Skip to content

Home › Exam notes › SSC CGL › Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms, Spellings

Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms, Spellings

English Language & Comprehension — Paper-I · Official 2026 Coverage

Useful for: SSC CGL

Overview

Tier-II vocabulary tests precise meanings, opposites, commonly confused words and correct spellings, often in context.

Key points

Synonyms must match both meaning and tone.
Antonyms must be opposite in the sense used in the sentence.
Homonyms and confused words: affect/effect, principal/principle, stationary/stationery, complement/compliment.
Common spellings: accommodation, occurrence, embarrass, separate, definite.
Roots and prefixes help with unfamiliar words.

Explanation

Learn words in small themed groups.
Degree matters: "irritated" is weaker than "furious".
For spellings, watch double letters and -ence/-ance endings.
Context can change the sense of a word ("bank" of a river vs a bank).

Step by step

Read the full sentence or passage first.
Apply the exact grammar or vocabulary rule.
Re-read the final answer in context.

Examples

Synonym of "candid" → frank.
Antonym of "transparent" → opaque.
Correct word: "The principal announced a new principle of discipline."

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Matching topic but not tone.
Trap: Mixing homonyms.
Trap: Single letters where doubles are needed.

Quick revision

Tone + precision.
Homonym pairs.
Double-letter spellings.

Practice MCQs

Choose the synonym of 'Benevolent'.
1. Lazy
2. Cruel
3. Kind
4. Proud
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (c) Kind. Benevolent means well-meaning and kind.
Choose the antonym of 'Scarce'.
1. Abundant
2. Rare
3. Little
4. Few
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (a) Abundant. Scarce means insufficient.
Choose the synonym of 'Ephemeral'.
1. Heavy
2. Eternal
3. Short-lived
4. Ancient
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (c) Short-lived. Ephemeral things last a very short time.
Choose the antonym of 'Obscure'.
1. Clear
2. Vague
3. Hidden
4. Dim
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (a) Clear. Obscure means not clear.
'Their' and 'there' are examples of
1. homophones
2. antonyms
3. synonyms
4. idioms
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (a) homophones. They sound alike but differ in meaning and spelling.

More topics in this chapter

Notes and questions are written by Kundali IQ for practice. They are not official papers; always check the latest official notification for the syllabus and pattern.