Synonyms, Antonyms and Homonyms | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT PDF Download

Synonyms, Antonyms & Homonyms form an important part of exam. Candidates frequently face questions related to synonyms and antonyms in the English language Section. 

• Candidates tend to lose marks in the English section if their vocabulary is not up to the mark. The usage of Synonyms and Antonyms is essential in day-to-day communication as well.
•  Hence, EduRev is providing the list of Synonyms, Antonyms & Homonyms containing more than 400 English synonyms and antonym words.  
• Before learning various words of synonyms, antonyms & homonyms, let us first understand the meaning of these words: 

What are Synonyms?

• Synonyms are words that share meanings with other words. 
• They are used to add variety to writing and speech and allow you to avoid repetition. 
• The words amazing, astounding and marvelous are all synonyms. Their meanings are similar and can be interchanged with one another.
• Synonyms must be the same part of speech. 
  For example, beautiful and princess have the same connotation of beauty, but they are not synonyms because beautiful is an adjective and princess is a noun.
  

Examples of synonym pairs include:

• skill and ability
• lead and guide
• guest and visitor
• love and adore
• angry and furious

Additional Information on Synonyms 

• Writers use synonyms in their writing: Using their vocabularies, writers can create a mood. "Drink" means something different than "guzzle," and "walk" means something different from "saunter." Those distinctions are in the mind, and they can make or break a writer's prose when they try to paint a picture in the reader's mind.
• Synonyms give writers rhythmic tool: They give writers more rhythmic tools. "Absquatulate" means the same thing as "abscond," but they are rhythmically very different. Every serious writer thinks about the rhythm of what he or she produces. Synonyms give writers more control over that rhythm.
• Synonyms sound fancy: A little of this goes a long way, like using "utilize" for "use," but sometimes knowing a better-sounding word makes you sound intelligent. If you don't use fancy synonyms, you should at least be able to know when someone else is.  

What are Antonyms?

• Words with opposite meanings are called antonyms. 
• Like synonyms, antonym pairs must be the same part of speech. Antonyms show a contrast between two ideas.
  Examples of antonym word pairs are:
• full and empty
• fail and succeed
• happy and sad
• tiny and enormous
• wonderful and terrible

 Additional Information on Antonyms  

• The antonym of big is small, for example. Pretty easy, right? Well, slow down there, there's something to be learned in this. 
• English lets its speakers make their own antonyms just by adding a prefix. The ability to make up one's own words and have them be real words is something truly lovable about English.
• Mis, dis, dys, mal, in, and un are all prefixes one can affix to words to create antonyms.
  Examples:
  (i) Official becomes unofficial.
  (ii) Flexible becomes inflexible.
  (iii) Adroit becomes maladroit.
  (iv) Functional becomes dysfunctional.
  (v) Peptic becomes dyspeptic.
  (vi) Philanthropist becomes misanthropist.

Careful: changing prefixes doesn't always work, like flammable and inflammable pretty much mean the same thing––they're synonyms.

What are Homonyms?

• Homonyms are words that have the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings. 
• Because these words sound and look the same but mean something different, they can be a source of entertainment, confusion or even inspiration. 
• When homonyms have the same sound, they are called "homophones." 
• When they have the same spelling, they are called "homographs." (Homographs with different sounds (e.g., "tear drop" and "to tear a hole") are called "heteronyms.")
• Therefore, it is possible for a homonym to be a homophone (same sound) and a homograph (same spelling), e.g., "vampire bat" and "cricket bat".

Some common homonyms include:

• bat - an implement used to hit a ball (such as a baseball bat) or a nocturnal flying mammal (such as a fruit bat)
• bear - a hibernating animal (such as a grizzly bear) or to carry something (such as bearing children)
• fire - a flaming blaze (such as a forest fire) or to terminate someone from a job (such as firing an employee)
• trip - to stumble or fall (such as tripping on a curb) or a vacation (such as a summer trip)
• watch - a wearable timepiece (such as a wristwatch) or to look at something (such as watching television)

Careful: Knowing antonyms, synonyms and homonyms will certainly expand our vocabulary; but, they can also be very confusing if the wrong word is written or spoken.

Synonyms And Antonyms List

Now that you are familiar with the meanings of both synonyms and antonyms, go through the table below comprising 400 plus English Synonyms and Antonyms.

(a) Words that start with letters' A, B & C'

(b) Words that start with the letter 'C & D'

(c) Words that start with letters' E, F & G'

(d) Words that start with the letter 'G, H & I'

(e) Words that start with the letter 'I & J'

(f) Words that start with letter 'J,K,L & M'

(g) Words that start with letter 'M, N & O'

(h) Words that start with letter 'O & P'

(i) Words that start with letter 'P & Q '

(j) Words that start with letter 'R & S'

(k) Words that start with letter 'S & T'

(l) Words that start with letter 'T, U & V'

(m) Words that start with letter 'V, W, Y & Z'

Interrelationships of Words

• English vocabulary is especially full of pitfalls since the language is so vast. In English, there are several words that share one meaning or nuances of one meaning. 
• Then there are tiny words like "set" and "get" that have so many meanings that their definitions take up multiple dictionary pages. Then, just to make it more daunting, the English language has over a million words. As far as word banks, English is massive.
• But don't let the enormousness of the language turn you off. Homonyms, antonyms, and synonyms can be used to learn new words and add a great deal to your diction and the way you talk about language in particular.
• Knowing what words are similar or opposites help people to understand the same when it comes to ideas. 

Ideas are impossible without words, and words are impossible without ideas. 

• The more you think about the interrelationships of one, the better you are able to think about the interrelationships of the other.

English Synonyms, Antonyms & Homonyms – Sample Questions

To understand the prominence of synonyms, antonyms & homonyms in the English language section of various competitive exams, it is important to know the type of questions asked in the examination, based on the same.

Hence, given below are sample questions on synonyms and antonyms asked in the English language section.

Directions – From the given options, choose the option that is nearest in meaning to the highlighted words in the sentences given below. 

Q1: The coming decades will likely see more intense clustering of jobs, innovation and productivity in a smaller number of bigger cities and city-regions.

1. Concentrated
2. Forceful
3. Passionate 
4. Energetic

Answer (1) Concentrated
In this context, "intense" refers to something becoming more focused or condensed in certain areas. "Concentrated" means gathered or accumulated in one place, which is the most appropriate synonym for "intense" in the sentence.

Q2: Most of human history has been  a part of the Paleolithic period or the old stone age. The exponential change in the development of human civilization came in the recent few centuries.

1. Great
2. Fast
3. Tremendous
4. Increasing

Answer (3) Tremendous

"Exponential" refers to something that grows at an increasingly rapid rate. "Tremendous" means very large or great, which accurately captures the significant scale of change mentioned in the sentence.

Q3: “I can’t stand this any more,” said Lalit, noticing that Rustam did not relish Zuker’s conversation.

1. Gaiety
2. Savour
3. Vindicate
4. Desire

Answer (2) Savour

"Relish" means to enjoy or take pleasure in something. "Savour" is a close synonym, meaning to appreciate or fully enjoy something, which fits the context of Rustam not enjoying the conversation.

Directions – From the given options, choose the option that is the most opposite in the meaning to the highlighted words in the sentences given below. 

Q4: Neither the Gods nor the Kings have anything to say in a politically enlightened community.

1. Civilised
2. Uneducated
3. Stupid
4. Uncivilised

Answer 2. (Uneducated)

"Enlightened" means well-informed, aware, or having knowledge. The most opposite term is "uneducated," which means lacking knowledge or awareness.

Q5: These bottles are harrowing. How could she spend so much money on something that is so drab?

1. Distressing
2. Attractive
3. Gruesome
4. Adorable

Answer (2) Attractive

"Drab" refers to something dull or lacking brightness. "Attractive" is the opposite, meaning something that is pleasing or appealing to the eye, which contrasts with the drab nature of the bottles in the sentence.