Logo

Primary School English Quiz - Synonyms 1 - Spot the Synonyms (Questions)

Synonyms are words that are similar in meaning to another word. Synonyms help the writer and the speaker to choose the word which is most appropriate to convey the intended message.

These words are all synonyms:

WEAK
FRAIL
ANAEMIC
FEEBLE

You can see now that, depending on exactly what you want to communicate, you could choose the appropriate synonym to make your message more crisp and meaningful.

[readmore]

Synonyms are not exact replacements for any word but they are similar in meaning. Their actual meanings are unique to each word. To take the four words given in the example above we find that they all display the common attribute of weakness:

The dictionary meaning of WEAK is ‘not strong’.
The dictionary meaning of FRAIL is ‘not robust’.
The dictionary meaning of ANAEMIC is ‘lacking vitality’.
The dictionary meaning of FEEBLE is ‘lacking in force’.

You will notice that all the four words describe something which is lacking, maybe, strength. Now, the writer and speaker can use the appropriate word to describe what he wants to describe. For instance, if a cricket commentator were to describe a cricketing shot which lacked the power to reach the boundary he would most likely use WEAK and FEEBLE and not FRAIL and ANAEMIC. In the same way, if a person were to describe another person who looks pale you would in all probability describe him as an ANAEMIC person because he could be deficient in iron content in his body which makes him look pale.

Remember that synonyms cannot replace a word verbatim but instead come close to the attribute you want to describe. It is possible to be choosy as there are numerous words which are synonyms of other words. Play this quiz, learn many more synonyms and widen your vocabulary.

[/readmore]
1. "He is a SUPERB tennis player." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] splendid
[ ] inferior
[ ] ordinary
[ ] poor
2. "In real life Roger Federer is not as RUTHLESS as he is on the tennis court." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] gentle
[ ] merciless
[ ] forgiving
[ ] merciful
3. "Why are you BASHFUL about telling people how you feel?" - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] bold
[ ] aggressive
[ ] shy
[ ] gregarious
4. "He became an ASSOCIATE of mine in my new venture." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] enemy
[ ] foe
[ ] opponent
[ ] collaborator
5. "India's culture is an ANCIENT one." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] age-old
[ ] current
[ ] fresh
[ ] modern
6. "He became an object of RIDICULE." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] admiration
[ ] approval
[ ] praise
[ ] contempt
7. "The manager could not explain the SLUMP in sales." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] rise
[ ] ascent
[ ] slide
[ ] increase
8. "He had EXTENSIVE knowledge in science." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] vast
[ ] insignificant
[ ] limited
[ ] narrow
9. "There is a lot of DIFFERENCE in our thinking." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] uniformity
[ ] similarity
[ ] conformity
[ ] disparity
10. "She cannot help but LOATHE people who are better than her." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] detest
[ ] admire
[ ] adore
[ ] like
Logo
Primary School English Quiz - Synonyms 1 - Spot the Synonyms (Answers)
1. "He is a SUPERB tennis player." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[x] splendid
[ ] inferior
[ ] ordinary
[ ] poor
The other options are antonyms of 'superb'. Other synonyms of 'superb' could be 'marvellous', 'glorious' and 'great'
2. "In real life Roger Federer is not as RUTHLESS as he is on the tennis court." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] gentle
[x] merciless
[ ] forgiving
[ ] merciful
The other options are antonyms of 'ruthless'. 'Ferocious', 'fierce' and 'relentless' are also synonyms of 'ruthless'
3. "Why are you BASHFUL about telling people how you feel?" - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] bold
[ ] aggressive
[x] shy
[ ] gregarious
The other options are antonyms of 'bashful'. Some other synonyms of 'bashful' are 'timid', 'reticent' and 'sheepish'
4. "He became an ASSOCIATE of mine in my new venture." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] enemy
[ ] foe
[ ] opponent
[x] collaborator
The other options are antonyms of 'associate'. 'Partner', 'accomplice' and 'ally' might also be synonyms of 'associate' in certain circumstances
5. "India's culture is an ANCIENT one." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[x] age-old
[ ] current
[ ] fresh
[ ] modern
The other options are antonyms of 'ancient'. Some other synonyms of 'ancient' are 'venerable' and 'antique'
6. "He became an object of RIDICULE." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] admiration
[ ] approval
[ ] praise
[x] contempt
The other options are antonyms of 'ridicule'. 'Disdain', 'derision' and 'taunt' could also be synonyms of 'ridicule'
7. "The manager could not explain the SLUMP in sales." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] rise
[ ] ascent
[x] slide
[ ] increase
The other options are antonyms of 'slump'. Other synonyms of 'slump' might be 'collapse', 'crash' and 'fall'
8. "He had EXTENSIVE knowledge in science." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[x] vast
[ ] insignificant
[ ] limited
[ ] narrow
The other options are antonyms of 'extensive'. 'Broad', 'wide-ranging' and 'considerable' could also be synonyms of 'extensive'
9. "There is a lot of DIFFERENCE in our thinking." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[ ] uniformity
[ ] similarity
[ ] conformity
[x] disparity
The other options are antonyms of 'difference'. Some other synonyms of 'difference' are 'contrast', 'divergence' and 'variation'
10. "She cannot help but LOATHE people who are better than her." - Replace the word in capitals with its synonym.
[x] detest
[ ] admire
[ ] adore
[ ] like
The other options are antonyms of 'loathe'. 'Abhor', 'despise' and 'hate' all have very similar meanings to 'loathe'