Study Companion
Topic 02 | Verbal reasoning

Synonyms, antonyms & odd-one-out

Selective prep: pick the word closest (or opposite) in meaning, spot the word that does not belong, and read a word's meaning from its sentence.

20-30 min Printable practice Answer key Challenge included
How to use this page

Read the explanation, work through the examples, then complete the core practice before printing.

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What you will learn

Worked example 0 Reading the question carefully

Question: Which word means nearly the same as rapid?   (a) slow (b) swift (c) loud (d) careful

Step 1. The task word is “nearly the same” — so I want a synonym of rapid.

Step 2. Put rapid in a sentence: “a rapid river”. What could I swap in? A swift river — yes. A loud river — no, that is noise not speed. A slow river — that is the opposite.

Step 3. (b) swift is the match. Watch out: “slow” is the tempting trap because students who misread the task word pick it.

1. Synonyms (closest in meaning)

The aim is not “identical” — it is closest. Often no option is a perfect fit; you pick the best available.

Worked example 1 Synonym

Which word is closest in meaning to brave?   (a) noisy (b) strong (c) courageous (d) honest

Brave and courageous are near-identical. Answer: (c). Strong often goes with brave people but describes physical force, not willingness to face danger.

2. Antonyms (opposite in meaning)

The opposite should be the same type of word (adjective pairs with adjective) and sit on the other end of the same scale.

Worked example 2 Antonym

Which word is most opposite to generous?   (a) kind (b) rich (c) stingy (d) quiet

Generous = willing to give. Its opposite is unwilling to give = stingy. Answer: (c). Kind is a synonym; rich is unrelated; quiet is a different scale.

3. Odd one out

Find the rule that three words share, then the fourth becomes obvious.

Worked example 3 Odd one out

Which word does not belong?   (a) violin (b) flute (c) guitar (d) piano

Three of these are string instruments (violin, guitar, piano — pianos strike strings). The flute is a wind instrument. Answer: (b) flute. (Alternative rule: three produce sound when struck or plucked — same answer.)

4. Words in context

The sentence tells you the meaning. Use the other words as clues.

Worked example 4 Word in context

“The team’s morale was low after three defeats in a row.” The word morale means: (a) skill (b) spirit (c) coach (d) score

Clues: “low after three defeats in a row” — you feel down after losing. Morale = the team’s spirit or mood. Answer: (b). Score is low after defeats too, but you can’t say “their score was low after their defeats” — the sentence would be oddly circular.

Drill pack

10 minutes. Read the task word carefully — half the traps are set for students who read “opposite” as “same”.

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Target: 10 minutes. Time yourself with a watch or phone timer — no pausing.
Fluency

Timed drill

    1. Synonym of enormous? (a) tiny (b) huge (c) heavy (d) empty
    2. Antonym of ancient? (a) old (b) modern (c) tired (d) dusty
    3. Odd one out: (a) apple (b) banana (c) carrot (d) orange
    4. Synonym of begin? (a) stop (b) start (c) finish (d) delay
    5. Antonym of reveal? (a) show (b) open (c) conceal (d) shout
    6. Odd one out: (a) sprint (b) jog (c) crawl (d) dash
    7. Synonym of timid? (a) bold (b) shy (c) angry (d) silent
    8. “The glass is fragile, so please handle it carefully.” Fragile means: (a) heavy (b) clean (c) easily broken (d) expensive
    9. Antonym of permit? (a) allow (b) forbid (c) request (d) ignore
    10. Odd one out: (a) oak (b) pine (c) rose (d) maple
    11. Synonym of weary? (a) tired (b) happy (c) brave (d) hungry
    12. Antonym of generous? (a) kind (b) rich (c) mean (d) loud
    13. Odd one out: (a) knife (b) saw (c) hammer (d) axe
    14. “She gave a candid answer when asked about the mistake.” Candid means: (a) angry (b) honest (c) short (d) clever
    15. Synonym of vanish? (a) appear (b) travel (c) disappear (d) wander
    16. Antonym of sturdy? (a) strong (b) tall (c) flimsy (d) wooden
    17. Odd one out: (a) Pacific (b) Atlantic (c) Amazon (d) Arctic
    18. Synonym of eager? (a) bored (b) keen (c) calm (d) patient
    19. “The river meandered through the valley.” Meandered means: (a) flowed in curves (b) flooded (c) dried up (d) rushed straight
    20. Odd one out: (a) whisper (b) mutter (c) shout (d) murmur

Challenge

Longer words and finer shades of meaning. Watch the task word.

Reasoning

Harder patterns

    1. Synonym of reluctant? (a) eager (b) hesitant (c) angry (d) lost
    2. Antonym of scarce? (a) rare (b) small (c) abundant (d) hidden
    3. Odd one out: (a) ecstatic (b) jubilant (c) elated (d) forlorn
    4. “The detective gave a meticulous account of the crime scene.” Meticulous means: (a) careless (b) careful and precise (c) funny (d) false
    5. Synonym of obstinate? (a) stubborn (b) clever (c) shy (d) silent
    6. Antonym of fleeting? (a) slow (b) lasting (c) pretty (d) sharp
    7. Odd one out: (a) crimson (b) scarlet (c) ruby (d) violet
    8. “Her explanation was succinct — three sentences and we understood the whole plan.” Succinct means: (a) long-winded (b) brief and clear (c) confusing (d) angry
Answers

Answer key

Attempt the practice first. When you're ready to check, expand the answers below.

Show the full answer key

Each answer names the task (same vs opposite vs odd one out) and the rule.

Timed drill

    1. (b) huge. Enormous and huge both mean very big. Tiny is the antonym trap.
    2. (b) modern. Ancient = very old; its opposite is modern. Old is a synonym, not antonym.
    3. (c) carrot. Apple, banana, orange are fruits; carrot is a vegetable.
    4. (b) start. Begin and start are synonyms. Stop/finish are antonyms; delay is related but not a synonym.
    5. (c) conceal. Reveal = show; opposite is conceal (hide). Show/open are synonyms.
    6. (c) crawl. Sprint, jog, dash all involve running. Crawl uses hands and knees.
    7. (b) shy. Timid and shy both mean easily frightened or reserved. Bold is the antonym.
    8. (c) easily broken. “Handle carefully” is the context clue.
    9. (b) forbid. Permit = allow; its opposite is forbid. Allow is a synonym.
    10. (c) rose. Oak, pine, maple are trees; rose is a flower.
    11. (a) tired. Weary means worn out, tired.
    12. (c) mean. Generous = giving freely; opposite is mean (stingy). Kind is a synonym.
    13. (c) hammer. Knife, saw, axe all cut. A hammer strikes.
    14. (b) honest. Candid means frank or openly honest.
    15. (c) disappear. Vanish and disappear are synonyms.
    16. (c) flimsy. Sturdy = strong and solid; opposite is flimsy. Strong is a synonym.
    17. (c) Amazon. Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic are oceans; Amazon is a river.
    18. (b) keen. Eager and keen both mean enthusiastic.
    19. (a) flowed in curves. Rivers meander by winding slowly.
    20. (c) shout. Whisper, mutter, murmur are all quiet speech. Shout is loud.

Challenge

    1. (b) hesitant. Reluctant = unwilling; hesitant is the closest match. Eager is the opposite.
    2. (c) abundant. Scarce = in short supply; opposite is abundant (plentiful). Rare/small are near-synonyms.
    3. (d) forlorn. Ecstatic, jubilant, elated all mean very happy; forlorn means sad and lonely.
    4. (b) careful and precise. “Meticulous account” = detailed and careful reporting.
    5. (a) stubborn. Obstinate and stubborn are synonyms — unwilling to change one’s mind.
    6. (b) lasting. Fleeting = brief, soon gone; opposite is lasting.
    7. (d) violet. Crimson, scarlet, ruby are all shades of red; violet is purple.
    8. (b) brief and clear. “Three sentences and we understood” = short and to the point.

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