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SYNONYMS

GENERAL ENGLISH
SYNONYMS
Directions:
In this section you find a number of sentences, parts of which are underlined. You may
also find only a group of words which is underlined. For each underlined part, four
words/phrases are listed below. Choose Example E is solved for you.
Example: E has been solved for you.
E) His style is quite transparent.
(a) verbose
(b) involved
(c) lucid
(d) witty
Explanation:
In item E the word lucid is nearest in meaning to the word transparent. So c is
the correct answer.

Now attempt the following

2011
Directions (For the seven items which follow):
Each of the following items consists of a sentence followed by four words or groups of
words. Select the synonym of the underlined word in the sentence as per the context.
01. A judicious use of resources is necessary for planned development.
(a) biased
(b) sensible
(c) exact

(d) honest

02. No one knows exactly what transpired at the meeting of the two captains.
(a) was communicated (b) was discussed
(c) happened
(d) conspired
03. She is obstinate in refusing to see a doctor.
(a) foolish
(b) unyielding

(c) unreasonable

(d) mischievous

04. Though she has two maidservants, she is always busy attending to sundry household
tasks.
(a) countless
(b) various
(c) certain
(d) several
05. He is prepared to undertake even menial jobs.
(a) lowly
(b) tough
(c) dangerous

(d) low-paid

06. The new policy will provide added impetus to the development programmes.
(a) f inancial support (b) accelerated growth (c) retarded growth (d)driving force
07. Let us try to emulate the great mans achievements.
(a) praise
(b) find out
(c) follow

(d) assess

1. b

7. c

2.b

3. c

4. b

5. a

6. d

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2010
Directions (For the 10 items which follow):
Each of the following ten items consists of a word in capital letters, followed by four words
or group of words. Select the word or group of words that is most similar in meaning to the
word in capital letters.
1. BEMOAN
(a) Lament
(b) Pacify
(c) Request
(d) Imagine
2. PROSAIC
(a) Dull and ordinary
(b) Slow and steady
(c) Grand
(d) Precious
3. OMINOUS
(a) Helpless
(b) Humble
(c) Restless
(d) Sinister
4. ELOQUENT
(a) Ambiguous
(b) Graceful
(c) Fluent
(d) Productive
5. FRAIL
(a) Astute
(b) Delicate
(c) Foolish
(d) Immature
6. DERELICT
(a) Derogatory
(b) Depressing
(c) Ramshackle
(d) Sluggish
7. INJUNCTION
(a) Bruise
(b) Injustice
(c) Ruling
(d) Reproach

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SYNONYMS

8. IMPLORE
(a) Entreat
(b) Put into Practice
(c) Interfere
(d) Transmit
9. GROTESQUE
(a) Boring
(b) Gripping
(c) Monstrous
(d) Obnoxious
10. PERTINENT
(a) Dependable
(b) Relevant
(c) Remarkable
(d) Sensible
Key for 2010 paper
1.a
2.a
3.d
4.c

5.b

6.c

7.c

8.a

9.a

10.b

2009
Each of the following items consists of a word in capital letters, followed by four words
or group of words. Select the word or group of words that is most similar in meaning to
the word in capital letters.
01. ESCALATE
(a) Rise

(b) Diminish

(c) Roll on

(d) Spiral

02. FLIPPANT
(a) Disrespectful

(b) Polite

(c) Serious

(d) Wrong

03. ALACRITY
(a) Cleanliness

(b) Cleverness

(c) Eagerness

(d) Reluctance

04. BLEMISHES
(a) Qualities

(b) Faults

(c) Bruises

(d) Vices

05. INCESSANT
(a) Uncertain

(b) Ceaseless

(c) Unshaken

(d) Successive

06. CRYPTIC
(a) Elaborate

(b) Obscure

(c) A warning

(d) Cautionary

07. CLEMENCY
(a) Harshness

(b) Mercy

(c) Stiffness

(d) Seriousness

08. ABOMINABLE
(a) Disgusting

(b) Lovable

(c) Abusive

(d) Undisciplined

Keys for 2009: 01.a

02.a

03.c

04.c

05.b

06.b

07.b

08.a

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2008
Each of the following nine items consists of a word or a group of words in capital letters,
followed by four words or groups of words. Select the word or group of words that is most
similar in meaning to the word or group of words in capital letters.
01. BEAVER AWAY
(a) To waste away
(c) to work hard

(b) to sleep for long hours

(d) To steal something

02. BADGER
(a) To ricochet

(b). To err

(c). To apologize

(d) to pester persistently

03. SWISH
(a) False

(b) Fashionable

(c) Annulment

(d) Rapid

04. SURREPTITIOUS
(a) To be impatient (b) Susceptible

(c) Supportive

(d) To act stealthily

05. SURROGATE
(a) Surpassable

(c) Surfeit

(d) Surveillant

(b) Substitute

06. UP-THE CREEK

(a) To get lot of money
(c) To be very successful

(b) In dire difficulties

(d) To achieve ones aim by deceit

07. CAVEAT
(a) Award

(c) Warning

(d) Graphic

08. NIP AND TUCK

(a) Close competition (b) Heavy rain

(c) Fierce attack

(d) Mixture

09. COMEUPPANCE
(a) Sudden arrival

(c) Paradox.

(d) Retribution

Keys for 2008: 01.c 02.d 03.b

(b) Controversy

(b) Parity
04.d

05.b

06.b

01. GARISH
(a) Selfish
(c) Unpleasantly overcoloured

07.c

08.a

09.d

2007
(b) Affluent
(d) Person with great intellect

02. WRAITH
(a) Dead body

(b) Ghost

(c) Extreme anger

(d) Circle of flowers

03. TIMOROUS
(a) Time consuming

(b) Timely

(c) Threatening

(d) Timid

04. EXPLICATE
(a) To apologize
(c) To strengthen

(b) to make something complicated

(d) To explain

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SYNONYMS

05. EXACTION
(a) Demand

(b) Aggravation

(c) Accuracy

(d) Collaboration

06. DANK
(a) Taut

(b) Rite

(c) Dry

(d) Damp

07. PORTENTOUS
(a) Imaginary

(b) Omnous

(c) Demonstrative

(d) Convincing

08. SURREPTITIOUS
(a) Deceitful

(b) Savoury

(c) Insipid

(d) Painful

Keys for 2007: 01.c 02.b 03.d

05.a

04.d

06.d

07.b

08.a

2006
01. CAPRICE
(a) Resoluteness

(b) Joke

(c) Sudden change in attitude (d) Attraction

02. VESTIGE
(a) Apology
(b) Excuse
(c) Offence
03. ADVENTITIOUS
(a) Accidental
(b) Critical (c) A process using high technology

(d) Trace
(d) Exciting

04. OBSTREPEROUS
(a) Fathomless

(b) Unruly

(c) Anathema

05. PUERILE
(a) Unalloyed

(b) Childish

(c) Strictness in morals (d) Poisonous

06. NIT-PICKING
(a) An accomplished weaver
(c) A outstanding story-teller

(d) Causing fatigue

(b) Critical of minor details

(d) Adept in the worldly affairs

07. SPICK AND SPAN

(a) Neat and clean (b) Short and sweet

(c) Helter-skelter

(d) Fire and brimstone

08. DILETTANTE
(a) A diligent person
(b) A person who studies something without serious understanding
(c) A person who takes undue interest in others affairs
(d) A person who is always complaining over minor things
Keys for 2006: 01.c 02.d 03.a 04.b 05.b 06.b 07.a 08.b

2005
01. MIFFED
(a) annoyed

(b) arrested

(c) Neglected

(d) Orthodox

02. PREPOSSESSING
(a) affluent

(b) attractive

(d) arrogant

(d) Committed

03. SLEUTH

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(a) Warrior
04. OPPROBRIUM
(a) Mystery

(b) Ghost

(c) Detective

(d) Sailor

(b) opulence

(c) Reproach

(d) enthusiasm

05. ANNALS
(a) Boundaries of a country
(c) Vast areas
06. INSOLENT
(a) Impure
Insoluble

(b) Historical records

(d) Annual expenses
(b) extremely rude

07. PROCRASTINATION
(a) Delay

ACE

(b) forecast

(c) Extremely poor

(c) Reward

08. COGITATE
(a) To live together
(c) to think deeply about something
Keys for 2005: 01.a 02.b 03.c 04.c 05.b 06.b

(d)

(d) Exaggeration

(b) To criticize severely

(d) to compliment
07.a

08.c

2004
01. CONNUBIAL
(a) Connivance

(b) Of marriage

(c) Encouraging

(d) Frustrating

02. PEJORATIVE
(a) Arduous

(b) Disparaging

(c) Exorbitantly costly

(d) Extrovert

03. PRESCIENT
(a) Finding faults with others
(c) Causing annoyance to others

(b) Quarrelsome
(d) Able to see into the future

04. HOLLER
(a) Primise

(b) Gamble

(c) Yell

(d) Punish

05. INGRATIATE
(a) Infuriate

(b) Gain favour

(c) To accept bribe

(d) Infuse

06. EXTORTIONATE
(a) Excessive

(b) Kidnap

(c) Extinguish

(d) Extract

07. PROVIDENTIAL
(a) Thrifty
(b) Provisional
(c) Occurring just at the right time when needed (d) Provocation
08. DEMEANOUR
(a) Demarcation
(c) Detection

(b) Way of behaving

(d) Liability

09. GENESIS
(a) Genre

(b) Gentleness

(c) Origin

(d) Generosity

10. MISSIVE
(a) Leniency

(b) Letter

(c) Mistake

(d) Extravagance

11. GARNER
(a) Compute

(b) Collect

(c) Prevent

(d) Assist

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Keys for 2004: 01.b 02.b 03.d

01. STARK
(a) Brave

SYNONYMS

04.c

05.b

06.a

07.a

08.b

09.c

10.b

11.b

2003
(b) Complete or utter

02. IMPROVIDENT
(a) Shabby
(b) Incapable of proof
03. ADJUDICATE
(a) To accuse
(c) To determine the boundaries of
04. OSTRACIZE
(a) To exclude
(b) To show off
05. CAPTIOUS
(a) Fault fining (b) Insecure

(c) Angry

(d) Dangerous

(c) Prophetic

(d) Thriftless

(b) To determine judicially

(d) To renounce
(c) To point out

(d) To offend

(c) Changeable

(d) Vain

06. TOUR DE FORCE

(a) Long journey (b) Feat of skill

(c) Spectacle

(d) Show of force

07. TRENCHANT
(a) Incisive

(b) Greedy

(c) Temporary

(d) Arduous

Keys for 2003: 01.b 02.d 03.b

04.a

05.a

06.b

07.a

2002
01. The sky was under round-the-clock surveillance.
(a) observance
(b) control
supervision

(c) watch

(d)

02. If we could instill a sense of patriotism and responsibility among our people, half of the
problems of the country would be gone.
(a) fill
(b) inculcate
(c) inspire
(d) indoctrinate
03. One of Indias most successful projects for conservation of nature is Project Tiger.
(a) preservation
(b) observation
(c) maintenance
(d) sustenance
04. Quite often two persons tastes coincide.
(a) agree
(b) accede

(c) match

(d) harmonize

05. The monsoon retreats from India to join its old route south of the equator.
(a) withdraws
(b) decamps
(c) disappears
(d) leaves
Keys for 2002: 01.c 02.b 03.a

04.c

05.a

2001
01. India has made spectacular progress in science and technology.
(a) remarkable
(b) great
(c) formidable

(d) super

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02. The opposition criticized the ruling party for the deteriorating law and order situation in
the state.
(a) disrupting
(b) worsening
(c) crumbling
(d) eroding
03. The flat has been refurbished recently.
(a) white washed
(b) painted
(c) renovated
(d) repaired
04. Guerillas infiltrated into the region during the severe winter of 1997.
(a) entered
(b) ingressed
(c) penetrated
(d) filtered
05. He has always been fastidious while examining answer scripts.
(a) meticulous
(b) discriminating
(c) critical
Keys for 2001: 01.a 02.b 03.c

04.b

(d) judicious

05.a

2000
01. The surreptitious movements of a lone figure among the dunes filled the villagers will
curiosity and awe.
(a) invisible
(b) nocturnal
(c) secret
(d) concealed
02. Ones remonstration against social ills has to be consistent to be fruitful.
(a) outrage
(b) demonstration
(c) protest
(d) criticism
03. Sanguine as he is in his attitude to life and its problems, he cannot but be noticed
wherever he goes.
(a) Optimistic
(b) Enthusiastic
(c) Realistic
(d) Dispassionate
04. Even the most careful researcher cannot predict the possible future ramifications of his
findings.
(a) uses
(b) developments
(c) consequences
(d) conclusions
05. He ended his speech on a supercilious note which was quite unexpected of a person of his
balanced and stable temperament.
(a) defamatory
(b) contemptuous
(c) superfluous
(d) irrelevant
Keys for 2000: 01.c 02.c 03.a

04.c

05.b

1999
01. His summing up of the case was exhaustive,
(a) tiring
(b) boring

(c) lengthy

(d) thorough

02. He walked in a gingerly manner even after crossing over into his own territory.
(a) excited
(b) vigorous
(c) careful
(d) quiet
03. If was found that the boys guardian had misappropriated the greater part of the
inheritance.
(a) embezzled
(b) stolen
(c) plundered
(d) overspent
04. There was one small snag in the way he distributed the work.
(a) mistake
(b) problem
(c) obstacle

(d) gap

05. His biography is a thrilling saga.

(a) tragedy
(b) story

(d) novel

(c) episode

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Keys for 1999: 01.
02.c 03.a

SYNONYMS

04.c

05.a

1998
01. I do not know why he is so restive today.
(a) anxious
(b) restful

(c) restless

(d) silent

02. If she continues to spend her time in such a frivolous manner, she will fail her exams.
(a) frightful
(b) leisurely
(c) non serious
(d) calculated
03. The audience applauded enthusiastically the performance at the Grand Old opera.
(a) clapped
(b) adored
(c) approved
(d) enjoyed
04. I rather like the quaint little house at the end of the street.
(a) quiet
(b) old
(c) unusual
(d) haunted
05. The audience found it difficult to understand his sinuous argument.
(a) powerful
(b) verbose
(c) garrulous
Keys for 1998: 01.c 02.c 03.a

04.b

(d) winding

05.d

1997
01. Einsteins theory of relativity seemed incredible when he first introduced it.
(a) unbelievable
(b) complicate
(c) brilliant
(d) attractive
02. For want of requisite attendance the student was not allowed to appear at the
examination.
(a) inevitable
(b) required
(c) compulsory
(d) desired
03. If children are subjected to a rigorous routine right from childhood, they may grow into
worthy citizens.
(a) strict
(b) difficult
(c) inflexible
(d) relentless
04. The perpetual motion of the earth creates the change of seasons.
(a) perennial
(b) rhythmic
(c) incessant

(d) constant

05. Hepatits B is dangerous variety of jaundice because the germs can be dormant in the
body for a life time.
(a) concealed
(b) secretive
(c) undeveloped
(d) inactive
Keys for 1997: 01.a 02.b 03.c

04.d

05.d

1996
01. This youngman appears to be quite headstrong.
(a) thick-headed
(b) obstinate
(c) robust

(d) witty

02. That great artists life was full of vicissitudes.

(a) sorrows
(b) misfortunes

(d) surprises

(c) changes

03. Only those who are gullible take every advertisement seriously.
(a) fallible
(b) enthusiastic
(c) unsuspecting
04. The visitor had a boheimian look.
(a) hostile
(b) unconventional
(c) sinister
05. As the driver was inebriated he could not control the car.

(d) unrealistic
(d) unfriendly

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(a) inexperienced
Keys for 1996: 01.b 02.c 03.a

(b) tried
04.b

(c) befuddled

ACE
(d) intoxicated

05.d

1995
01. The students attitude towards his teacher was defferential
(a) evasive
(b) rude
(c) indifferent

(d) respectful

02. There was intermittent rainfall throughout the afternoon.

(a) heavy
(b) sporadic
(c) continal

(d) fleeting

03. The thief skillfully eluded the police net.

(a) avoided
(b) jumped

(d) jilted

(c) crossed

04. He explained his precarious strategy to followers in unequivocal tems.

(a) unmistakable
(b) unnatural
(c) unknown
(d) forceful
05. This variety of pigeon has now become exinct.
(a) extant
(b) rare
(c) distinct
Keys for 1995: 01.d 02.c 03.d

04.a

(d) dead

05.b

1994
01. Swift is known is the world of letters for this misogynism.
(a) hate for mankind
(b) hate for womankind
(c) love for the reasonable
(d) love for womankind
02. Few teachers have been spared the problem of an obstreperous pupil in the class.
(a) sullen
(b) unruly
(c) lazy
(d) awkward
03. His visit to foreign countries brought about a sea change in his outlook and his attitude to
people
(a) complete change
(b) partial change
(c) favourable change
(d) unfavourable change
04. He found a lucrative assignment
(a) good
(b) profitable

(c) excellent

05. It took him a long time to come round after the operation.
(a) recover
(b) walk
(c) move
Keys for 1994: 01.b 02.b 03.a

04.b

(d) significant
(d) eat

05.a

1993

01. A conscientious worker is always admired by his employers.

(a) careful
(b) skilful
(c) sincere

(d) obedient

02. She is really a fantastic girl.

(a) intelligent
(b) beautiful

(d) wonderful

03. Man has to encounter many hardships in life.

(c) charming

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SYNONYMS

(a) bear

(b) overcome

04. He did not succeed in his endeavor.

(a) plan
(b) trick

(c) face

(d) solve

(c) effort

(d) enterprise

05. The leaders charisma attracted many flowers

(a) candour
(b) magnetic appeal
Keys for 1993: 01.b 02.d 03.c

04.c

(c) pawer

(d) humidity

05.b

1992
01. She was in a pensive mood
(a) confident
(b) thoughtful

(c) affectionate

(d) rash

02. Keep the flashlight handy in case the fuse may blow again
(a) in accessible
(b) remote
(c) clost at hand

(d) distant

03. The producer put together interviews with a horde of people

(a) proletariate
(b) bourgeons
(c) crowd

(d) mob

04. You should spend your money carefully and avoid extravagance
(a) wasteful expenditure
(b) foreign expenditure
(c) banned
(d) suppressed
05. This book has been proscribed by the government
(a) prescribed
(b) withdrawn
(c) banned
Keys for 1992: 01.b 02.c 03.d 04.a 05.c

(d) suppressed

1991
01. He joined the ordnance factory.
(a) Scheduled
(b) Ordinary

(c) Arms and ammunitions

(d) Hi tech

02. Scientists carry out empirical methods.

(a) Mathematical calculations
(b) experimenting and observations
(c) imatination
(d) rough
03. We cannot enjoy with material things.
(a) physical
(b) unspiritual

(c) unimportant

(d) tiny

04. If you keep money in the saving bank, interest accrues.

(a) is payable regularly
(b) comes as a natural growth or development
(c) does not occur much
(d) mounts rapidly
05. The whole argument was fallacious.
(a) misleading
(b) funny

(c) sound

06. He spend his whole life caught up in mundane matters.

(a) worldly
(b) foolish
(c) inconsequential

(d) unsound
(d) criminal

07. Pakistan has been vigorously pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons programme.
(a) nefarious
(b) progressive
(c) systematic
(d) secretive

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Keys for 1991: 01.c

02.b

03.b

04.b

05.a

06.a

07.d

ACE