its well being, 'well-fed' is the appropriate option.