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

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalized pair of words given below.

WITCHES : COVEN : :

  1. parrots : squeak

  2. occult : esoteric

  3. owls : parliament

  4. wizards : sorcerers

  5. ancestors : offspring
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The collective noun for a group of WITCHES is COVEN. The best option is thus – owls : parliament – since the collective noun for a group of owls is parliament.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalized pair of words given below.

FLOODS : EPIDEMICS : :

  1. earthquake : epicenter

  2. drought : famine

  3. tsunami : waves

  4. cyclone : wind

  5. volcano : Etna
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

FLOODS generally give rise to EPIDEMICS. This analogy shows cause-effect relationship. The best option is thus – drought : famine. A severe drought generally gives rise to famine, a condition marked by a severe shortage of food.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalized pair of words given below.

NIMBLE : AGILE : :

  1. baffle : emigrant

  2. lunacy : sanity

  3. bizarre : absurdity

  4. inept : unskilful

  5. jubilant : despondent
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The capitalized pair of words - NIMBLE : AGILE – are both adjectives having similar meanings. The best option is thus – inept : unskilful – since they are synonyms and both the words are adjectives.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalized pair of words given below.

DEFER : ACCELERATE : :

  1. delay : postpone

  2. decipher : script

  3. lucid : ambiguous

  4. infringe : comply

  5. hamper : retard
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The capitalized pair of words - DEFER : ACCELERATE – are both verbs having opposite meanings. The best option is thus – infringe : comply. The two words are verbs having opposite meanings.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalized pair of words given below.

RELINQUISH : ABDICATE : :

  1. humidity : wet

  2. isolate : separate

  3. wilt : bloom

  4. fluctuate : agony

  5. exotic : foreign
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The capitalized pair of words - RELINQUISH : ABDICATE – are both verbs having similar meanings. The best option is thus – isolate : separate. The two words are verbs having similar meanings.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalized pair of words given below.

INDIGENOUS : NATIVE : :

  1. callous : compassionate

  2. fallacy : veracity

  3. mendacity : untruthfulness

  4. guile : effortless

  5. falter : stable
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of the word INDIGENOUS is NATIVE. Thus, one needs to look for a pair of words conveying similar relationship. The correct answer is – mendacity : untruthfulness - since the meaning of mendacity is untruthfulness.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalized pair of words given below.

MALLET : HAMMER : :

  1. stethoscope : doctor

  2. whip : leather

  3. scythe : cut

  4. chisel : sharp

  5. screwdriver : flattened tip
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A MALLET is a tool used as a HAMMER. One needs to look for a pair of words conveying a similar relationship. The correct answer is – scythe : cut – since a scythe is a tool used for cutting grass, crops etc.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalized pair of words given below.

BENEVOLENCE : MALEVOLENT : :

  1. adversity : prosperous

  2. indolence : lethargy

  3. accountable : magnanimous

  4. frugal : moderate

  5. emancipate : rejoice
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The capitalized pair of words (BENEVOLENCE : MALEVOLENT) have opposite meaning but, the first word is a noun while the second word is an adjective. The pair of words – adversity : prosperous – is the correct answer since the two words express the same relationship.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalized pair of words given below.

SUCCESS : CELEBRATION : :

  1. postpone : procrastination

  2. exorbitant : excessive

  3. vicious : noble

  4. weathering : erosion

  5. sloth : laziness
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The capitalized pair of words (SUCCESS : CELEBRATION) has the cause and effect relationship. The correct answer is – weathering : erosion - since erosion takes place due to weathering.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalised pair of words given below.

HALLOWED : SANCTIFY : :

  1. liberate : confine

  2. rebuke : honour

  3. bewail : bemoan

  4. hostile : antagonise

  5. test : verify
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The capitalised pair of words (HALLOWED : SANCTIFY) expresses the adjective-verb combination. (What you sanctify becomes hallowed.) Thus, the correct answer is – hostile : antagonise (expressing the adjective-verb combination – what you antagonise becomes hostile). The capitalised pair of words (HALLOWED : SANCTIFY) expresses the adjective-verb combination. (What you sanctify becomes hallowed.) The pair of words – test : verify - are both verbs, and does not convey the relationship shown by the capitalised pair of words. The correct answer is – hostile : antagonise (expressing the adjective-verb combination – what you antagonise becomes hostile).

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that expresses a relationship which is most nearly like that expressed in the capitalised pair of words given below.

MEGALOMANIA : POWER : :

  1. egomania : obsession

  2. hysteria : neurosis

  3. kleptomania : stealing

  4. schizophrenia : psychosis

  5. bibliomania : delusion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The capitalised pair of words (MEGALOMANIA : POWER) expresses the relationship of a specific obsession. (Megalomania is an obsession with power.) The correct answer is – kleptomania : stealing. (Kleptomania is a recurrent urge to steal, typically without regard for need or profit.)