CDS English · Vocabulary
How to pick the nearest meaning
Four 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.
Why this matters
Most CDS English papers carry a block of ten synonym questions: a word is underlined in a sentence, and you pick the option nearest in meaning. Almost no word is tested twice, so a word list alone is not enough. These four checks work even on words you have never met.
Concept 1 of 4: Read the word in its sentence
Many English words have several meanings. The sentence picks one of them, and the right option matches that one meaning, not the first meaning you learnt. 'Nearest in meaning' also allows a loose fit: the answer need not be exact, only the closest of the four.
Definition
The method:
- Read the whole sentence before you look at the options.
- Name the sense: say in your own words what the word means here.
- Check the charge: is the word praising, blaming or neutral here? A word's charge is the good or bad feeling it carries, and the answer must carry the same charge.
- Test each option in place of the underlined word. Keep the one that leaves the meaning of the sentence unchanged.
- If two options seem to fit, choose the one that fits this sentence more closely.
Worked example
Choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word: The judge promised both sides a fair hearing. (a) pale (b) just (c) average (d) beautiful
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2023 · CDS (I) 2023 — English · Q51Easy
Example 1 · Vocabulary · Synonyms: Method
Directions: nearest in meaning to the underlined word
There are plenty of graduates anxious for work.
Do not stop at the first meaning you know
A terminal disease is one that cannot be cured; it has nothing to do with a bus terminal. A dry season is one with little rain (arid), not a dull one. Read the sentence before the options.
An option can fit the word but not the sentence
Differences between people who keep quarrelling are disagreements. Discrepancies are differences between figures or facts that should match. Both are 'differences', but only one fits people.
Nearest does not mean exact
Sometimes no option is a perfect synonym. Endurance is the power to keep going; the nearest option offered was patience, the only one pointing the same way. Strike the options that point the wrong way and take the closest one left.
Concept 2 of 4: Match the part of speech and the form
A synonym must be able to take the place of the word in the sentence. So it should be the same kind of word: a noun for a noun, a verb for a verb, an adjective for an adjective. Examiners often add an option with the right idea in the wrong form.
Definition
The method:
- Find the word's part of speech from its job in the sentence. A word that describes a noun is an adjective; a word that shows an action is a verb; a word after 'the', 'a' or 'his' is usually a noun; a word that tells how something is done is usually an adverb.
- Note the form: tense (-ed, -ing), singular or plural, and endings such as -ness, -tion, -ous and -ly.
- Prefer the option with the same part of speech and the right meaning.
- If no option has the exact form, meaning wins: choose the option with the right idea.
Worked example
Choose the word nearest in meaning: Her generous gift surprised the whole village. (a) generosity (b) kindly (c) liberal (d) give
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2018 · CDS (II) 2018 — English · Q19Moderate
Example 2 · Vocabulary · Synonyms: Method
Directions: nearest in meaning to the underlined word
His derisive behaviour has led to the situation we now face.
Right idea, wrong part of speech
In 'a lavish party', lavish is an adjective. 'Luxury' is a noun, so 'a luxury party' changes the grammar. Luxurious or extravagant is the match.
Treat -ed and -ing as different words
Exhausted describes the person who is tired; exhausting describes the thing that tires. In 'the long walk exhausted us', exhausted is a past-tense verb, and only a past-tense verb such as tired fits.
When no option has the form, go by meaning
In 'leaves much to be desired', no option was a past form like 'wanted'. The answer was wish for, the only option with the right idea. Do not leave a question because the form is imperfect.
Concept 3 of 4: Break the word into roots and affixes
Many hard English words are built from Latin and Greek parts. If you know the parts, you can often guess the meaning of a word you have never seen. The sentence then confirms or corrects the guess.
Definition
Split the word into three parts:
- Prefix (at the front): in-, im-, un-, a-, an- = not or without; ex- = out; de- = down or away; circum- = around; per- = through; mal- = bad; omni- = all.
- Root (the core): ped = foot; capit = head; mens = measure; onym = name; chron = time; aud = hear; spect = look; bene = good, well.
- Suffix (at the end): -less = without; -ous = full of; -ude, -ness, -tion make nouns; -ly makes adverbs.
- Join the parts into a rough meaning, then check it in the sentence.
Worked example
Choose the word nearest in meaning: The old king was known as a benevolent ruler. (a) hostile (b) kindly (c) wealthy (d) careless
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2024 · CDS (I) 2024 — English · Q82Easy
Example 3 · Vocabulary · Synonyms: Method
Directions: option nearest in meaning to the underlined word
Justice prevailed and the murderer was decapitated.
in- does not always mean 'not'
In indigenous, in- means within: indigenous cinema is home-grown cinema. In inflammable, in- means into: it catches fire easily. Check the sentence before you read in- as 'not'.
Use both parts, not one
Ped means foot in impede (to put a foot in the way, so to hinder) but child in paediatric. The omni- words differ only by root: omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (everywhere).
The parts give the direction, not the exact word
Perpetual starts with per- (through): it suggests going on through time. The sentence then tells you the exact sense, ever lasting. Always test your guess in the sentence.
Concept 4 of 4: Eliminate antonyms and sound-alikes
Examiners build the wrong options on purpose. One is often the antonym (the opposite). Another often looks or sounds like the underlined word but means something else. Strike these first; the answer is usually what is left.
Definition
The method:
- Strike the antonym: an option with the opposite meaning is placed to catch a careless reader.
- Strike the sound-alike: an option that shares letters with the word (circum-, deri-, grat-) is a trap more often than a help.
- Strike the off-topic option: a word from a different field that does not fit the sentence.
- Choose from what remains, and test it in the sentence.
Worked example
Choose the word nearest in meaning: The prodigal son spent his whole share in a year. (a) prodigious (b) wasteful (c) thrifty (d) careful
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2023 · CDS (I) 2023 — English · Q52Moderate
Example 4 · Vocabulary · Synonyms: Method
Directions: nearest in meaning to the underlined word
The power of the monarchy was circumscribed by the new law.
Ingenuous is not ingenious
Ingenuous means innocent or naive. Ingenious means clever. A sentence that calls a belief ingenuous calls it simple-minded, so 'clever' is the trap.
Derisory is not derogatory
A derisory offer is laughably small, so it is inadequate. Derogatory means insulting in words. The two share 'der-' and nothing else.
Shared first letters are a warning
Complexity is intricacy; complacency is smugness. Gratuitous (uncalled for) is not gratifying (pleasing). When an option shares the first few letters of the word, slow down: it is there to catch you.
Check the direction of strong words
An option like faulty next to exemplary is there because a fast reader matches strong words without checking their direction. Ask: does this option praise or blame? Exemplary praises, so the answer must praise too.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
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
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.