SSC Synonyms and Antonyms Questions PDF

About This Practice Set

Synonyms (words with the same meaning) and antonyms (words with the opposite meaning) are a regular part of the English section in SSC exams. Usually 4 to 6 questions come from this topic, and they are among the easiest marks if your vocabulary is ready.

This set has 50 questions: 25 on synonyms and 25 on antonyms. Every answer comes with the meaning of the word, so you learn while you practise. Do not just check the answer. Read the meaning and try to use the word in your own sentence.

Want it as a PDF? Open this page on your computer, press Ctrl + P and choose "Save as PDF" as the printer. You can then read it offline or print it.

How to Learn Vocabulary Faster

• Learn 10 new words a day. That is 300 words a month, which is more than enough for the exam.
• Learn words in pairs. Whenever you learn a word, learn its synonym and antonym together.
• Use the word. Write one sentence with every new word. It sticks in your memory far better than just reading it.
• Revise every week. Keep a small notebook and revise old words on Sundays.

Part A: Synonyms (Q1–Q25)

Choose the word closest in meaning to the given word.

Q1. Abandon
(a) keep   (b) desert   (c) protect   (d) adopt

Q2. Benevolent
(a) kind   (b) cruel   (c) selfish   (d) angry

Q3. Candid
(a) secretive   (b) rude   (c) shy   (d) frank

Q4. Diligent
(a) lazy   (b) careless   (c) hardworking   (d) weak

Q5. Eminent
(a) ordinary   (b) famous   (c) hidden   (d) small

Q6. Fragile
(a) delicate   (b) strong   (c) heavy   (d) solid

Q7. Genuine
(a) false   (b) cheap   (c) common   (d) authentic

Q8. Hostile
(a) friendly   (b) calm   (c) unfriendly   (d) gentle

Q9. Ignite
(a) extinguish   (b) kindle   (c) cool   (d) hide

Q10. Meagre
(a) scanty   (b) plentiful   (c) rich   (d) large

Q11. Obstinate
(a) flexible   (b) gentle   (c) weak   (d) stubborn

Q12. Prudent
(a) reckless   (b) foolish   (c) cautious   (d) wasteful

Q13. Reluctant
(a) eager   (b) unwilling   (c) ready   (d) happy

Q14. Serene
(a) calm   (b) noisy   (c) angry   (d) restless

Q15. Vivid
(a) dim   (b) vague   (c) pale   (d) bright

Q16. Zeal
(a) laziness   (b) doubt   (c) enthusiasm   (d) anger

Q17. Concur
(a) oppose   (b) agree   (c) refuse   (d) doubt

Q18. Frugal
(a) thrifty   (b) wasteful   (c) rich   (d) greedy

Q19. Lucid
(a) confusing   (b) thick   (c) dark   (d) clear

Q20. Mitigate
(a) increase   (b) worsen   (c) lessen   (d) ignore

Q21. Pensive
(a) cheerful   (b) thoughtful   (c) careless   (d) noisy

Q22. Rigid
(a) stiff   (b) soft   (c) flexible   (d) loose

Q23. Scarce
(a) plentiful   (b) cheap   (c) heavy   (d) rare

Q24. Vital
(a) minor   (b) useless   (c) essential   (d) optional

Q25. Zenith
(a) bottom   (b) peak   (c) middle   (d) edge

Part B: Antonyms (Q26–Q50)

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.

Q26. Ancient
(a) old   (b) modern   (c) historic   (d) aged

Q27. Arrogant
(a) humble   (b) proud   (c) rude   (d) bold

Q28. Barren
(a) dry   (b) empty   (c) rocky   (d) fertile

Q29. Brave
(a) bold   (b) strong   (c) cowardly   (d) fearless

Q30. Complex
(a) difficult   (b) simple   (c) tricky   (d) deep

Q31. Expand
(a) shrink   (b) grow   (c) spread   (d) extend

Q32. Generous
(a) kind   (b) rich   (c) noble   (d) stingy

Q33. Humble
(a) meek   (b) polite   (c) proud   (d) simple

Q34. Increase
(a) rise   (b) decrease   (c) grow   (d) extend

Q35. Victory
(a) defeat   (b) triumph   (c) success   (d) win

Q36. Optimist
(a) realist   (b) idealist   (c) dreamer   (d) pessimist

Q37. Transparent
(a) clear   (b) thin   (c) opaque   (d) bright

Q38. Temporary
(a) brief   (b) permanent   (c) short   (d) passing

Q39. Guilty
(a) innocent   (b) wrong   (c) cruel   (d) weak

Q40. Accept
(a) take   (b) receive   (c) agree   (d) reject

Q41. Abundant
(a) plenty   (b) rich   (c) scarce   (d) ample

Q42. Cautious
(a) careful   (b) careless   (c) alert   (d) wise

Q43. Enemy
(a) friend   (b) rival   (c) foe   (d) stranger

Q44. Rapid
(a) quick   (b) fast   (c) swift   (d) slow

Q45. Deep
(a) low   (b) narrow   (c) shallow   (d) thin

Q46. Praise
(a) admire   (b) criticise   (c) applaud   (d) honour

Q47. Refuse
(a) accept   (b) deny   (c) decline   (d) reject

Q48. Success
(a) fortune   (b) progress   (c) effort   (d) failure

Q49. Expensive
(a) costly   (b) rich   (c) cheap   (d) dear

Q50. Encourage
(a) support   (b) discourage   (c) inspire   (d) help

Answer Key with Meanings

Synonyms

Q1. (b) desert. Abandon means to leave someone or something completely.

Q2. (a) kind. Benevolent means well-meaning and generous.

Q3. (d) frank. Candid means open and honest in speech.

Q4. (c) hardworking. Diligent means showing steady effort in work.

Q5. (b) famous. Eminent means well known and respected.

Q6. (a) delicate. Fragile means easily broken or damaged.

Q7. (d) authentic. Genuine means real, not fake.

Q8. (c) unfriendly. Hostile means showing dislike or opposition.

Q9. (b) kindle. Ignite means to set on fire or start burning.

Q10. (a) scanty. Meagre means small in quantity and not enough.

Q11. (d) stubborn. Obstinate means refusing to change one's mind.

Q12. (c) cautious. Prudent means careful and sensible in decisions.

Q13. (b) unwilling. Reluctant means not wanting to do something.

Q14. (a) calm. Serene means peaceful and untroubled.

Q15. (d) bright. Vivid means strong, clear and full of life.

Q16. (c) enthusiasm. Zeal means great energy and interest.

Q17. (b) agree. Concur means to have the same opinion.

Q18. (a) thrifty. Frugal means careful about spending money.

Q19. (d) clear. Lucid means easy to understand.

Q20. (c) lessen. Mitigate means to make something less severe.

Q21. (b) thoughtful. Pensive means deep in thought, often quietly.

Q22. (a) stiff. Rigid means not easily bent or changed.

Q23. (d) rare. Scarce means not available in large amounts.

Q24. (c) essential. Vital means absolutely necessary.

Q25. (b) peak. Zenith means the highest point.

Antonyms

Q26. (b) modern. Ancient means very old; the opposite is modern.

Q27. (a) humble. Arrogant means too proud of oneself; the opposite is humble.

Q28. (d) fertile. Barren land cannot grow crops; fertile land can.

Q29. (c) cowardly. Brave means ready to face danger; the opposite is cowardly.

Q30. (b) simple. Complex means hard to understand; simple means easy.

Q31. (a) shrink. Expand means to become larger; shrink means to become smaller.

Q32. (d) stingy. Generous means giving freely; stingy means unwilling to give.

Q33. (c) proud. Humble means not thinking oneself important; proud is the opposite.

Q34. (b) decrease. Increase means to become more; decrease means to become less.

Q35. (a) defeat. Victory means winning; defeat means losing.

Q36. (d) pessimist. An optimist expects good things; a pessimist expects bad things.

Q37. (c) opaque. Transparent lets light pass through; opaque does not.

Q38. (b) permanent. Temporary lasts for a short time; permanent lasts for a long time.

Q39. (a) innocent. Guilty means having done wrong; innocent means not having done wrong.

Q40. (d) reject. Accept means to take willingly; reject means to refuse.

Q41. (c) scarce. Abundant means available in large amounts; scarce means very little.

Q42. (b) careless. Cautious means careful about danger; careless means not careful.

Q43. (a) friend. An enemy is an opponent; a friend is a well-wisher.

Q44. (d) slow. Rapid means very fast; slow is the opposite.

Q45. (c) shallow. Deep means going far down; shallow means not deep.

Q46. (b) criticise. Praise means to speak well of; criticise means to point out faults.

Q47. (a) accept. Refuse means to say no; accept means to say yes.

Q48. (d) failure. Success means achieving a goal; failure means not achieving it.

Q49. (c) cheap. Expensive means high in price; cheap means low in price.

Q50. (b) discourage. Encourage means to give confidence; discourage means to take it away.

Common Traps in Synonym and Antonym Questions

Read the question line carefully. In the exam, a synonym question and an antonym question can look the same. If you read "opposite" as "similar" by mistake, you will pick the wrong option even though you know the word. Underline the word "synonym" or "antonym" before you look at the options.

Watch out for the distractor. In an antonym question, the options often include a synonym of the given word. In Q33 (Humble), the word "meek" is a synonym, and it is placed there to trap students who rush.

Use the elimination method. If you do not know the exact meaning, remove the options that clearly do not fit and choose from the rest. Even a fifty-fifty guess gives you a good chance.

Score yourself: 40 or more out of 50 is an excellent result. Below 30 means you should spend a little more time each day on vocabulary.