compulsory · CSS study notes
8. Synonyms & Antonyms — 100 CSS-Standard Words
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Synonyms and antonyms are named in the grammar syllabus and feed straight into Grouping of Words (10 marks). This page is a compact exam-level list: one best synonym and one best antonym per word, the pair most likely to be accepted in a key. For deeper word study, use 📖 Vocabulary — 964 High-Frequency Words and 🧭 Vocabulary by Theme.
How CSS Asks It
- "Give the synonyms of the following words" — write one precise word of the same part of speech.
- "Give the antonyms" — same; prefer a true opposite over a negated form (benevolent → malevolent, not not benevolent).
- MCQ-style "choose the word nearest in meaning" in some years.
The List
| Word | Synonym | Antonym | Word | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abandon | forsake | retain | Lethargic | sluggish | energetic |
| Abundant | plentiful | scarce | Lucid | clear | obscure |
| Acrimony | bitterness | goodwill | Magnanimous | generous | petty |
| Adversity | hardship | prosperity | Malign | slander | praise |
| Affluent | wealthy | impoverished | Meagre | scanty | ample |
| Alleviate | relieve | aggravate | Meticulous | thorough | careless |
| Ambiguous | equivocal | explicit | Mitigate | lessen | intensify |
| Amiable | friendly | hostile | Mundane | ordinary | extraordinary |
| Arrogant | haughty | humble | Negligent | careless | diligent |
| Audacious | bold | timid | Novice | beginner | veteran |
| Austere | severe | lavish | Obsolete | outdated | modern |
| Benevolent | kind | malevolent | Obstinate | stubborn | docile |
| Brevity | conciseness | verbosity | Opulent | luxurious | squalid |
| Candid | frank | evasive | Ostentatious | showy | modest |
| Capricious | fickle | steady | Pacify | calm | provoke |
| Cogent | convincing | weak | Paucity | scarcity | abundance |
| Complacent | self-satisfied | concerned | Pensive | thoughtful | carefree |
| Conceal | hide | reveal | Perilous | dangerous | safe |
| Concord | harmony | discord | Placid | calm | agitated |
| Contempt | scorn | admiration | Pragmatic | practical | idealistic |
| Credulous | gullible | sceptical | Prodigal | wasteful | thrifty |
| Cryptic | mysterious | plain | Profound | deep | superficial |
| Debilitate | weaken | strengthen | Prudent | wise | rash |
| Deference | respect | disrespect | Rebuke | reprimand | praise |
| Diligent | industrious | lazy | Reluctant | unwilling | eager |
| Discord | conflict | harmony | Remote | distant | near |
| Eccentric | odd | conventional | Renowned | famous | obscure |
| Eloquent | articulate | inarticulate | Resolute | determined | irresolute |
| Enmity | hostility | friendship | Reticent | reserved | talkative |
| Ephemeral | transient | permanent | Sagacious | wise | foolish |
| Eradicate | eliminate | establish | Scanty | insufficient | plentiful |
| Exonerate | acquit | convict | Scrupulous | conscientious | unscrupulous / careless |
| Extravagant | lavish | frugal | Servile | submissive | domineering |
| Fallacy | misconception | truth | Sporadic | occasional | continuous |
| Feeble | weak | strong | Stagnant | motionless | flowing |
| Fervent | passionate | apathetic | Superficial | shallow | profound |
| Frugal | thrifty | extravagant | Taciturn | silent | garrulous |
| Futile | useless | fruitful | Tedious | boring | interesting |
| Gregarious | sociable | solitary | Temperate | moderate | excessive |
| Hamper | hinder | facilitate | Tranquil | peaceful | turbulent |
| Haughty | proud | humble | Trivial | petty | significant |
| Hostile | unfriendly | amicable | Tyranny | oppression | democracy / liberty |
| Immaculate | spotless | tarnished | Unanimous | united | divided |
| Impartial | unbiased | biased | Vague | unclear | definite |
| Impede | obstruct | facilitate | Valiant | brave | cowardly |
| Indolent | lazy | industrious | Venerate | revere | despise |
| Inevitable | unavoidable | avoidable | Verbose | wordy | laconic |
| Insolent | rude | courteous | Vigilant | watchful | negligent |
| Jovial | cheerful | morose | Wane | decline | wax |
| Lavish | generous | stingy | Zeal | enthusiasm | apathy |
Practice — Give one synonym and one antonym (15)
Ameliorate · Callous · Diffident · Emancipate · Frivolous · Garrulous · Hypocrisy · Inhibit · Jubilant · Laudable · Nefarious · Obscure · Pernicious · Tenacious · Vindictive
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Key
Ameliorate — improve / worsen · Callous — heartless / compassionate · Diffident — shy / confident · Emancipate — liberate / enslave · Frivolous — trivial / serious · Garrulous — talkative / taciturn · Hypocrisy — insincerity / sincerity · Inhibit — restrain / encourage · Jubilant — joyful / dejected · Laudable — praiseworthy / blameworthy · Nefarious — wicked / virtuous · Obscure — unclear (or unknown) / clear (or famous) · Pernicious — harmful / beneficial · Tenacious — persistent / irresolute · Vindictive — vengeful / forgiving