Synonyms and Antonyms: A Revision List for Competitive Exams
29 Oct 2026 · Updated 30 Oct 2026
Quick answer
A revision list of common exam words, each paired with a synonym, a true opposite and a short meaning, to help SSC, Banking and RRB aspirants answer synonym and antonym questions quickly.
Synonym and antonym questions test whether you know a word's exact sense: a synonym is the word closest in meaning, and an antonym is its true opposite. They are pure recall, so a few minutes of daily revision pays off directly in the exam. The surest way to fix a word is to learn it as a pair, the word with its opposite, because each one sharpens the other. Use this list that way: read the meaning, then the synonym, then the antonym, and move on only once all three sit together in your memory.
Praise and blame
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Praise | To express warm approval or admiration | Commend | Criticise |
| Applaud | To show strong, often public, approval | Acclaim | Condemn |
| Admire | To regard with respect and approval | Esteem | Despise |
| Rebuke | To express sharp, formal disapproval | Reprimand | Praise |
| Scorn | To treat with open contempt | Disdain | Respect |
| Flatter | To praise too much and insincerely | Adulate | Insult |
Size and amount
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abundant | Present in large quantity | Plentiful | Scarce |
| Ample | More than enough | Copious | Meagre |
| Vast | Very great in size or extent | Immense | Tiny |
| Scanty | Too small in amount to be enough | Meagre | Abundant |
| Numerous | Great in number | Myriad | Few |
| Diminish | To make or become smaller | Decrease | Increase |
| Expand | To grow larger in size | Enlarge | Shrink |
| Minute | Extremely small in size | Tiny | Enormous |
Speed and delay
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swift | Moving at great speed | Rapid | Slow |
| Hasten | To hurry or move quickly | Accelerate | Delay |
| Prompt | Done or acting without delay | Punctual | Tardy |
| Brisk | Quick and full of energy | Energetic | Sluggish |
| Sudden | Happening quickly and unexpectedly | Abrupt | Gradual |
| Linger | To be slow to leave; stay on | Dawdle | Hurry |
| Postpone | To put off to a later time | Defer | Advance |
Honesty and deceit
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candid | Open and truthful in what one says | Frank | Evasive |
| Honest | Truthful and free from deceit | Sincere | Dishonest |
| Frank | Direct and open in expression | Forthright | Reserved |
| Genuine | Real and not faked | Authentic | Counterfeit |
| Deceitful | Given to misleading others | Dishonest | Truthful |
| Loyal | Firm in one's allegiance | Faithful | Treacherous |
| Reliable | Able to be trusted or depended on | Dependable | Unreliable |
Courage and fear
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brave | Ready to face danger without fear | Courageous | Cowardly |
| Bold | Willing to take risks confidently | Daring | Timid |
| Valiant | Showing great courage in difficulty | Gallant | Craven |
| Fearless | Feeling no fear | Intrepid | Fearful |
| Timid | Lacking courage or confidence | Shy | Confident |
| Nervous | Easily worried or frightened | Anxious | Calm |
| Confident | Sure of oneself and one's abilities | Assured | Doubtful |
Clarity and confusion
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transparent | Allowing light through; easy to see | Clear | Opaque |
| Lucid | Clear and easy to follow | Coherent | Confusing |
| Obvious | Easily seen or understood | Evident | Obscure |
| Vague | Not clearly expressed or defined | Unclear | Precise |
| Ambiguous | Open to more than one meaning | Equivocal | Definite |
| Baffle | To confuse or puzzle completely | Perplex | Clarify |
| Conceal | To keep from being seen | Hide | Reveal |
Old and new
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient | Belonging to the distant past | Age-old | Modern |
| Obsolete | No longer in use; out of date | Outdated | Current |
| Archaic | Very old-fashioned | Antiquated | Contemporary |
| Novel | New and not seen before | Innovative | Familiar |
| Permanent | Lasting indefinitely | Enduring | Temporary |
| Temporary | Lasting only a short time | Transient | Permanent |
Giving and character
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generous | Willing to give freely | Liberal | Miserly |
| Lavish | Giving or spending very freely | Extravagant | Frugal |
| Thrifty | Careful and sparing with money | Economical | Wasteful |
| Miserly | Hating to spend or give | Stingy | Generous |
| Benevolent | Kind and wishing to do good | Kind-hearted | Malevolent |
| Humble | Modest; not proud | Modest | Arrogant |
| Arrogant | Having an exaggerated sense of importance | Haughty | Modest |
Care and effort
| Word | Meaning | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meticulous | Giving great attention to small details | Careful | Careless |
| Diligent | Hard-working and painstaking | Industrious | Lazy |
| Idle | Not working; doing nothing | Lazy | Busy |
| Clumsy | Awkward in movement or handling | Ungainly | Graceful |
| Stubborn | Refusing to change one's mind | Obstinate | Flexible |
| Calm | Free from agitation or excitement | Composed | Agitated |
How to revise this list
- Take one section a day rather than the whole list at once. Cover the Synonym and Antonym columns and recall both from the word and its meaning; a pair you can produce is far better learned than one you merely recognise.
- Always learn the word with its opposite. The pair abundant / scarce or transparent / opaque fixes both words at once and is exactly how the exam frames the question.
- Watch words that carry more than one sense. Minute here means very small, not sixty seconds; prompt here means on time, not a cue. Learn the sense the row gives, which is the sense its synonym and antonym share.
- Say each word aloud and check the spelling. In the exam the right word spelt wrong is still a wrong answer.
- Revisit the whole list the day before the exam, by which time each word should bring its synonym and antonym to mind in a second or two.
Ready to practise? Take the Synonyms and Antonyms quiz
How this was made: Drafted with AI assistance; spot-checked by the editor on 30 October 2026.