60-second revision
- Underline the instruction first: 'similar' means synonym, 'opposite' means antonym.
- Judge the word's charge: positive (benevolent), negative (malevolent) or neutral. Drop options with the wrong charge.
- In an antonym question, if three options mean nearly the same as the word, the odd one out is the answer.
- Roots decode unknown words: bene = good, mal = bad, chron = time, -cide = killing, omni = all.
- Look-alikes are planted traps: ephemeral vs ethereal, lethargic vs lethal, eminent vs imminent.
- Inflammable means easily burnt (same as flammable); invaluable means priceless; infamous means famous for bad reasons.
- Pick the closest meaning, not just a related idea: fragile is related to short-lived, but is not its synonym.
How to attack a synonym or antonym MCQ
- Read the instruction twice. Mark 'S' or 'A' on your rough sheet; switching them is the most common mistake.
- Fix the charge. Is the word positive, negative or neutral? Diligent is positive, lethargic is negative, augment is neutral (increase).
- Recall it in a phrase: 'a candid interview', 'an obscure village', 'a frugal lifestyle'. Context brings meaning back.
- Break it into roots: benevolent = bene (good) + vol (wish). Malevolent = mal (bad) + vol (wish).
- Eliminate: for a synonym, drop options with the opposite charge; for an antonym, drop options with the same charge.
- Use the options against each other: if two options mean the same thing, neither is likely the single correct answer. In an antonym question, three near-synonyms of the word point to the fourth.
- Check look-alikes: an option that only sounds like the word is usually a trap.
Roots, prefixes and suffixes
| Part | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| bene- | good, well | benefit, benefactor, benevolent |
| mal-, male- | bad, evil | malice, malfunction, malevolent |
| eu- | good, pleasant | euphemism, euphoria |
| dys- | bad, difficult | dysfunction, dystopia |
| phil-, -phile | love, lover of | philanthropy, bibliophile |
| -phobia | fear of | hydrophobia, claustrophobia |
| mis-, miso- | hatred of | misanthrope, misogyny |
| ante- | before | antecedent, antedate |
| anti- | against | antidote, antisocial |
| circum- | around | circumference, circumvent |
| omni- | all | omnipotent, omniscient, omnivore |
| chron- | time | chronology, chronic, anachronism |
| -cide | killing | homicide, pesticide, genocide |
| magn- | great | magnify, magnanimous |
| luc-, lum- | light, clear | lucid, luminous, elucidate |
| loqu-, locu- | speak | loquacious, eloquent, elocution |
| ver- | truth | verify, veracity, verdict |
| ambi- | both | ambiguous, ambidextrous |
| pseudo- | false | pseudonym |
| aug- | increase | augment, augmentation |
| -ous | full of | copious, zealous, perilous |
| in-, im-, il-, ir- | not (usually) | immortal, illegal, irregular |
High-frequency words for SSC and bank exams
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abundant | available in large quantity | plentiful | scarce |
| Affluent | wealthy | prosperous | poor |
| Ambiguous | having more than one meaning | equivocal | clear |
| Arrogant | proud and overbearing | haughty | humble |
| Audacious | boldly daring | bold | timid |
| Augment | to increase | enhance | diminish |
| Benevolent | kind, well-meaning | charitable | malevolent |
| Benign | gentle, harmless | kindly | malignant |
| Candid | truthful and straightforward | frank | evasive |
| Copious | plentiful | ample | meagre |
| Cordial | warm and friendly | amiable | hostile |
| Diligent | showing steady, careful effort | industrious | negligent |
| Docile | easily controlled | obedient | unruly |
| Eminent | famous and respected | distinguished | unknown |
| Ephemeral | lasting a very short time | transient | permanent |
| Exonerate | to free from blame | acquit | incriminate |
| Feeble | weak | frail | robust |
| Frugal | careful with money | thrifty | extravagant |
| Gregarious | fond of company | sociable | reclusive |
| Hamper | to hinder | obstruct | facilitate |
| Impeccable | without fault | flawless | flawed |
| Jubilant | very happy, triumphant | elated | dejected |
| Laconic | using very few words | terse | verbose |
| Lethargic | lacking energy | sluggish | energetic |
| Lucid | clear, easy to understand | clear | confusing |
| Meticulous | very careful about detail | scrupulous | careless |
| Mitigate | to make less severe | alleviate | aggravate |
| Novice | a beginner | learner | expert |
| Obscure | unclear; not well known | vague | evident |
| Obstinate | stubborn | headstrong | yielding |
| Opulent | rich and luxurious | lavish | shabby |
| Pragmatic | practical, realistic | practical | idealistic |
| Prudent | wise and careful | judicious | reckless |
| Reticent | not revealing thoughts readily | reserved | talkative |
| Squander | to waste | fritter away | save |
| Tranquil | calm, peaceful | serene | turbulent |
| Vindictive | wanting revenge | vengeful | forgiving |
| Verbose | using too many words | wordy | concise |
| Vivid | bright and clear | graphic | dull |
| Zealous | full of enthusiasm | fervent | apathetic |
Confusable pairs
| Word | Meaning | Often confused with | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eminent | famous, respected | Imminent | about to happen |
| Affect | verb: to influence | Effect | noun: result (verb: to bring about) |
| Ephemeral | short-lived | Ethereal | light, delicate, heavenly |
| Lethargic | sluggish | Lethal | deadly |
| Ingenious | clever, inventive | Ingenuous | innocent, naive |
| Credible | believable | Credulous | too ready to believe |
| Adverse | unfavourable | Averse | unwilling, opposed |
| Judicial | of courts or judges | Judicious | showing good judgement |
| Human | of people | Humane | kind, compassionate |
| Continual | repeated, with breaks | Continuous | without a break |
| Elicit | to draw out | Illicit | illegal |
| Prescribe | to recommend | Proscribe | to forbid |
Common traps
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