English Language · Reasoning

Verbal Analogies

1,650 Questions

Test your reasoning abilities with these verbal analogies questions focused on identifying word relationships. The exercises require finding pairs that share similar logical or semantic connections. This section is a crucial part of the verbal ability and reasoning tests in many competitive exams.

Word pair relationshipsSemantic connectionsLogical analogiesOdd pair identification

Verbal Analogies Questions

Multiple choice

Which cluster has all the words that belong to the headword ‘bond’?

  1. Support, linkage, sever, shackle, adhesive

  2. Handcuff, cord, rope, surety, liberate

  3. Stocks, trade, bearish, gum, alliance

  4. Slavery, glue, dependence, break, security

  5. Pledge, guarantee, obligation, stick, loose
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The words stocks, trade and bearish are associated with the stock market. Since bond is also associated with finance or trading, their relationship is obvious. The words gum and alliance are also associated with bond. Gum is a substance used to bind.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given question carries four options. You are to mark the correct option after checking the punctuation of each option.

Distinguish between the following pairs of words. meat meet rain rein alter altar hare hear

  1. Distinguish between the following pairs of words meat, meet, rain, rein, alter, alter, hare, hear

  2. Distinguish between the following pairs of words: meat : meet; rain : rein; alter : alter; hare : hear

  3. Distinguish between the following pairs of words: meat, meet – rain, rein – alter, alter – hare, hear

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Following....' is preferably followed by a colon. Preferably, the two words in each pair are to be separated by a colon with a space on either side, and the pairs have to be separated from each other by use of intermediate pause, i.e. semi-colon.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a capitalised pair is given which exhibits a particular relationship. You have to select the option which exhibits the same relationship.

STEP : STAIRWAY

  1. Staircase : Banister

  2. Wood : Carpet

  3. Rung : Ladder

  4. House : Porch
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Steps are required to move up the stairway. Similarly, to move up a ladder, 'rung' (rounded sturdy stick) is required. So, answer is (3). Banister is the railing along the staircase which is not a necessity to move up a staircase.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a capitalised pair is given which exhibits a particular relationship. You have to select the option which exhibits the same relationship.

PEDAGOGUE : LEARNING

  1. Teaching : Books

  2. Professor : Erudition

  3. Plato : Pedant

  4. Schoolmaster : ABCs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Pedagogue basically means a dogmatic teacher or simply a teacher. This matches with 'Professor'. Erudition means knowledge acquired by learning and so, it clearly matches learning. Hence, (2) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the pair of words that bears the same relation as between the pair in bold letters.
Terse : Turgid

  1. Cow : Pig

  2. State : Nation

  3. Slim : Obese

  4. Mountain : Peak
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

"Terse" means briefly and often curtly expressed - concise, brief. "Turgid" means swollen, bloated, or excessively lengthy and complicated - the opposite of concise. This is an antonym pair. "Slim : Obese" has the same relationship - Slim means thin, Obese means excessively fat. They are opposites. The other options don't show antonym relationships: Cow and Pig are both animals, State and Nation are related concepts, and Mountain : Peak is part-to-whole.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the pair of words that bears the same relation as between the pair in bold letters.

Needle : Thread

  1. Leader : Follower

  2. Prick : Sew

  3. Bat : Ball

  4. Pin : Cushion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The relationship between "Needle : Thread" is that a needle needs thread to fulfill its primary function (sewing). Similarly, a pin is typically pushed into a cushion or cushion-like surface to hold things in place. A cushion is where a pin belongs or is used. This is an object-destination/function relationship. The other pairs don't show this relationship: Leader:Follower shows hierarchy, Prick:Sew shows action-purpose, and Bat:Ball shows associated objects used together.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the pair of words that bears the same relation as between the pair in bold letters.

Doctor : Medicine

  1. Teacher : Lecture

  2. Blackboard : Ink

  3. Poetry : Tune

  4. Entrance : Exit
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A doctor works with or prescribes medicine as part of their profession. Similarly, a teacher delivers or uses lectures as part of their teaching practice. The relationship is 'professional : what they work with or deliver.'

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the pair of words that bears the same relation as between the pair in bold letters.

Request : Refusal

  1. Trial : Failure

  2. Water : Desert

  3. Swim : Sinking

  4. Struggle : Victory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A request can potentially be refused or denied. Similarly, a trial can potentially end in failure. The relationship is 'action : potential negative outcome' where the second term is an unfavorable result that might follow the first.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the pair of words that bears the same relation as between the pair in bold letters.

Island : Ocean

  1. Hill : Stream

  2. Forest : Valley

  3. Tree : Field

  4. Oasis : Desert
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

An island is a landmass surrounded by an ocean. Similarly, an oasis is a fertile area surrounded by a desert. The relationship is 'feature : surrounding environment' where the first term exists within and is defined by the second term.