CAT 2025 Lesson : Synonyms, Antonyms & Usage - Synonyms & Antonyms

Which of the following is a bedroom for many people, especially in schools or institutions?

(1) Exculpatory             (2) Dormitory              (3) Hostel       (4) Recreation          

Solution

A dormitory is the right choice here. If we don't know this, we can still guesstimate it. We know that dorm means related to sleep and can select option (2).

Exculpatory is derived from exculpate (meaning freed or declared innocent), and is unrelated.
A hostel is a place where people stay, usually students or young people (and not just sleep), and hence can be eliminated.
Recreation means any activity done for enjoyment (e.g. games), and can also be eliminated.

Thus, option (2) is the correct choice.

Answer: (2) Dormitory

Which of the following is the opposite of the word malevolent?

(1) Dangerous             (2) Slander              (3) Kindly              (4) Kingly           

Solution

We know that mal means bad. Therefore, malevolent would probably be something bad (in fact, the word means wishing to cause evil). Therefore, we can guesstimate that kindly could be the opposite, as the other options are not positive in nature.

Options (1) and (2) are negative, while option (4) does not suggest good (a king can be good or evil). Note that the exact opposite of malevolent is benevolent (meaning kindly).

Answer: (3) Kindly

Match the prefix and suffix with the correct meaning:
[IIFT 2019]

a) ation	i) state or process of
b) trans	ii) position held
c) ship	iii) across
d) ambi	iv) full of
e) ose	v) both

(1) a-i, b-iii, c-ii, d-v, e-iv
(2) a-i, b-ii, c-iii, d-v, e-iv
(3) a-iv, b-v, c-iii, d-ii, e-i
(4) None of the above

Solution

Ation is a suffix which means a state of, and is typically used to form nouns (e.g. appreciation from appreciate, plantation from plant, manipulation from manipulate, etc.).

Trans is a prefix which means opposite, across or through (transatlantic, transgender, transparent, etc.).

Ship, as a suffix, signifies a position, capacity or group (e.g. membership, friendship, workmanship, etc.).

Ambi means both (ambidextrous, ambivalent).

Ose is a suffix meaning having some quantity (grandiose, verbose).

Based on this, we can select option (1) as the correct choice. Note that we need to validate all the five prefixes/suffixes as “None of the above” is also present.

Answer: (1) a-i, b-iii, c-ii, d-v, e-iv

Match the word in column 1 with its meaning in column 2
[IIFT 2013]

i. Anthropomorphous	a) Moving upwards
ii. Anachronistic	b) A collection of extracts from the writings of various authors
iii. Anthology	c) Having or resembling the human form
iv. Ascension	d) Occurring in the wrong time period

(1) i-b, ii-a, iii-d, iv-c           
(2) i-c, ii-b, iii-d, iv-a           
(3) i-c, i-d, iii-b, iv-a           
(4) i-b, ii-c, iii-a, iv-d           

Solution

Anthropomorphous means similar to the human form or shape (e.g. all primates are anthropomorphic to some extent). Thus, (i) is to be matched with (c).

Anachronistic can be inferred from the prefix a (suggesting the opposite) and the root chron (related to time). Anachronistic does mean from or in the wrong time period. Therefore, (ii) can be matched with (d).
At this point, we can select option (3) as it is the only one with both these matches,.

Anthology is a selection of stories, poems or songs, usually for publishing, which is mentioned in (b).

Ascension is derived from ascend (to climb upwards), which is mentioned in (a).

Therefore, option (3) is the correct choice.

Answer: (3) i-c, i-d, iii-b, iv-a

Select the odd one from the following options

(1) Carp               (2) Cavil               (3) Civil               (4) Grouse             

Solution

A carp is a fish, and to carp means to complain over petty issues.
To cavil is to make a petty or unnecessary objection.
Civil means polite, internal, domestic or non-criminal.
A grouse is a bird, and to grouse means to complain over trivial or petty issues.

Therefore, options (1), (2) and (4) all mean complaining about trivial issues, which makes option (3) the odd one.

Answer: (3) Civil

Choose the word which does not match which the others:

(1) Glut              (2) Plethora              (3) Adequate              (4) Surfeit             

Solution

Glut means an excessively abundant supply of something.
Plethora means a large or excessive amount of something.
Adequate means an acceptable or satisfactory quantity or quality.
Surfeit means an excessive amount of something.

As you can see, adequate is the only option which has a positive connotation, all the other words imply excess or too much. Therefore, option (3) is the correct choice.

Answer: (3) Adequate

Choose the word that does NOT match with the two given words
[SNAP 2013]

Laconic, Succinct

(1) Terse              (2) Brief              (3) Concise              (4) Abrupt             

Solution

Laconic means using very few words, and succinct means expressed briefly and clearly.

Terse, brief and concise are all similar in meaning.

However, abrupt means curt or brief to the point of rudeness. There is a negative connotation here which is not present in the other options, and hence, option (4) is the answer.

Answer: (4) Abrupt

Given below is a French words commonly used in the English language. What is the meaning of the word?
[IIFT 2015]

Milieu

(1) Millennium              (2) Century              (3) Social environment            (4) Feudal             

Solution

Milieu means a person's social environment, which is given in option (3). The other words are irrelevant.

Answer: (3) Social environment

Given below is a French words commonly used in the English language. What is the meaning of the word?
[IIFT 2015]

Gaffe

(1) Blunder              (2) Loud laughter             (3) Iron hook              (4) House             

Solution

A gaffe is an unintentional mistake, which causes embarrassment to the originator.

The option which has this meaning is option (1) – blunder. This is the correct choice, and the other options are not relevant.

Answer: (1) Blunder

Identify the origin of the following word
[IIFT 2019]

Voracious
To devour

(1) Hebrew              (2) Greek              (3) German              (4) Latin             

Solution

Voracious comes from the Latin word vorare, which means to devour (eat quickly or hungrily).
For instance – he is a voracious eater; she is a voracious reader and is never seen without a book.

Thus, the correct choice is option (4).

Answer: (4) Latin

Identify the origin of the following word
[IIFT 2019]

Aegis
Under the protection of

(1) Russian              (2) Greek              (3) French              (4) Arabic             

Solution

Aegis comes from the old Greek word aigis, which was the shield of Zeus (the king of the gods in Greek mythology).
For instance – we cannot harm the knight as he is under the aegis of the king.

Thus, the correct choice is option (2).

Answer: (2) Greek