Synonyms for competitive examinations

 Sample Questions

Format I

In each of the following questions a word is given in capital letters followed by four alternative words marked a-d. Select from the alternatives the word nearest in meaning to the word given in capital letters:

 

(1) DISTASTEFUL

(a) not delicious (b) tasteless (c) unpleasant (d) useless

 

(2) ACQUIESCE

(a) something liquid (b) watery (c) consent (d) to know someone

 

(3) ESCALATE

(a) retard (b) step up (c) hamper (d) oppose

 

 

 

Answers

1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (b)

 

 

Explanation

1. Distasteful means something that offends the senses, the feelings or the opinions. Unpleasant means something failing to please. As both these words convey same meanings (i.e. bad), they are synonymous.

 

2. Acquiesce suggests a minimal compliance or a compliance compelled by outside force. Consent suggests giving of permission or the acceptance of a proposal. However, both the words refer to a positive response.

 

3. Escalate implies a gradual process or a series of sudden or surprise spurts. Step-up suggests a series of spurts with intervals between them. However, both the words imply heightening of something in scale.

 

 

 

Format II

 

In each of the following questions, there are three words which are meanings of a certain word. Select that word from the answer choices provided in each question:

 

1. everlasting, endless, unending

(a) living (b) eternal (c) increased (d) durable

 

2. flee, escape, run away

(a) abscond (b) hide (c) go underground (d) forcing

 

3. absolve, acquit, vindicate

(a) banish (b) exonerate (c) subsist (d) resist

 

 

 

 

Answers

1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (b)

 

 

 

Explanation

1. Eternal means something that will never cease.

2. Abscond means escaping from detention and mainly refers to embezzlement or theft in which property is illegally seized.

3. Exonerate means to free from accusation or blame.

 

 

 

Format III

 

In each of the following questions there are four words marked a-d. While three of them are synonymous or have more or less same meaning, one is altogether different from the rest. Select from answer choices the word which is different from the rest:

 

1.     (a) exile (b) banish (c) expatriate (d) exist

 

2.     (a) witty (b) pleasant (c) comical (d) humourous

 

 

3.     (a) grim (b) dismal (c) cheerless (d) formal

 

 

 

 

Answers 

 1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (d)

 

 

 

Explanation

1. All other words refer to the sending away or placing apart of a person, group of people or things, except (d) exist, which means to live.

 

2. All other words refer to what causes or is intended to cause amusement or laughter, except (b).

3. All other words refer to appearances or prospects that are cold or unpromising, except (d).

 

 

 

 

Format IV

In each of the following questions, three words that are different meanings of a certain word are given. Select that word from the answer choices, marked a-d given under each set of words:

 

1. position, place, location

(a) raw (b) site (c) situation (d) top

 

2. part, section, fraction

(a) analysis (b) money (c) piece (d) amount

 

3. identify, see, recognise

(a) slip (b) quit (c) know (d) spot

 

4. intimate, warm, close

(a) harm (b) come (c) friendly (d) break

 

5. material, cloth, stuff

(a) room (b) textile (c) hide (d) strength

 

6. imagination, mind, feelings

(a) thoughts (b) grip (c) help (d) know

 

7. analysis, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy

(a) circulate (b) psychiatry (c) climb (d) pray

 

8. modern, current, recent

(a) present (b) general (c) knowledge (d) question

 

9. history, yesteryear, the past

(a) recent (b) elderly (c) geographical (d) olden times

 

10. practical, sensible, realistic

(a) logical (b) materialistic (c) reasonable (d) creative

 

11. noise, sound, blare

(a) blast (b) glare (c) rhythm (d) pollution

 

12. series, sequence, chain

(a) cage (b) string (c) field (d) style

 

13. general, common, ordinary

(a) universal (b) mail (c) frame (d) doubt

 

14. compound, mix, complex

(a) analog (b) amalgam (c) juices (d) interest

 

15. manage, run, supervise

(a) arrange (b) rise (c) direct (d) shout

 

16. doubt, uncertain, undecided

(a) knowledge (b) disbelief (c) Egyptian (d) strain

 

17. adverse, unfavourable, unharmful

(a) necessary (b) mandatory (c) fruitful (d) unhelpful

 

18. category, sort, group

(a) kind (b) benevolent (c) sports (d) event

 

19. encourage, urge, cheer

(a) result (b) hearten (c) bravery (d) oppose

 

20. balance, equilibrium, steadiness

 

 

 

Answers

1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (b) 

6. (a) 7. (b) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (c) 

11. (a) 12. (b) 13. (a) 14. (b) 15. (c) 

16. (b) 17. (d) 18. (a) 19. (b) 20. (c)