WBCS Prelims Synonyms Questions 2024
1. Choose the correct meaning of the word “Memorabilia” from the alternatives given.
(A) Memorable things
(B) Memories of War
(C) Memories of the past
(D) Memories of objects collected because of their links with people or events
Meaning: Objects kept or collected because they are associated with a famous person, place, event, or a special memory.
Synonyms: Keepsakes, Souvenirs, Mementos, Collectibles
Exam Tip: Memorabilia refers to physical objects, not memories themselves. This distinction is a common exam trap.
5. Give one word substitution/meaning of the underlined word.
The whole idea is quite preposterous.
(A) improper judgment
(B) debatable
(C) unacceptable
(D) unbelievable or unreasonable
Meaning: Completely absurd, ridiculous, or impossible to believe.
Synonyms: Absurd, Ridiculous, Ludicrous, Outrageous
Exam Tip: Preposterous describes something that is so unreasonable or absurd that it is difficult to believe, not merely something that is unacceptable or debatable.
23. Choose the correct meaning of the word from the alternatives given:
“Affliction”
(A) A deadly disease
(B) A state of pain, distress or grief
(C) A fatal order on a convict
(D) Inability to recognize something terrible or painful
Meaning: A condition of suffering, pain, hardship, or great distress.
Synonyms: Suffering, Misery, Distress, Hardship
Exam Tip: Affliction refers to suffering or distress in general, whether physical, mental, or emotional. It is not limited to a disease.
25. Choose the correct meaning of the word from the alternatives given:
“Underplay”
(A) Intrigue
(B) Conspire
(C) Making more complicated or problematizing things
(D) Represent something as being less important than it really is
Meaning: To deliberately make something seem less important, serious, or significant than it actually is.
Synonyms: Downplay, Minimize, Belittle, Understate
Exam Tip: Underplay is the opposite of overstate or exaggerate. It commonly means to downplay or minimize the importance of something.
WBCS Prelims Synonyms Questions 2023
1. Of which of the phrases below is the term ‘blog’ an abbreviation?
(A) web log
(B) web blog
(C) web blogger
(D) web blogging
Meaning: Blog is short for “web log”, an online journal or website where articles or posts are published regularly.
Synonyms: Online journal, Web diary, Online publication, Web journal
Exam Tip: The word “blog” is a contraction of “web log”. It does not stand for web blog, web blogger, or web blogging.
5. Select the word that best replaces both the italicized words in the sentences given below:
Sentence (i): The management did not find him suitable for the job.
Sentence (ii): He was not able to arrange all his belongings into one suitcase.
(A) good
(B) apt
(C) fit
(D) cram
7. Choose the word which is synonymous with ‘Adjunct’.
(A) Admonish
(B) Additional
(C) Amorphous
(D) Ambiguous
Meaning: Something that is added to another thing but is not an essential part of it; a supplementary addition.
Synonyms: Additional, Supplementary, Accessory, Auxiliary
Exam Tip: Adjunct refers to something added as a supplement or complement. Do not confuse it with admonish (to scold), amorphous (without a definite shape), or ambiguous (having more than one possible meaning).
14. What kind of a person is a ‘Clairvoyant’?
(A) An astrologer
(B) An astronomer
(C) An astrophysicist
(D) An astronaut
Meaning: A person who is believed to have the ability to perceive events or information beyond normal human senses, especially to foresee the future.
Synonyms: Seer, Psychic, Fortune-teller, Soothsayer
Exam Tip: A clairvoyant is associated with supernatural or extrasensory perception, not with scientific fields like astronomy or astrophysics.
17. Choose the word which is nearest in meaning to ‘Vicarious’.
(A) Vituperative
(B) Indirect
(C) Supportive
(D) Isolated
Meaning: Experienced or felt through the actions or experiences of another person rather than by oneself.
Synonyms: Indirect, Second-hand, Surrogate, Substitute
Exam Tip: Vicarious commonly appears in the phrase “vicarious pleasure/experience,” meaning enjoying or experiencing something through another person. Do not confuse it with vituperative, which means abusive or harsh in speech.
21. Select the word that best replaces the italicized word in both of the following sentences.
(i) The police are trying to control the crowd.
(ii) Junk food may have high levels of harmful chemicals.
(A) check
(B) blame
(C) contain
(D) incorporate
22. Choose the word that can correctly replace both the italicized words in the following sentences.
Sentence (i) — I appreciate his exuberant nature.
Sentence (ii) — Everyone at the party was in a festive mood.
(A) excitable
(B) exorbitant
(C) exciting
(D) ebullient
Meaning: Cheerful, energetic, and full of enthusiasm or excitement.
Synonyms: Exuberant, Buoyant, Cheerful, Vivacious
Exam Tip: Ebullient best fits both a lively personality and a joyful, festive atmosphere. Do not confuse it with excitable, which describes someone who becomes easily excited rather than someone who is naturally cheerful and energetic.
WBCS Prelims Synonyms Questions 2022
2. Find the synonym of ‘Covert’.
A. Revert
B. Secret
C. Desert
D. Honest
Meaning: Hidden, concealed, or not openly acknowledged.
Synonyms: Secret, Concealed, Hidden, Clandestine
Exam Tip: Covert refers to something done secretly or kept hidden from public view. Do not confuse it with overt, which means open or obvious—the two are opposites.
6. ‘Philanthropist’ means
A. Humanitarian
B. Hater of man
C. Lover of animals
D. Lover of books
10. What is the synonym of ‘Atrocity’?
A. Solidarity
B. Pity
C. Cruelty
D. Punctuality
Meaning: An extremely cruel, violent, or brutal act.
Synonyms: Cruelty, Brutality, Barbarity, Savagery
Exam Tip: Atrocity refers to an exceptionally cruel or inhuman act, not merely unkind behavior. It is commonly used in the context of war crimes, violence, or serious human rights abuses.
WBCS Prelims Synonyms Questions 2021
4. The word vicissitude means
(A) change
(B) stagnation
(C) uniformity
(D) stability
Meaning: A change in circumstances or fortune, especially one that is unexpected or unpleasant.
Synonyms: Change, Fluctuation, Variation, Ups and downs
Exam Tip: Vicissitude is most often used in the phrase “the vicissitudes of life,” referring to the unexpected changes and hardships that occur over time.
5. The synonym of supercilious is
(A) officious
(B) superficial
(C) delicious
(D) haughty
Meaning: Behaving or looking as though one is superior to others; arrogantly proud.
Synonyms: Haughty, Arrogant, Proud, Condescending
Exam Tip: Supercilious describes a person who looks down on others with contempt or arrogance. Do not confuse it with officious, which means excessively eager to interfere or give unwanted advice.
6. The word officious means
(A) self-important
(B) official
(C) serious
(D) enterprising
Meaning: Excessively eager to offer unwanted help or advice, often in a self-important or interfering manner.
Synonyms: Self-important, Interfering, Meddlesome, Intrusive
Exam Tip: Officious does not mean official. It describes someone who interferes unnecessarily while acting as though they have authority.
20. The serenity of the place overwhelmed me.
Replace the underlined word with a suitable word.
(A) Noiselessness
(B) Calmness
(C) Isolation
(D) Seclusion
WBCS Prelims Synonyms Questions 2020
12. ‘Impassioned‘ means
(A) Ardent
(B) Dispassionate
(C) Passionless
(D) Unemotional
Meaning: Filled with strong emotion, enthusiasm, or intense passion.
Synonyms: Ardent, Passionate, Fervent, Zealous
13. Find the appropriate synonym for the word ‘Climactic‘.
(A) Culminating
(B) Climatic
(C) Temperate
(D) Atmospheric
Meaning: Relating to the most important, exciting, or decisive point of something; reaching a climax.
Synonyms: Culminating, Decisive, Peak, Pivotal
Exam Tip: Climactic is related to “climax” (the highest or most intense point), whereas climatic relates to climate or weather. This spelling difference is a common exam trap.
17. The word ‘Analogous‘ means
(A) analytical
(B) artificial
(C) comparable
(D) aural
Meaning: Similar in certain respects or corresponding to something else.
Synonyms: Comparable, Similar, Corresponding, Parallel
Exam Tip: Analogous means similar but not necessarily identical. It is often used to compare two different things that share important characteristics or functions.
Leave a Comment