CDS English · Teaching notes
Vocabulary — CDS English
Vocabulary is the largest chapter in CDS English: 512 past-year questions in 19 of the 20 sittings from 2017 to 2026, about 300 of them synonyms and antonyms. A word is rarely tested twice, so memorising old answers is not enough. Each part opens with a method that works on words you have never met: read the word in its sentence, check its charge, break it into roots, and strike the traps. The themed lists that follow hold every word CDS has tested, grouped by what the words describe.
Every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap in one printable document — answers shown, ready to share.
Subtopic notes
How to pick the nearest meaning
37 PYQsFour checks that find the option nearest in meaning to an underlined word: read its sentence, match its form, break it into parts, and strike the traps.
Words for character and temperament
25 PYQsThe words CDS has tested for a person's temper, mind, values and inborn nature, each with its meaning and the option that was nearest.
Words for feelings, speech and persuasion
27 PYQsThe words CDS has tested for feelings and reactions, for ways of speaking and writing, and for urging, praising and blaming.
Words for law, duty and action
22 PYQsThe words CDS has tested for law, rules and duty, and the action verbs for starting, stopping, hiding and attacking.
Words for harm, degree and the senses
25 PYQsThe words CDS has tested for harm and decline, for size and degree, and for what we see, hear and taste.
Underlined phrases, idioms and definition-style options
15 PYQsWhat to do when the underlined part is a whole phrase or an idiom, and when the options are short definitions instead of single words.
Antonyms: how to find the opposite
29 PYQsFix the word's meaning and its charge, strike the options that mean the same, then pick the one option that runs the other way.
Antonyms: words for people and character
30 PYQsWords that describe what a person is like, kind or cruel, humble or proud, quiet or talkative, loyal or rebellious, with the opposites CDS has asked for.
Antonyms: words for feelings and calm
22 PYQsWords for happy and sad moods, for a steady or a shaken mind, and for peace or uproar, with the opposites CDS has asked for.
Antonyms: words for speech and argument
24 PYQsWords for how people speak and argue: long-winded or brief, clear or murky, praising or blaming, asserting or denying, with the opposites CDS has asked for.
Antonyms: words for size, worth and law
25 PYQsWords for how big or costly something is, how important or special it is, and whether a person is blamed or cleared, with the opposites CDS has asked for.
Antonyms: words for time, change and action
19 PYQsWords for being active or still, lasting or passing, starting or stopping, joining or separating, with the opposites CDS has asked for.
Single-word meanings: read the word, then test the meaning
35 PYQsA single hard word with four suggested meanings. Break the word into its parts, build a rough meaning, then test each option against it.
Word forms: one root, four parts of speech
30 PYQsOne root gives a noun, a verb, an adverb and an adjective. Read the ending of each word to place it, and solve the leftover by elimination.
Match-the-list vocabulary: fix the sure pairs, strike the codes
22 PYQsFour words in List I, four meanings in List II and four answer codes. Fix the two pairs you are surest of and let the codes do the rest.
Borrowed words and look-alike word families
28 PYQsFrench and Latin phrases used in English, and match lists built on words that share an opening or a root. Learn the phrases; read past the opening letters; let the root carry the meaning.
Confusable word pairs: both halves must be right
40 PYQsTwo words that sound or look alike, and four options that give a meaning to each. Only the option that gets both words right scores.
Homophones in sentences: test every sentence on its own
30 PYQsTwo or three words that sound alike, each used in a sentence. Decide what each sentence's slot needs, and mark only the sentences where the right word sits in it.
Spelling: double letters, silent letters and vowel traps
27 PYQsFour spellings of one word, three of them wrong. Check the double letters, the silent Greek letters and the vowels in the middle, in that order.
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 47 reference tables · 169 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 47 reference tables · 169 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
How to pick the nearest meaning
Watch out for (13)
- Do not stop at the first meaning you know→ Read the word in its sentence
- An option can fit the word but not the sentence→ Read the word in its sentence
- Nearest does not mean exact→ Read the word in its sentence
- Right idea, wrong part of speech→ Match the part of speech and the form
- Treat -ed and -ing as different words→ Match the part of speech and the form
- When no option has the form, go by meaning→ Match the part of speech and the form
- in- does not always mean 'not'→ Break the word into roots and affixes
- Use both parts, not one→ Break the word into roots and affixes
- The parts give the direction, not the exact word→ Break the word into roots and affixes
- Ingenuous is not ingenious→ Eliminate antonyms and sound-alikes
- Derisory is not derogatory→ Eliminate antonyms and sound-alikes
- Shared first letters are a warning→ Eliminate antonyms and sound-alikes
- Check the direction of strong words→ Eliminate antonyms and sound-alikes
Words for character and temperament
Reference tables (4)
Temper and mood10 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| haughty | proud, looking down on others | arrogant | 2021 (I) |
| mercurial | changing mood suddenly | volatile | 2023 (I) |
| cantankerous | bad-tempered and quarrelsome | ill-tempered | 2024 (II) |
| hysterical | wildly emotional, out of control | berserk | 2019 (I) |
| malicious | wanting to hurt others | spiteful | 2022 (I) |
| hospitable | friendly and welcoming to guests | cordial | 2023 (I) |
| complacent | too pleased with oneself to try harder | contented | 2023 (II) Not complaisant (eager to please). Complacent means smugly satisfied. |
| sardonic | grimly mocking | mocking | 2023 (I) |
| dogmatic | sure of one’s opinions, allowing no doubt | rigid | 2026 (II) |
| indignant | angry at something unfair | resentful | 2021 (I) |
Most of these words blame. Hospitable is the one that praises.
Mind and ability11 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| doltish | stupid | imbecilic | 2024 (II) |
| obtuse | slow to understand | dull | 2023 (II) |
| industrious | hard-working | diligent | 2021 (I) |
| competency | the ability to do something well | capability | 2021 (I) |
| fastidious | very careful about detail | meticulous | 2024 (I) |
| ripe | fully developed; of a person, mature in judgement | mature | 2018 (I) |
| ingenuous | innocent and too trusting | naive | 2026 (I) Not ingenious (clever). Ingenuous means innocent, so clever is a trap. |
| precocious | developed earlier than usual | unusually advanced | 2026 (II) |
| ineptitude | lack of skill | incompetence | 2018 (II) |
| peerless | having no equal | unequalled | 2022 (I) |
| exemplary | so good that it can serve as a model | ideal | 2018 (I) |
Habits, values and attitudes9 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| thrifty | careful with money | economical | 2018 (II) |
| forbearance | patient self-control | restraint | 2022 (I) |
| prejudiced | judging before knowing the facts | jaundiced | 2019 (I) Jaundiced here means biased, not the illness. |
| utopian | perfect in a way that cannot be real | ideal | 2023 (II) Ideal fits. Realistic and practicable are the opposite. |
| reluctant | unwilling | disinclined | 2019 (I) |
| dissident | opposing the official view | rebellious | 2020 (II) |
| high-mindedness | having high moral standards | strong principles | 2020 (II) |
| pleonexia | greed to take more than one’s share | greed to grab everything for oneself | 2020 (II) |
| endurance | the power to bear hardship for a long time | patience | 2022 (II) |
Inborn and inbuilt qualities5 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| innate | present from birth | intrinsic | 2019 (II) |
| inherent | part of the basic nature of a thing | inbuilt | 2021 (I) |
| tendency | a natural leaning towards something | predisposition | 2020 (II) |
| predisposition | to a disease: a greater chance of getting it | vulnerability | 2023 (I) |
| indigenous | native to a place | home-grown | 2020 (II) |
Watch out for (11)
- 'But' turns the clue around→ Temper and mood
- Mood words come in look-alike pairs→ Temper and mood
- Ingenuous sits at the low end→ Mind and ability
- Fastidious has nothing to do with speed→ Mind and ability
- A ripe person is mature, not old→ Mind and ability
- Utopian carries a hidden charge→ Habits, values and attitudes
- Jaundiced can mean biased→ Habits, values and attitudes
- Forbearance is not forbidding→ Habits, values and attitudes
- Predisposition is not resistance→ Inborn and inbuilt qualities
- The in- of indigenous means within→ Inborn and inbuilt qualities
- Inherent belongs to a thing→ Inborn and inbuilt qualities
Words for feelings, speech and persuasion
Reference tables (3)
Feelings and reactions13 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| desolated | lonely and abandoned | deserted | 2018 (II) |
| aghast | struck with shock and horror | horrified | 2020 (I) |
| shocked | upset by something unexpected and bad | appalled | 2021 (II) |
| nonplussed | so surprised that one cannot react | perplexed | 2026 (II) |
| stranded | left helpless, with no way out | marooned | 2026 (I) |
| exhilarating | very exciting and joyful | thrilling | 2024 (I) |
| endearment | a word or act that shows love | fondness | 2022 (I) |
| tormented | caused great suffering to | distressed | 2022 (I) |
| fatigued | made very tired | exhausted | 2020 (I) |
| emboldened | given courage | encouraged | 2020 (II) |
| engaging | attractive, holding attention | appealing | 2018 (II) |
| anxious | anxious for: keen to get | eager | 2023 (I) |
| effusive | pouring out feelings without restraint | expressing approval while exhibiting strong feelings | 2026 (I) |
Speech and writing11 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| tautology | saying the same thing twice in different words | prolixity | 2019 (I) |
| brevity | the use of few words | concision | 2023 (II) |
| conversational | like everyday talk | informal | 2022 (I) |
| abstruse | hard to understand | recondite | 2026 (I) |
| clichéd | overused, unoriginal | hackneyed | 2020 (I) |
| generic | general, not specific | broad | 2020 (I) |
| crux | the central point | core | 2021 (I) |
| exemplify | show by example | demonstrate | 2021 (I) |
| understatement | describing something as smaller than it is | underplaying significance | 2026 (I) |
| eavesdropping | listening secretly to others | listening secretly | 2023 (I) |
| verbose | using too many words | exaggerate | 2024 (II) No option meant wordy. Exaggerate was the only option meaning too much. |
Urging, praising and blaming9 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| exhorted | strongly urged | urged | 2023 (I) |
| advocacy | public support for a cause | promotion | 2020 (II) |
| provocative | meant to stir people to anger | inflammatory | 2019 (I) |
| incendiary | meant to stir up anger or conflict | provocative | 2026 (II) Literally fire-starting. Of remarks, it means stirring up anger. |
| reprimanded | formally scolded | admonished | 2019 (I), 2021 (I) |
| recommend | put forward as suitable | suggest | 2018 (I) |
| condone | accept or overlook a wrong | overlook | 2018 (II) Condone means forgive or overlook. It is not condemn. |
| derisive | showing scorn, mocking | contemptuous | 2018 (II) |
| betrayal | breaking someone’s trust | treachery | 2019 (II) |
Watch out for (9)
- Nonplussed does not mean unbothered→ Feelings and reactions
- Check what the word describes→ Feelings and reactions
- Engaging here means attractive→ Feelings and reactions
- Verbose is about words, not size→ Speech and writing
- Conversational is informal, not dialogical→ Speech and writing
- Generic means general→ Speech and writing
- Condone is not condemn→ Urging, praising and blaming
- Advocacy is support→ Urging, praising and blaming
- Recommend is suggest, not advise→ Urging, praising and blaming
Words for law, duty and action
Reference tables (2)
Law, duty and blame15 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| impounded | seized by order of the law | confiscated | 2019 (II) |
| impugned | attacked as wrong, called into question | challenged | 2019 (II) |
| statutory | fixed by law | legal | 2020 (II) |
| obligatory | required by a rule | compulsory; essential | 2019 (II), 2023 (I) |
| mandatory | required by law or rule | compulsory | 2026 (II) |
| overrule | reject by higher authority | veto | 2021 (II) |
| implicate | show that someone is involved in a crime | incriminate | 2020 (II) |
| patronized | supported, sponsored | supported | 2020 (II) |
| vocation | a calling, a career | occupation | 2020 (I) |
| ascertained | found out for sure | determined | 2020 (I) |
| attributed | said to be caused by | ascribed | 2019 (II) |
| extradition | handing a person over to another country for trial | deportation | 2018 (II) |
| circumscribed | limited, kept within bounds | constrained | 2023 (I) Not circumvented (got around). |
| designation | an official title or rank | position | 2022 (I) |
| vendor | a person who sells things | one engaged in selling | 2018 (I) |
Verbs of action: start, stop, hide, attack20 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| repulsed | drove back an attack | repelled | 2018 (I) |
| stolen | taken dishonestly | embezzled | 2018 (I) Embezzled is a special kind of stealing, of money held in trust. It was the only option meaning stole. |
| masked | hid, covered up | hid | 2018 (I) |
| smothered | of a fire, put out by cutting off air | doused | 2022 (I) |
| defused | made a situation less tense | mitigated | 2023 (II) |
| hindered | got in the way of | impeded | 2021 (II) |
| initiated | began | began | 2021 (II) |
| incorporated | included as a part | integrated | 2020 (I) |
| interspersed | scattered among other things | combined | 2026 (I) |
| drowned | died under water | submerged | 2021 (II) |
| convulsed | shook violently | shivered | 2023 (II) Shivered is loose, but it was the only option about shaking. |
| admit | let in, allow to enter | receive | 2018 (I) |
| served | of food, set before people | offered | 2018 (I) |
| save | keep from harm or death | protect | 2018 (I) |
| acquiring | getting, gaining | obtain | 2019 (II) |
| desired | wanted | wish for | 2019 (II) |
| impede | get in the way of, slow down | hinder | 2018 (II) |
| decapitated | had the head cut off | beheaded | 2024 (I) |
| transpired | happened; came to be known | emerged | 2023 (II) |
| anonymously | without giving one’s name | incognito | 2019 (I) |
Watch out for (7)
- Patronized here means supported→ Law, duty and blame
- Attributed has nothing to do with tribute→ Law, duty and blame
- Match the part of speech→ Law, duty and blame
- Impugn is not remove→ Law, duty and blame
- Defuse is not diffuse→ Verbs of action: start, stop, hide, attack
- Repulsed an enemy means drove back→ Verbs of action: start, stop, hide, attack
- Interspersed means mixed in→ Verbs of action: start, stop, hide, attack
Words for harm, degree and the senses
Reference tables (3)
Harm, decline and health15 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| debilitating | making weak | crippling | 2024 (I) |
| pernicious | harmful, often slowly or in a hidden way | harmful | 2024 (II) |
| detrimental | causing harm | disadvantageous | 2018 (II) |
| salubrious | good for health | pleasant | 2018 (II) Strictly health-giving. Pleasant was the only positive option. |
| contagious | spreading from one person to another | transmittable | 2020 (I) |
| pale | light in colour, looking unwell | sallow | 2021 (II) Ruddy, glowing and radiant are healthy colours, the opposite. |
| gibbous | humped | hunched | 2022 (I) Also used of the moon when more than half of it is lit. |
| blighted | spoiled, ruined | ruined | 2026 (II) |
| lamentable | deserving regret | deplorable | 2022 (II) |
| nugatory | of no use or force | ineffectual | 2023 (II) |
| travesty | a poor, false copy of something | mockery | 2026 (I) |
| terminal | of an illness, ending in death | incurable | 2019 (I) Not the terminal of a bus or train here. |
| derisory | so small that it is laughable | inadequate | 2023 (II) Not derogatory (insulting in words). |
| gratuitous | uncalled for, without good reason | unjustified | 2026 (II) Not gratifying (pleasing) or grating (harsh). |
| floundered | struggled | faced many problems | 2023 (II) |
Size, degree and quality14 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| excessive | more than is right | inordinate | 2021 (II) |
| stellar | outstanding | extraordinary | 2020 (I) |
| nadir | the lowest point | all-time low | 2026 (I) |
| rudimentary | basic, at an early stage | elementary | 2026 (I) |
| conspicuous | easy to see | noticeable | 2026 (I) |
| akin | similar, related | similar | 2019 (II) |
| implications | likely results | consequences | 2020 (I) |
| narrowest | most limited | smallest | 2019 (II) |
| perpetual | never ending | ever lasting | 2021 (I) |
| complexity | the state of being complicated | intricacy | 2021 (II) Not complacency (smugness). |
| incongruous | out of place, not fitting | inappropriate | 2023 (I) |
| mensuration | the measuring of length, area and volume | measurement | 2022 (I) |
| asset | something useful or valuable | advantage | 2019 (I) |
| differences | between people, disputes | disagreements | 2021 (II) |
Sights, sounds, taste and weather10 rows
| Word | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| vista | a wide view | landscape | 2022 (II) |
| jaunt | a short pleasure trip | expedition | 2022 (II) A jaunt is short. Expedition was the only option about a trip. |
| precipitation | rain, snow or hail | rainfall | 2019 (I) |
| resonant | deep and echoing | deep | 2024 (II) |
| tremulous | shaking | quivering | 2026 (II) |
| scrumptious | delicious | delectable | 2026 (II) |
| commotion | noisy disturbance | uproar | 2021 (I) |
| dry | of a season, with little rain | arid | 2021 (II) |
| savoury | salty or spicy, not sweet | salty | 2026 (II) |
| dingy | dark and dirty-looking | dark and dirty | 2024 (I) |
Watch out for (9)
- Flounder is not founder→ Harm, decline and health
- Do not guess the charge from the sound→ Harm, decline and health
- Gratuitous is not grateful→ Harm, decline and health
- Excessive is about amount→ Size, degree and quality
- Rudimentary is not radical→ Size, degree and quality
- Akin to means similar to→ Size, degree and quality
- Savoury is not sweet→ Sights, sounds, taste and weather
- Scrumptious is about taste, not size→ Sights, sounds, taste and weather
- Precipitation is more than rain→ Sights, sounds, taste and weather
Underlined phrases, idioms and definition-style options
Reference tables (2)
Prepositional phrases and phrasal verbs4 rows
| Phrase | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| in consonance with | in agreement with | in harmony with | 2017 (II) |
| for want of | because something is missing | for lack of | 2017 (II) |
| dispense with | do without; end | terminate | 2017 (II) |
| keep pace with | move forward at the same rate as | to move at the same speed as | 2017 (II) |
Idioms: read the picture, not the words3 rows
| Idiom | Meaning | Nearest option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| died in harness | died while still at work | died before retirement | 2017 (II) |
| made a scapegoat for | blamed for the faults of others | blamed without reason for | 2017 (II) |
| harbinger | a sign of what is coming | advance messenger | 2022 (II) |
Watch out for (7)
- The small word changes the meaning→ Prepositional phrases and phrasal verbs
- Close is not nearest→ Prepositional phrases and phrasal verbs
- Blamed is not suspected→ Idioms: read the picture, not the words
- A harbinger comes before→ Idioms: read the picture, not the words
- Too narrow is still wrong→ When the options are definitions
- Every part of the option must fit→ When the options are definitions
- Do not pick the opposite in long words→ When the options are definitions
Antonyms: how to find the opposite
Reference tables (1)
Sound-alike and look-alike traps5 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Look-alike decoy | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vulnerable | easily hurt or harmed | impervious | imperious: proud and bossy | 2019 (II)Q |
| precarious | uncertain, insecure | stable | precious: valuable; precipitous: very steep | 2026 (II)Q |
| hoodwinked | tricked | disabused | unhooked: freed from a hook | 2026 (II)Q |
| ensuing | coming after, following | retrospective | en suite: of a room, with its own bathroom | 2020 (II)Q |
| inadvertently | by accident, without meaning to | purposely | purposively: with a definite aim | 2018 (II)Q |
Each decoy shares letters or sounds with the word or the answer, but its meaning is unrelated.
Watch out for (10)
- Different is not opposite→ Strike out the three lookalikes
- Ticking the synonym out of habit→ Strike out the three lookalikes
- Right idea, wrong form→ Match the sense and the part of speech
- The everyday meaning is not always the tested one→ Match the sense and the part of speech
- Prepositions have opposites too→ Match the sense and the part of speech
- Not every in- means 'not'→ Opposites built from prefixes and roots
- The opposite may carry no prefix at all→ Opposites built from prefixes and roots
- The near-twin that looks safe→ Opposites built from prefixes and roots
- A familiar shape feels safe→ Sound-alike and look-alike traps
- A look-alike can sit beside real synonyms→ Sound-alike and look-alike traps
Antonyms: words for people and character
Reference tables (4)
Goodwill and ill-will9 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| philanthropy | love of mankind, giving to good causes | nastiness | charity, benevolence (synonyms), likeliness | 2020 (I)Q |
| compassion | pity and concern for others' suffering | indifference | empathy (synonym), carefulness, hardship | 2020 (I)Q |
| charitable | kind and generous to those in need | malevolent | gracious, lenient (near-synonyms), unforeseen | 2020 (I)Q |
| malicious | meaning to do harm | benevolent | pernicious, spiteful, vindictive (synonyms) | 2023 (I)Q |
| nefarious | wicked, criminal | admirable | flagitious, execrable, abominable (synonyms) | 2024 (I)Q |
| iniquitous | grossly unfair, wicked | virtuous | execrable, revolting (near-synonyms), preposterous | 2024 (II)Q |
| abominable | hateful, disgusting | attractive | abhorrent, repugnant (synonyms), reputable | 2018 (I)Q Reputable (well thought of) also runs against abominable; attractive is the fuller opposite of a repellent figure. |
| abomination | something hateful; intense hatred | adoration | abhorrence, detestation (synonyms), termination | 2023 (II)Q |
| charming | delightful, pleasing | repulsive | enchanting, hypnotic, fascinating (synonyms) | 2018 (I)Q |
Every opposite here crosses from one camp to the other; every struck option stays in the tested word's camp.
Respect and scorn, modesty and pride7 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| disdainful | showing scorn, looking down on others | respectful | sneering, mocking (synonyms), cheerful | 2018 (II)Q |
| disdainful | showing scorn, looking down on others | respectful | contemptuous, dismissive, scornful (synonyms) | 2023 (I)Q |
| insolent | rude and disrespectful | respectful | impudent (synonym), autocratic, thought provoking | 2019 (II)Q |
| contemptuous | showing scorn | reverential | condescending, patronising, arrogant (synonyms) | 2026 (I)Q |
| self-aggrandisement | making oneself more powerful or important | humility | elevation, upliftment (near-synonyms), exaggeration | 2023 (II)Q |
| redoubtable | formidable, worthy of fear or respect | unimpressive | formidable, fearsome, awe inspiring (synonyms) | 2023 (I)Q |
| demure | shy, quiet and modest | brazen | sedate, modest, solemn (synonyms) | 2026 (I)Q |
Disdainful is the one word in this family set twice, and respectful was the opposite both times.
Temperament and habits10 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| naive | innocent, lacking experience | wise | credulous, childlike, innocent (synonyms) | 2018 (I)Q |
| fanatical | extreme and intolerant in belief | moderate | bigoted, rabid, militant (synonyms) | 2019 (I)Q |
| steadfast | firm and loyal | unreliable | committed, unwavering, unfaltering (synonyms) | 2019 (I)Q |
| reticent | unwilling to talk, reserved | garrulous | taciturn, reserved, quiet (synonyms) | 2022 (I)Q |
| effusive | pouring out feeling, gushing | reticent | exuberant, profuse, voluble (synonyms) | 2024 (II)Q |
| childish | silly and immature | seasoned | infantile (synonym), harmonious, exquisite | 2022 (I)Q |
| an eccentric | odd, unconventional | a normal | an odd, a peculiar, an idiosyncratic (synonyms) | 2021 (II)Q |
| vehement | forceful and passionate | subdued | ardent, fervent, impassioned (synonyms) | 2024 (I)Q |
| frugal | simple and cheap, sparing | extravagant | sparing, meagre (synonyms), delicious | 2023 (I)Q |
| parsimonious | very unwilling to spend money | extravagant | frugal, sparing (synonyms), partisan | 2026 (I)Q |
Reticent was once the word tested and once the answer (for effusive): learn a pair, and both directions are covered.
Loyalty and rebellion4 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mutinous | rebelling against authority | obedient | arrogant, lucky, sincere (unrelated) | 2018 (II)Q |
| heretics | people who reject the accepted belief | believer | dissenter, renegade, apostate (synonyms) | 2019 (I)Q |
| foes | enemies | friends | opponents (synonym), protagonists, soul mates | 2018 (II)Q |
| confidants | trusted close friends | opponents | intimate, close friend (synonyms), colleague | 2020 (II)Q |
Mutinous has been set twice, and obedient was the opposite both times.
Watch out for (5)
- Two bad words are not opposites→ Goodwill and ill-will
- Talking down is still scorn→ Respect and scorn, modesty and pride
- A synonym of a synonym is still a synonym→ Temperament and habits
- Keep the article with the word→ Temperament and habits
- Confidant is not 'confident'→ Loyalty and rebellion
Antonyms: words for feelings and calm
Reference tables (3)
Joy and gloom9 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sanguine | cheerfully hopeful | pessimistic | optimistic (synonym), humorous, rebellious | 2018 (II)Q |
| woebegone | sad and miserable | cheerful | sad (synonym), sleepy, thoughtful | 2018 (II)Q |
| elated | very happy, overjoyed | depressed | feels good, excited (synonyms), sober | 2020 (I)Q |
| despair | loss of all hope | elation | despondency (synonym), determination, dependant | 2021 (II)Q |
| plaintive | sad, mournful (of a sound) | gleeful | melancholic, doleful (synonyms), adventurous | 2019 (II)Q |
| morose | gloomy and sullen | cheerful | melancholic, sullen (synonyms), disinterested | 2026 (II)Q |
| hilarious | extremely funny | serious | amusing, delightful (synonyms), momentous | 2017 (II)Q |
| hilarious | extremely funny | tragic | uproarious, jovial (synonyms), serious | 2021 (II)Q Serious also runs against hilarious. For a film, tragic is the closer opposite: a tragedy against a comedy. |
| solace | comfort in a time of distress | aggravation | comfort, relief (synonyms), punishment | 2021 (I)Q |
Hilarious has been set twice: serious was the opposite once, tragic once.
Composure and fear5 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| distraught | deeply upset, out of one's mind with worry | composed | flustered, rattled, perturbed (synonyms) | 2026 (I)Q |
| equanimity | calmness of mind | agitation | tranquillity, composure, placidity (synonyms) | 2024 (I)Q |
| anxious | worried, uneasy | composed | careless, heedless (a pair of each other), certain | 2018 (I)Q |
| daunting | frightening, discouraging | encouraging | demoralizing, off-putting (synonyms), uncomfortable | 2019 (II)Q |
| intimidation | frightening someone into obeying | support | wiles, conviction, persuasion (unrelated) | 2019 (II)Q |
Composed was the opposite of both distraught and anxious.
Calm and turmoil8 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tempestuous | stormy, violent in temper | calm | violent, fierce, vehement (synonyms) | 2019 (I)Q |
| tempestuous | stormy, violent in temper | relaxed | passionate, intense (synonyms), windy (the weather sense) | 2020 (I)Q |
| tempestuous | stormy, full of quarrels | tranquil | tumultuous, riotous (synonyms), belligerent | 2026 (I)Q |
| turbulent | full of disorder and conflict | tranquil | obstreperous (near-synonym), capricious, desolate | 2024 (I)Q |
| tranquility | peace and calm | uproar | calm, serenity (synonyms), sound | 2020 (II)Q |
| unrest | disturbance, public discontent | calm | turbulence, unease, apprehension (synonyms) | 2020 (II)Q |
| pandemonium | wild noise and confusion | peace | hullaballoo, uproar (synonyms), accolade | 2021 (II)Q |
| chaos | complete disorder | order | disorder, confusion (synonyms), uniformity | 2022 (I)Q |
Tempestuous has been set three times, more than any other word in the antonym block; calm, relaxed and tranquil all served as its opposite.
Watch out for (4)
- A middle word is not the far end→ Joy and gloom
- Not caring is not the same as calm→ Composure and fear
- The weather sense is a decoy→ Calm and turmoil
- Sameness is not order→ Calm and turmoil
Antonyms: words for speech and argument
Reference tables (4)
Many words or few, planned or not7 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eloquently | fluently and persuasively | confusingly | expressively, powerfully, fluently (synonyms) | 2020 (I)Q |
| wordy | using too many words | concise | diffuse, garrulous, voluble (synonyms) | 2019 (I)Q |
| magniloquent | grand and showy in speech | terse | pompous, turgid, lofty (synonyms) | 2022 (I)Q |
| bombastic | high-sounding but empty | straight forward | verbose (synonym), outdated, not true | 2021 (I)Q |
| ponderous | heavy, slow and dull (of writing) | elegant | profound, difficult, informative | 2026 (I)Q |
| extempore | spoken without preparation | prepared | unrehearsed, ad lib (synonyms), ready made | 2020 (II)Q |
| spontaneous | unplanned, arising on impulse | deliberate | prepared, alerted, well executed | 2021 (I)Q Prepared was the opposite of extempore in 2020 (II). Here deliberate fits better: spontaneous is about impulse, deliberate about intention. |
Prepared and deliberate both oppose the 'unplanned' family; choose by the shade the sentence needs.
Clear and obscure, sensible and absurd6 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| obscure | unclear, hard to understand | clear | obscene (sound-alike), new, infamous | 2018 (II)Q |
| equivocal | open to two meanings, ambiguous | clear | obscure, ambiguous, vague (synonyms) | 2024 (II)Q |
| obfuscated | made unclear on purpose | illuminated | mystified, obscured, muddled (synonyms) | 2023 (II)Q |
| plausible | seeming reasonable, believable | unthinkable | acceptable, believable (synonyms), solvable | 2019 (II)Q |
| absurd | wildly unreasonable | reasonable | bizarre, meaningless (synonyms), thoughtful | 2021 (I)Q |
| clandestine | secret and hidden | conspicuous | covert, furtive (synonyms), unknown | 2022 (I)Q |
Clear was the opposite for both obscure and equivocal.
Praise and blame6 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| criticisms | expressions of disapproval | appreciation | censure (synonym), scold, scorn | 2018 (I)Q |
| denounce | condemn in public | appreciate | criticise, censure (synonyms), comment | 2023 (II)Q |
| chided | scolded | commended | admonished, reprimanded, reproved (synonyms) | 2022 (I)Q |
| boast | talk with too much pride about | deprecate | bluster, brag, flaunt (synonyms) | 2021 (II)Q |
| cherish | hold dear, love | deprecate | value, adore (synonyms), sustain | 2022 (I)Q |
| rebuttal | a denial, a counter-argument | acceptance | refusal, denial (synonyms), kindness | 2018 (II)Q |
Deprecate was the opposite of both boast and cherish: it means to play down or disapprove of.
Asserting, persuading, soothing5 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| assertion | a firm claim, the enforcing of a right | denial | insistence, averment, statement (synonyms) | 2023 (II)Q |
| asserting | stating or claiming firmly | denying | declaring (synonym), supporting, propagating | 2021 (I)Q |
| wooing | trying to win someone over | discouraging | persuading, pursuing (synonyms), encouraging | 2020 (I)Q |
| placate | calm someone who is angry | provoke | pacify (synonym), persuade, prime | 2026 (II)Q |
| ponder | think carefully about | ignore | mull, rethink (synonyms), defer | 2026 (II)Q |
Assert has been set as a noun (assertion) and as an -ing form (asserting); the answer matched the form each time.
Watch out for (5)
- Two talkative words are not opposites→ Many words or few, planned or not
- Obscure is not obscene→ Clear and obscure, sensible and absurd
- Unknown is not the opposite of secret→ Clear and obscure, sensible and absurd
- Boasting is praise, of yourself→ Praise and blame
- Persuade is not the opposite of every 'soft' verb→ Asserting, persuading, soothing
Antonyms: words for size, worth and law
Reference tables (3)
Size, amount and cost9 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in commensurate with | in proportion to | disproportionate | equal to, matched (synonyms), unparalleled | 2017 (II)Q |
| mammoth | huge | tiny | large (synonym), negligible (about amount, not size), poor | 2017 (II)Q |
| considerable | large in amount | trifling | substantial, plentiful, abundant (synonyms) | 2023 (I)Q |
| pittance | a very small amount of money | bonanza | petty amount, miniscule amount (synonyms), instalment | 2026 (I)Q |
| emaciated | very thin from hunger or illness | hefty | thin (synonym), disillusioned, determined | 2017 (II)Q |
| paunchy | having a large belly | slim | stout, plump, fat (synonyms) | 2021 (II)Q |
| exorbitant | far too high (of a price) | affordable | high, outrageous, ridiculous (synonyms) | 2026 (II)Q |
| indigent | very poor | affluent | impecunious (synonym), ruined, pretentious | 2024 (I)Q |
| arduous | hard, needing great effort | easy and effortless | strenuous and exacting, onerous and overbearing, difficult and exacerbating (synonyms) | 2026 (I)Q |
Stay on the same line: an opposite of size is a size word, an opposite of cost is a cost word.
Importance and quality9 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| momentous | very important, with great results | trivial | futile, vain, useless (about results, not importance) | 2017 (II)Q |
| requisite | required, necessary | optional | essential, obligatory, vital (synonyms) | 2026 (II)Q |
| rudimentary | basic, at an early stage | advanced | fundamental, basic, elementary (synonyms) | 2026 (II)Q |
| profound | deep in knowledge or insight | superficial | erudite, scholarly (near-synonyms), sincere | 2019 (I)Q |
| distinctive | marking something out from others | common | salient, unique (synonyms), great | 2018 (II)Q |
| distinctive | marking something out from others | common | unique, special (synonyms), unfamiliar | 2021 (I)Q |
| peculiar | special, belonging to one only | common | customary, natural, familiar | 2018 (I)Q Here peculiar means 'its own, special', so the direct opposite is common: shared by many. |
| beauty | the quality of being pleasing to look at | inelegance | allure, charm (synonyms), ideal | 2019 (II)Q |
| celestial | of the sky or heaven | earthly | transcendental (near-synonym), utopian, ritual | 2022 (I)Q |
Common was the opposite for distinctive (twice) and for peculiar.
Guilt, release and giving7 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vindicates | clears of blame | indicts | reprieves, absolves (synonyms), summons | 2017 (II)Q |
| exonerated | cleared of blame | convicted | pardoned (synonym), honoured, felicitated | 2021 (I)Q |
| accused | blamed, charged with a wrong | vindicated | incriminated, indicted, arraigned (synonyms) | 2021 (II)Q |
| detained | held back, kept in custody | released | impeded, confined, held (synonyms) | 2021 (II)Q |
| expunged | struck off the record, erased | accepted | got rid of (synonym), rejected, part of | 2020 (II)Q |
| infraction | the breaking of a rule | observance | transgression, breach (synonyms), acceptance | 2023 (II)Q |
| bestowed | given as an honour | withdrawn | conferred, imparted (synonyms), imbibed | 2020 (I)Q |
Vindicate works both ways: it was once the word tested and once the answer.
Watch out for (4)
- Size and amount are different lines→ Size, amount and cost
- Useless is not the opposite of important→ Importance and quality
- A synonym of the plain meaning is still a synonym→ Importance and quality
- Pardoned is on the same side as cleared→ Guilt, release and giving
Antonyms: words for time, change and action
Reference tables (4)
Active and idle, alive and dead7 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| inert | without movement or energy | lively | quiescent, dormant, apathetic (synonyms) | 2019 (I)Q |
| inertia | unwillingness to move or change | activity | sluggishness, indolence, torpor (synonyms) | 2020 (I)Q |
| dormant | inactive, as if asleep | active | latent, inert, sluggish (synonyms) | 2022 (I)Q |
| decay | rotting, slow decline | survival | waste away, decomposition, spoil (synonyms) | 2020 (I)Q The fullest opposite would be growth or flourishing; of these options only survival runs against decline. |
| deceased | dead | alive | dead (synonym), injured, survived | 2021 (I)Q |
| invincible | impossible to defeat | vulnerable | impregnable, unbeatable, insurmountable (synonyms) | 2023 (II)Q |
| vulnerable | open to harm or pressure | resilient | weak, unguarded, exposed (synonyms) | 2018 (I)Q |
Vulnerable appears on both sides: it was the answer for invincible and the word tested against resilient.
Lasting and passing4 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| incessant | never stopping | sporadic | persistent, continual, ceaseless (synonyms) | 2019 (II)Q |
| perpetual | never ending | transitory | eternal, continuous, unceasing (synonyms) | 2026 (I)Q |
| archaic | very old, out of date | modern | antiquated, outmoded, beyond the times (synonyms) | 2020 (II)Q |
| itinerant | travelling from place to place | settled | vagrant, roving, nomadic (synonyms) | 2023 (I)Q |
Continual, ceaseless, continuous and unceasing were all offered as synonyms to strike.
Starting, growing, stopping5 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ushered in | started, brought in | obstructed | led, conducted, directed | 2023 (II)Q |
| fostered | encouraged the growth of | suppressed | cultivated, endorsed, incubated (synonyms) | 2023 (II)Q |
| constrain | restrict, hold back | support | restrict (synonym), oblige, pressure | 2019 (II)Q |
| originates | begins, starts from | culminates | emanates, initiates, inaugurates (the 'beginning' idea) | 2021 (II)Q |
| perpetuate | keep going, make last | cease | conserve, sustain, maintain (synonyms) | 2023 (I)Q |
Culminate is the opposite of originate in the sense of a beginning and an end, not of good and bad.
Mixing and spreading3 rows
| Word | Meaning | Opposite | Other options | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| blend | mix together | separate | mingle, coalesce, amalgamate (synonyms) | 2023 (I)Q |
| fusion | joining into one | separation | joining, bonding, blending (synonyms) | 2023 (I)Q |
| diffuse | spread out, scatter | concentrate | scatter, disperse, strew (synonyms) | 2020 (II)Q The sentence really wants defuse (calm tension); the word tested is diffuse, spread out, whose opposite is concentrate. |
The verb takes 'separate' and the noun takes 'separation': match the form.
Watch out for (4)
- Hidden is not the same as active→ Active and idle, alive and dead
- Continual and continuous are on the same side→ Lasting and passing
- Every 'beginning' word is on the same side→ Starting, growing, stopping
- Diffuse is not defuse→ Mixing and spreading
Single-word meanings: read the word, then test the meaning
Reference tables (2)
Words for people, manner and conduct5 rows
| Word | Meaning | Memory hook | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aplomb | Self-confidence and calm, especially under pressure | French à plomb: upright as a plumb line. Calm, not proud. | 2024 (I) |
| Obsequious | Too eager to please or obey someone important | Latin obsequi = to comply. A servant who agrees with everything. | 2026 (I) |
| Equivocate | To use vague language to hide the truth | equi (equal) + voc (voice): speaking with two voices at once. | 2026 (I) |
| Indolent | Lazy, avoiding effort | Not indulgent. An indolent student skips practice. | 2026 (I) |
| Sobriquet | An assumed name, a nickname | Like a pen name or a call sign. | 2026 (II) |
Decide the charge first: obsequious, equivocate and indolent are all negative; aplomb is positive.
Words for documents, law and ideas8 rows
| Word | Meaning | Not to be confused with | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codex | An ancient manuscript in book form | Code or a code-breaking algorithm | 2026 (II) |
| Communiqué | An official announcement or statement | An official order | 2026 (II) |
| Manifesto | A written statement of the policies and aims of a person or group | A transcript of a speech, or a law | 2026 (II) |
| Alibi | Proof of having been somewhere else when a crime took place | A witness who speaks for the accused | 2026 (II) |
| Condign | (Of punishment) fitting the wrong that was done | Condiment, or confined | 2024 (I) |
| Axiom | A principle that most people accept as true | A rule of behaviour, or equality | 2026 (I) |
| Connotation | The suggested meaning beyond the literal one | Denotation, the literal meaning | 2026 (II) |
| Tapestry | A heavy decorative cloth woven with pictures, hung on a wall | A painting on fabric | 2026 (II) |
Each wrong option names a real thing from the same field. Match the kind of thing first.
Watch out for (12)
- A false friend looks built from a word you know→ Read a word from its root and affixes
- Science words have look-alike units→ Read a word from its root and affixes
- Part of the meaning is not the meaning→ Read a word from its root and affixes
- Too weak is false→ Two suggested meanings: judge each one on its own
- A real second meaning is not a trick→ Two suggested meanings: judge each one on its own
- Neither is a real answer→ Two suggested meanings: judge each one on its own
- Confidence is not arrogance→ Words for people, manner and conduct
- Equi- does not mean fair here→ Words for people, manner and conduct
- Sound-alike options→ Words for people, manner and conduct
- An alibi is proof, not an excuse or a witness→ Words for documents, law and ideas
- Connotation and denotation swapped→ Words for documents, law and ideas
- Codex is not about codes→ Words for documents, law and ideas
Word forms: one root, four parts of speech
Watch out for (12)
- Not every -ly word is an adverb→ Suffixes give away the part of speech
- The -ed form is the adjective, not the verb→ Suffixes give away the part of speech
- A word from another root can still fit→ Suffixes give away the part of speech
- Gerund and participle look the same→ Participle, gerund, infinitive and interjection
- An -ing word can be the plain noun→ Participle, gerund, infinitive and interjection
- The infinitive needs 'to'→ Participle, gerund, infinitive and interjection
- Hardly is not the adverb of hard→ Flat adverbs and the odd word out: solve by elimination
- Do not leave the -est word for last→ Flat adverbs and the odd word out: solve by elimination
- Do not strike a word because its root is different→ Flat adverbs and the odd word out: solve by elimination
- Right labels, swapped meanings→ Confusable pairs labelled by part of speech
- Two words can share a part of speech→ Confusable pairs labelled by part of speech
- One word or two→ Confusable pairs labelled by part of speech
Match-the-list vocabulary: fix the sure pairs, strike the codes
Reference tables (3)
Collocations: groups, sounds, arenas and sport words20 rows
| Word | Goes with | Type of pair | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf | Course | Game and arena | 2024 (II) |
| Cricket | Pitch | Game and arena | 2024 (II) |
| Polo | Ground | Game and arena | 2024 (II) |
| Tennis | Court | Game and arena | 2024 (II) |
| Dolphin | Click | Animal and sound | 2024 (II) |
| Elephant | Trumpet | Animal and sound | 2024 (II) |
| Monkey | Chatter | Animal and sound | 2024 (II) |
| Cheetah | Chirp | Animal and sound | 2024 (II) Cheetahs do not roar. They chirp, a high bird-like call. |
| Fish | A school of | Animal and group | 2024 (II) |
| Ducks | A paddling of | Animal and group | 2024 (II) |
| Ants | A colony of | Animal and group | 2024 (II) |
| Crows | A flock of | Animal and group | 2024 (II) |
| A clump of | Grass | Group and object | 2024 (II) |
| A bunch of | Flowers | Group and object | 2024 (II) |
| A stack of | Firewood | Group and object | 2024 (II) |
| A bundle of | Clothes | Group and object | 2024 (II) |
| Swimming | Butterfly (a stroke) | Sport and term | 2024 (II) |
| Kho kho | Chaser | Sport and term | 2024 (II) |
| Kabaddi | Ankle hold | Sport and term | 2024 (II) |
| Fencing | Touché (a hit is admitted) | Sport and term | 2024 (II) |
Learn the pairs as sets of four: each match list in this group stayed inside one theme.
Words for speech, language and belief20 rows
| Word | Meaning | Hook | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vernacular | The language of ordinary people of a region | The vernacular press = local-language newspapers | 2025 (I) |
| Rhetoric | Language meant to persuade or influence people | Often used for showy, empty speech | 2025 (I) |
| Parlance | The way of speaking of a particular group | In military parlance, a 'sitrep' is a situation report | 2025 (I) |
| Jargon | Special terms used in a profession or field | Legal or medical jargon | 2025 (I) |
| Wrangle | A long, complicated argument | Sounds like wrestle: a fight with words | 2025 (I) |
| Wacky | Amusing and strange | Informal, light | 2025 (I) |
| Codex | An ancient text in book form | Not a code | 2025 (I) |
| Postscript | Information added after the main text | post = after; the P.S. in a letter | 2025 (I) |
| Impugn | To express doubt about, to question someone's honesty | To impugn his motives | 2025 (II) |
| Spew | To pour out in a forceful flow | A volcano spews lava | 2025 (II) |
| Harangue | A long, aggressive lecture | A coach shouting at the team | 2025 (II) |
| Gibberish | Meaningless talk | Sounds like jabber | 2025 (II) |
| Inveterate | Habitual, long-established | An inveterate liar always lies | 2025 (I) |
| Sangfroid | Calmness in a difficult situation | French: cold blood | 2025 (I) |
| Oracy | Ability to express oneself well in speech | Oral + literacy | 2025 (I) |
| Interment | Burial of the dead | Not internment, which is confinement | 2025 (I) |
| Nihilism | The denial of all reality or meaning | nihil = nothing | 2026 (I) |
| Fatalism | Accepting that you cannot prevent what will happen | Fate decides | 2026 (I) |
| Hedonism | The belief that pleasure is the most important thing | hedone = pleasure | 2026 (I) |
| Egoism | Thinking that you are more important than others | ego = I | 2026 (I) |
Inside a set, the four meanings are deliberately close. Match by the hook, not by the general mood of the word.
Words for law, crime, money and property20 rows
| Word | Meaning | Hook | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internecine | Conflict within the same group or community | An internecine war = a civil war | 2025 (I) |
| Revoke | To officially cancel (a licence, an agreement) | re = back + voke = call: call back | 2025 (I) |
| Exonerate | To clear someone officially of an accusation | ex = out + onus = burden: the burden is removed | 2025 (I) |
| Venerable | Valued and respected, often because of age | Venerate = respect deeply | 2025 (I) |
| Atonement | Making amends for a wrong | At-one-ment: being at one again | 2025 (I) |
| Sacrilege | Violating or disrespecting a holy place or thing | sacr = holy | 2025 (I) |
| Clawback | Getting back money already paid | The government claws back a wrong refund | 2025 (I) |
| Bandwagon | A popular movement that many people join | To jump on the bandwagon | 2025 (I) |
| Felony | A serious crime | Murder or robbery, not a minor offence | 2025 (I) |
| Restitution | Returning a lost or stolen thing to its owner | Restore | 2025 (I) |
| Chagrin | Distress caused by humiliation or failure | Much to his chagrin, he lost to a junior | 2025 (I) |
| Diatribe | A long, bitter piece of criticism | Speech or writing that attacks | 2025 (I) |
| Malversation | Corrupt conduct by a public servant | mal = bad | 2025 (II) |
| Conundrum | A confusing and difficult problem | A riddle | 2025 (II) |
| Incessant | Continuing without a break | Incessant rain | 2025 (II) |
| Mulct | To extract money by fines or taxes | Sounds like milk: to milk someone of money | 2025 (II) |
| Bequeath | To leave property to someone through a will | The bequest goes to the heir | 2026 (I) |
| Mortgage | To pledge property as security for a loan | The bank holds the house until the loan is repaid | 2026 (I) |
| Endowment | Funds given to run a useful institution | An endowment for a school or hospital | 2026 (I) |
| Lease | An agreement to use property in return for rent | A shop on a five-year lease | 2026 (I) |
The four property words of 2026 (I) differ only in what happens to the property: left, pledged, funded or rented.
Watch out for (12)
- Starting with word A wastes time→ Solve a match list: fix two sure pairs, then strike codes
- The common sense is not always the listed sense→ Solve a match list: fix two sure pairs, then strike codes
- Two words for a mess→ Solve a match list: fix two sure pairs, then strike codes
- Pitch or ground→ Collocations: groups, sounds, arenas and sport words
- Bunch, bundle, stack and clump→ Collocations: groups, sounds, arenas and sport words
- The big cat sound is not always a roar→ Collocations: groups, sounds, arenas and sport words
- Parlance and jargon are close→ Words for speech, language and belief
- Interment is not internment→ Words for speech, language and belief
- Egoism is not hedonism→ Words for speech, language and belief
- Venerable is not vulnerable→ Words for law, crime, money and property
- Exonerate is not punish→ Words for law, crime, money and property
- Atonement is done by the wrongdoer→ Words for law, crime, money and property
Borrowed words and look-alike word families
Reference tables (1)
Borrowed words and phrases (French and Latin)28 rows
| Word | Meaning | Origin | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attaché | A member of an embassy's staff with a special duty | French | 2024 (I) |
| Aperitif | A drink taken just before a meal | French | 2024 (I) |
| Avant-garde | New and experimental, ahead of its time | French: the vanguard | 2024 (I) |
| Alibi | Proof of being elsewhere when a crime took place | Latin: elsewhere | 2024 (I) |
| Sui generis | Unique, nothing else like it | Latin: of its own kind | 2024 (I) |
| Facta non verba | Deeds, not words | Latin | 2024 (I) |
| Mutatis mutandis | With the necessary changes made; the rest stays the same | Latin | 2024 (I) |
| Non sequitur | A conclusion that does not follow from what was said | Latin: it does not follow | 2024 (I) |
| Connoisseur | An expert judge in matters of taste (food, wine, art) | French: one who knows | 2024 (I) |
| Cul-de-sac | A street closed at one end | French: bottom of the bag | 2024 (I) |
| Dossier | A collection of documents about a person or a matter | French | 2024 (I) |
| Debris | Scattered remains of something broken | French | 2024 (I) |
| Déjà vu | The feeling of having lived the present moment before | French: already seen | 2024 (I) |
| Faux pas | A tactless remark or an embarrassing social mistake | French: false step | 2024 (I), 2025 (II) |
| En route | On the way, during a journey | French | 2024 (I) |
| Laissez-faire | A policy of minimal government interference | French: let do | 2024 (I) |
| Façade | The principal front of a building | French | 2024 (I) |
| Liaison | A link or contact between two groups; a person who keeps that link | French | 2024 (I) In the 2024 (I) list it was matched with 'diplomatic support staff', the role of a liaison officer between two offices. |
| Maisonette | A set of rooms with its own separate entrance in a larger building | French: little house | 2024 (I) |
| Beret | A round, flattish soft cap | French | 2024 (I) |
| Ex gratia | Done as a favour, without legal obligation (an ex gratia payment) | Latin: out of grace | 2025 (I) |
| Suo motu (often written suo moto) | On its own motion, without being asked (a court acting suo motu) | Latin | 2025 (I) |
| Arraignment | Stating the charges against an accused in court | Old French, through legal English | 2025 (I) |
| Locus standi | The right to bring an action before a court | Latin: place to stand | 2025 (I) |
| Fait accompli | Something already decided, which others cannot deny or undo | French: accomplished fact | 2025 (I) |
| Hedonism | The pursuit of pleasure as the main aim of life | Greek: hedone = pleasure | 2025 (I) |
| Hoplarchy | Government by the military | Greek: hoplites (soldiers) + -archy (rule) | 2025 (I) |
| Ochlocracy | Government by the mob | Greek: ochlos (mob) + -cracy (rule) | 2025 (I) |
The 2024 (I) paper set its borrowed words as a run of match lists; the 2025 (I) lists leaned to law and kinds of rule.
Watch out for (9)
- Attaché and liaison sit close→ Borrowed words and phrases (French and Latin)
- Suo motu is not 'on request'→ Borrowed words and phrases (French and Latin)
- Déjà vu is not a memory→ Borrowed words and phrases (French and Latin)
- Shared letters are not a shared root→ Same opening letters, different roots: read past the start
- Discreet and discrete→ Same opening letters, different roots: read past the start
- Emancipated and emaciated→ Same opening letters, different roots: read past the start
- Prescribe and proscribe are near opposites→ One root, many words: let the root carry the meaning
- Philistine has no love in it→ One root, many words: let the root carry the meaning
- Triumphant and triumphal→ One root, many words: let the root carry the meaning
Confusable word pairs: both halves must be right
Reference tables (3)
Sound-alike pairs: things, places and writing8 rows
| Pair | First word means | Second word means | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stationery / stationary | Writing and office material | Not moving, immobile | 2024 (I) |
| Boarder / border | A person paid for food and lodging | A boundary | 2024 (I) |
| Epitaph / epithet | Words written on a tombstone | A word or phrase naming a quality | 2024 (I) |
| Pontoon / platoon | A floating support for a temporary bridge | A small unit of soldiers | 2026 (I) |
| Elegy / eulogy | A sad poem of mourning | A speech or writing in praise of the dead | 2026 (II) |
| Cursor / cursory | The pointer on a screen | Done quickly, without care | 2026 (I) |
| Liable / libel | Legally responsible | Publishing something false that harms someone's name | 2026 (I) |
| Voyager / voyeur | A traveller | A person who enjoys watching the private lives of others | 2026 (II) |
Every pair keeps its sound and changes its meaning completely. Learn each pair as one unit.
Sound-alike pairs: actions, states and qualities7 rows
| Pair | First word means | Second word means | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accept / except | To agree to, to take | To leave out, exclude | 2022 (II) |
| Discomfort / discomfit | Unease, mild pain | To embarrass, to upset someone's plans | 2024 (I) |
| Conscious / conscience | Awake and able to perceive | Inner sense of right and wrong | 2026 (I) |
| Hard / hardly | Difficult; with great effort | Scarcely, almost not | 2026 (I) |
| Differ / defer | To be different | To put off, delay | 2026 (II) |
| Flaunt / flinch | To show off | To shy away in pain or fear | 2026 (II) |
| Nefarious / nebulous | Wicked, criminal | Vague, indistinct | 2026 (II) Scandalous is close to nefarious: a nefarious act is wicked enough to cause scandal. When two options both fit nefarious, let the nebulous half decide. |
Check both halves: the option with the best-sounding first meaning can still fail on the second.
Same root, different ending9 rows
| Pair | First word means | Second word means | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perspicacity / perspicuity | Sharpness of mind, ability to understand | Clearness of expression | 2022 (II) |
| Masterful / masterly | Domineering, imperious | Highly skilful | 2024 (I) |
| Sympathy / empathy | Feeling for someone in trouble | Understanding another's feelings as if they were your own | 2022 (II) The 2022 (II) item put it as: sympathy = sharing another's feelings, empathy = understanding them. |
| Reward / award | Something given in return for effort or service | A prize given in recognition, often formally | 2022 (II) |
| Concurrent / consecutive | Happening at the same time | Following one after another | 2024 (I) |
| Presumptive / presumptuous | Likely to be true, presumed (the heir presumptive) | Too bold, disrespectful | 2026 (II) |
| Tempestuous / temperamental | Stormy, violent in feeling | Moody, unpredictable | 2026 (II) |
| Ingenious / ingenuous | Clever and inventive | Innocent and too trusting | 2026 (II) |
| Concord / concourse | Agreement, harmony | A large open hall where people gather (a station concourse) | 2026 (II) |
The ending carries the difference. Read it before you read the options.
Watch out for (15)
- Half right is fully wrong→ Pin one word, then check the other: the pairs UPSC repeats
- The reversed pair→ Pin one word, then check the other: the pairs UPSC repeats
- Close is not exact→ Pin one word, then check the other: the pairs UPSC repeats
- Both meanings of one word→ Sound-alike pairs: things, places and writing
- Elegy and eulogy→ Sound-alike pairs: things, places and writing
- Platoon is not a bridge→ Sound-alike pairs: things, places and writing
- Hardly is not 'very hard'→ Sound-alike pairs: actions, states and qualities
- Discomfit is not discomfort→ Sound-alike pairs: actions, states and qualities
- Defer has a second sense→ Sound-alike pairs: actions, states and qualities
- Im- does not always mean in→ Prefix pairs: e-/ex- out, in-/im- in, re- back
- Incredible is about the thing, incredulous about the person→ Prefix pairs: e-/ex- out, in-/im- in, re- back
- Not every pair is a prefix pair→ Prefix pairs: e-/ex- out, in-/im- in, re- back
- Masterful is not 'full of mastery'→ Same root, different ending
- Concurrent and consecutive in law→ Same root, different ending
- Ingenuous is not genius→ Same root, different ending
Homophones in sentences: test every sentence on its own
Reference tables (3)
Homophone sets: places, things and money9 rows
| Set | Meanings | Correct use | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crops / corps / corpse | Plants grown for food; a body of people (said 'core'); a dead body | The medical corps set up a camp. | 2026 (I) |
| Tire / tier / tyre | To make or grow weary; a level or row; the rubber ring on a wheel | The stadium has three tiers of seats. | 2026 (I) |
| Cite / sight / site | To quote as proof; the ability to see or a view; a place | The new school will be built on this site. | 2026 (I) |
| Aisle / ale / isle | A passage between rows of seats; a kind of beer; an island | She asked for an aisle seat. | 2026 (II) |
| Sent / scent / cent | Past tense of send; a smell; one hundredth of a dollar | The hounds followed the fox's scent. | 2026 (II) |
| Way / weigh / whey | A path or manner; to measure heaviness; liquid left when milk curdles | Weigh the parcel before posting it. | 2026 (II) |
| Dairy / dreary / diary | A place for milk products; dull and gloomy; a daily personal record | He writes in his diary every night. | 2025 (II) |
| Brawl / bawl / bowl | A noisy fight; to cry loudly; a round dish | The baby began to bawl. | 2026 (II) |
| Bear / bare / bier | To carry or endure; uncovered or empty; a stand for a coffin | I cannot bear the noise. | 2026 (I) |
In these sets each word was usually placed in another word's sentence, so most sentences were wrong.
Homophone sets: actions, feelings and events8 rows
| Set | Meanings | Correct use | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pare / pair / pear | To trim or cut down; two of a kind; a fruit | Pare the budget to the minimum. | 2025 (I), 2026 (I) |
| Seize / cease / crease | To take by force; to stop; a fold line in cloth | The firing will cease at midnight. | 2025 (I) |
| Censer / censor / censure | A vessel for burning incense; to cut objectionable parts; to criticise strongly | The film board censored two scenes. | 2026 (I) |
| Fate / fete / faith | Destiny; a festive celebration; trust or belief | The village fete had stalls, games and music. | 2026 (I) |
| Idyll / idle / idol | A peaceful, happy scene; doing nothing; an image worshipped or a hero | The film star was the idol of the youth. | 2026 (I) |
| Insure / ensure / unsure | To protect with an insurance policy; to make certain; not certain | Ensure that the door is locked. | 2026 (I) |
| Weave / wave / waive | To make by crossing threads, or to put together; a ridge of water, or to move the hand; to give up a right | The bank agreed to waive the late fee. | 2026 (II) |
| Peak / peek / pique | The top or highest point; a quick look; resentment from hurt pride | His pique at being ignored showed on his face. | 2026 (II) |
Ensure and insure also came as a labelled pair in 2025 (I); pare, pair and pear came in both 2025 (I) and 2026 (I).
Near-homophones: words that only look alike5 rows
| Set | Meanings | Correct use | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Séance / sconce / scone | A meeting to contact the dead; a candle holder fixed to a wall; a small baked cake | They served scones with tea. | 2025 (I) |
| Truism / altruism | A statement so obviously true it hardly needs saying; selfless concern for others | His altruism made him give away his savings. | 2025 (I) |
| Braid / beard / brood | To weave hair into a plait; hair on the chin; to sit on eggs, or to think gloomily | The hen broods her eggs. | 2025 (II) |
| Depose / deplore / deport | To remove from office; to condemn strongly; to send out of a country | The illegal migrants were deported. | 2025 (II) |
| Bate / bait / bade | To hold back or lessen; food used to trap an animal; past tense of bid (said goodbye) | We waited with bated breath. | 2025 (II) |
Deplore means to condemn, so it cannot sit happily next to something good.
Watch out for (12)
- Judging sentences against each other→ Noun, verb or adjective? Let the slot decide
- Rein and reign→ Noun, verb or adjective? Let the slot decide
- Quite and quiet→ Noun, verb or adjective? Let the slot decide
- Corps is not corpse→ Homophone sets: places, things and money
- Bear and bare→ Homophone sets: places, things and money
- All correct does happen→ Homophone sets: places, things and money
- Censor and censure→ Homophone sets: actions, feelings and events
- Ensure and insure→ Homophone sets: actions, feelings and events
- Waive and wave→ Homophone sets: actions, feelings and events
- Altruism is not a saying→ Near-homophones: words that only look alike
- Deplore is negative→ Near-homophones: words that only look alike
- A rare sense can still be right→ Near-homophones: words that only look alike
Spelling: double letters, silent letters and vowel traps
Reference tables (2)
Greek spellings and silent letters (ps-, pn-, ph-)7 rows
| Word | Meaning | Spelling point | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psephology | The study of elections and voting | Silent p; ph for f | 2020 (I) |
| Nephrology | The study of the kidneys | ph for f; no u after Ne | 2020 (I) |
| Pseudonym | A false name used by a writer | Silent p; -eu-; -nym = name | 2020 (I) |
| Pneumonia | An infection of the lungs | Silent p; -eu- | 2020 (I) |
| Diphtheria | A serious throat infection | ph and then th | 2020 (II) |
| Neurosis | A mental disorder marked by anxiety | -eu-; ending -osis | 2020 (II) |
| Twelfth | Coming after the eleventh | Twelve turns its v into f: twel-f-th | 2020 (II) |
Silent letters do not show in speech, so spell these from the meaning: pneuma (lung), pseudo (false), nephros (kidney).
Vowel traps and word endings10 rows
| Word | Spelling point | Typical wrong option | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argument | argue drops its e before -ment | Arguement | 2019 (II) |
| Decisive | de-ci-sive: c then s | Desisive | 2019 (II) |
| Continuum | Latin -um after a double u | Continuem | 2020 (I) |
| Strategy | stra- then -tegy: a then e | Stretegy | 2020 (I) |
| Resilient | re- then -silient, ending -ient | Risilient | 2020 (I) |
| Mountainous | mountain + -ous, no extra vowel | Mountaineous | 2020 (II) |
| Curriculum | rr, then Latin -um | Curriculam | 2020 (II) |
| Magnificent | ending -cent | Magnificant | 2020 (II) |
| Felicitation | fe-li-ci-ta-tion: e, then i, i | Falicitation | 2020 (II) |
| Meagre | British -re ending | Megare | 2020 (II) |
Build the word from its base, then check the ending against a word you trust.
Watch out for (9)
- Recommend has one c→ Count the double letters
- Harass is not like its neighbours→ Count the double letters
- Doubles can be vowels→ Count the double letters
- Dropping the silent letter→ Greek spellings and silent letters (ps-, pn-, ph-)
- Ph followed by th→ Greek spellings and silent letters (ps-, pn-, ph-)
- Twelfth keeps its f→ Greek spellings and silent letters (ps-, pn-, ph-)
- Keeping the e of the base word→ Vowel traps and word endings
- Adding a vowel that is not there→ Vowel traps and word endings
- -ent or -ant→ Vowel traps and word endings
PYQ weightage by concept
68 concepts · 512 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
PYQ weightage by concept
68 concepts · 512 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
How to pick the nearest meaning37 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Read the word in its sentence | 14 | 3% |
| Break the word into roots and affixes | 10 | 2% |
| Eliminate antonyms and sound-alikes | 7 | 1% |
| Match the part of speech and the form | 6 | 1% |
Words for character and temperament25 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Temper and mood | 10 | 2% |
| Habits, values and attitudes | 6 | 1% |
| Mind and ability | 5 | 1% |
| Inborn and inbuilt qualities | 4 | 1% |
Words for feelings, speech and persuasion27 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Feelings and reactions | 11 | 2% |
| Speech and writing | 8 | 2% |
| Urging, praising and blaming | 8 | 2% |
Words for law, duty and action22 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Law, duty and blame | 11 | 2% |
| Verbs of action: start, stop, hide, attack | 11 | 2% |
Words for harm, degree and the senses25 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Harm, decline and health | 11 | 2% |
| Size, degree and quality | 7 | 1% |
| Sights, sounds, taste and weather | 7 | 1% |
Underlined phrases, idioms and definition-style options15 PYQs · 3%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| When the options are definitions | 8 | 2% |
| Prepositional phrases and phrasal verbs | 4 | 1% |
| Idioms: read the picture, not the words | 3 | 1% |
Antonyms: how to find the opposite29 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Match the sense and the part of speech | 11 | 2% |
| Opposites built from prefixes and roots | 7 | 1% |
| Strike out the three lookalikes | 6 | 1% |
| Sound-alike and look-alike traps | 5 | 1% |
Antonyms: words for people and character30 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Temperament and habits | 10 | 2% |
| Goodwill and ill-will | 9 | 2% |
| Respect and scorn, modesty and pride | 7 | 1% |
| Loyalty and rebellion | 4 | 1% |
Antonyms: words for feelings and calm22 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Joy and gloom | 9 | 2% |
| Calm and turmoil | 8 | 2% |
| Composure and fear | 5 | 1% |
Antonyms: words for speech and argument24 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Many words or few, planned or not | 7 | 1% |
| Clear and obscure, sensible and absurd | 6 | 1% |
| Praise and blame | 6 | 1% |
| Asserting, persuading, soothing | 5 | 1% |
Antonyms: words for size, worth and law25 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Size, amount and cost | 9 | 2% |
| Importance and quality | 9 | 2% |
| Guilt, release and giving | 7 | 1% |
Antonyms: words for time, change and action19 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Active and idle, alive and dead | 7 | 1% |
| Starting, growing, stopping | 5 | 1% |
| Lasting and passing | 4 | 1% |
| Mixing and spreading | 3 | 1% |
Single-word meanings: read the word, then test the meaning35 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Read a word from its root and affixes | 12 | 2% |
| Two suggested meanings: judge each one on its own | 10 | 2% |
| Words for documents, law and ideas | 8 | 2% |
| Words for people, manner and conduct | 5 | 1% |
Word forms: one root, four parts of speech30 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Confusable pairs labelled by part of speech | 10 | 2% |
| Flat adverbs and the odd word out: solve by elimination | 9 | 2% |
| Suffixes give away the part of speech | 6 | 1% |
| Participle, gerund, infinitive and interjection | 5 | 1% |
Match-the-list vocabulary: fix the sure pairs, strike the codes22 PYQs · 4%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solve a match list: fix two sure pairs, then strike codes | 7 | 1% |
| Collocations: groups, sounds, arenas and sport words | 5 | 1% |
| Words for speech, language and belief | 5 | 1% |
| Words for law, crime, money and property | 5 | 1% |
Borrowed words and look-alike word families28 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Same opening letters, different roots: read past the start | 11 | 2% |
| One root, many words: let the root carry the meaning | 10 | 2% |
| Borrowed words and phrases (French and Latin) | 7 | 1% |
Confusable word pairs: both halves must be right40 PYQs · 8%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Same root, different ending | 9 | 2% |
| Pin one word, then check the other: the pairs UPSC repeats | 8 | 2% |
| Sound-alike pairs: things, places and writing | 8 | 2% |
| Prefix pairs: e-/ex- out, in-/im- in, re- back | 8 | 2% |
| Sound-alike pairs: actions, states and qualities | 7 | 1% |
Homophones in sentences: test every sentence on its own30 PYQs · 6%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Homophone sets: places, things and money | 9 | 2% |
| Homophone sets: actions, feelings and events | 9 | 2% |
| Noun, verb or adjective? Let the slot decide | 7 | 1% |
| Near-homophones: words that only look alike | 5 | 1% |
Spelling: double letters, silent letters and vowel traps27 PYQs · 5%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Count the double letters | 10 | 2% |
| Vowel traps and word endings | 10 | 2% |
| Greek spellings and silent letters (ps-, pn-, ph-) | 7 | 1% |
Test yourself on Vocabulary
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.