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CSS 2013 — Synonyms & Antonyms (Solved)

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Answer key: Synonyms 1-b · 2-d · 3-c · 4-c · 5-d · 6-c · 7-a · 8-c · 9-c · 10-a │ Antonyms 11-c · 12-d · 13-c · 14-b · 15-a · 16-b · 17-d · 18-d · 19-d · 20-a. The 2013 paper had five options, with (e) "None of these". See the note on Cajole.

(a) Synonyms — choose the word nearly most SIMILAR in meaning

1. BRISTLE

(a) Regulate (b) Flare up (c) Frail (d) Exhilarate (e) None of these

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Answer: (b) Flare up

  • Urdu: بھڑک اٹھنا، تنک جانا؛ (اسم) سخت بال
  • Meaning (v./n.): to react angrily or defensively; (n.) a short stiff hair
  • Synonyms: flare up, bridle, seethe, bristle with anger, prickle; (n.) whisker, stubble
  • Antonyms: calm down, relax, accept, submit
  • Sentences:
    1. He bristled at the suggestion that he had cheated.
    2. The toothbrush's bristles were worn out.

2. DELUGE

(a) Immerse (b) Rescue (c) Drown (d) Overflow (e) None of these

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Answer: (d) Overflow

  • Urdu: سیلاب، طوفانی بارش، ریلا
  • Meaning (n./v.): a severe flood; a great quantity of something arriving at once
  • Synonyms: flood, overflow, torrent, downpour, inundation, avalanche
  • Antonyms: drought, trickle, dearth, scarcity
  • Sentences:
    1. The 2010 deluge displaced 20 million Pakistanis.
    2. The office faced a deluge of complaints.

3. TIRADE

(a) Argument (b) Procession (c) Angry speech (d) Torture (e) None of these

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Answer: (c) Angry speech

  • Urdu: غصیلی تقریر، لعن طعن
  • Meaning (n.): a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation
  • Synonyms: diatribe, rant, harangue, invective, broadside, outburst
  • Antonyms: praise, eulogy, compliment, tribute, panegyric
  • Sentences:
    1. The leader launched a tirade against the media.
    2. The coach's tirade in the dressing room woke the team up.

4. QUASI

(a) Secret (b) Improper (c) Seeming (d) Whole (e) None of these

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Answer: (c) Seeming

  • Urdu: نیم، بظاہر، جزوی طور پر
  • Meaning (adj./prefix): seemingly; partly; resembling but not really
  • Synonyms: seeming, apparent, semi-, near, partial, pseudo
  • Antonyms: genuine, real, actual, full, complete
  • Sentences:
    1. PEMRA is a quasi-judicial body.
    2. The talks were held in a quasi-official setting.

5. VILIFY

(a) To prove (b) Boast (c) Defraud (d) Defame (e) None of these

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Answer: (d) Defame

  • Urdu: بدنام کرنا، کیچڑ اچھالنا
  • Meaning (v.): to speak or write about someone in an abusively disparaging way
  • Synonyms: defame, malign, slander, denigrate, smear, disparage
  • Antonyms: praise, glorify, extol, commend, laud
  • Sentences:
    1. Social-media trolls vilified the journalist.
    2. He was vilified in the press but vindicated in court.

6. RIGMAROLE

(a) Unnecessary (b) Disorder (c) Confused talk (d) Game (e) None of these

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Answer: (c) Confused talk

  • Urdu: بے ربط باتیں، طویل و پیچیدہ طریقۂ کار
  • Meaning (n.): a lengthy, complicated procedure; confused or meaningless talk
  • Synonyms: confused talk, nonsense, palaver, red tape, fuss, procedure
  • Antonyms: simplicity, directness, clarity, straightforwardness
  • Sentences:
    1. Getting a domicile involves a long rigmarole of forms.
    2. He went through the whole rigmarole again.

7. DEIGN

(a) Condescend (b) Pretend (c) Disparage (d) Refuse (e) None of these

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Answer: (a) Condescend

  • Urdu: تنزل فرمانا، اپنی شان سے نیچے آ کر کچھ کرنا
  • Meaning (v.): to do something one considers beneath one's dignity
  • Synonyms: condescend, stoop, lower oneself, deem worthy, consent, vouchsafe
  • Antonyms: refuse, disdain, spurn, scorn
  • Sentences:
    1. The officer did not deign to answer our letter.
    2. She finally deigned to join us for tea.

8. PROLETARIAT

(a) Trade agreement (b) Government secretariat (c) Labouring class (d) Wealthy class (e) None of these

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Answer: (c) Labouring class

  • Urdu: مزدور طبقہ، محنت کش
  • Meaning (n.): workers or working-class people as a class (Marxist term)
  • Synonyms: working class, labouring class, workers, masses, common people, rank and file
  • Antonyms: bourgeoisie, aristocracy, elite, upper class
  • Sentences:
    1. Marx called on the proletariat to unite.
    2. The urban proletariat suffered most from inflation.
  • Trap: "secretariat" sounds similar.

9. LUDICROUS

(a) Liberal (b) Fearful (c) Comic (d) Praiseworthy (e) None of these

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Answer: (c) Comic

  • Urdu: مضحکہ خیز، بے تکا
  • Meaning (adj.): so foolish or unreasonable as to be amusing
  • Synonyms: absurd, ridiculous, comic, laughable, farcical, preposterous
  • Antonyms: sensible, reasonable, serious, logical, sound
  • Sentences:
    1. The claim that the dam will be built in a year is ludicrous.
    2. He looked ludicrous in his oversized uniform.

10. MALEFIC

(a) Baleful (b) Belonging to a male person (c) Social (d) Fighting by nature (e) None of these

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Answer: (a) Baleful

  • Urdu: مضر، بد اثر، منحوس
  • Meaning (adj.): causing harm or destruction, especially by supernatural means
  • Synonyms: baleful, harmful, malign, malevolent, evil, sinister
  • Antonyms: beneficent, benign, beneficial, kind, favourable
  • Sentences:
    1. Astrologers call Saturn a malefic planet.
    2. The malefic influence of drugs ruined the youth.
  • Trap: "male" is a false root here; mal- means bad.

(b) Antonyms — choose the word nearly most OPPOSITE in meaning

11. LANGUID

(a) Feeble (b) Dull (c) Vigorous (d) Weak (e) None of these

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Answer: (c) Vigorous

  • Urdu: سست، نڈھال، کاہل
  • Meaning (adj.): displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion; slow and relaxed
  • Synonyms: feeble, weak, lethargic, listless, sluggish, languorous
  • Antonyms: vigorous, energetic, lively, active, dynamic
  • Sentences:
    1. The heat made everyone languid by noon.
    2. He began a vigorous campaign for reform.

12. HIGH-STRUNG

(a) Nervous (b) Tense (c) Costly (d) Calm (e) None of these

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Answer: (d) Calm

  • Urdu: جلد پریشان ہونے والا، حساس، تناؤ میں رہنے والا
  • Meaning (adj.): very nervous and easily upset
  • Synonyms: nervous, tense, edgy, excitable, jumpy, neurotic
  • Antonyms: calm, relaxed, placid, easy-going, composed
  • Sentences:
    1. The high-strung horse bolted at the noise.
    2. She stayed calm while others panicked.

13. METTLE

(a) Courage (b) Boldness (c) Cowardice (d) Spirit (e) None of these

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Answer: (c) Cowardice

  • Urdu: ہمت، جرأت، حوصلہ
  • Meaning (n.): a person's ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience
  • Synonyms: courage, spirit, resolve, grit, boldness, fortitude
  • Antonyms: cowardice, timidity, weakness, fear, faint-heartedness
  • Sentences:
    1. The earthquake tested the mettle of the rescue teams.
    2. The young captain proved his mettle in the final.
  • Trap: don't confuse it with metal.

14. ABRIDGEMENT

(a) Epitome (b) Dissect (c) Abstract (d) Synopsis (e) None of these

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Answer: (b) Dissect (by elimination)

  • Urdu: خلاصہ، اختصار
  • Meaning (n.): a shortened version of a book or text
  • Synonyms: summary, synopsis, abstract, epitome, digest, condensation
  • Antonyms: expansion, amplification, elaboration, extension
  • Sentences:
    1. Students read an abridgement of War and Peace.
    2. The committee asked for an expansion, not an abridgement, of the report.
  • Why (b): epitome, abstract and synopsis are all synonyms. "Dissect" (to analyse in detail) is the only option pointing towards expansion rather than shortening.

15. CAJOLE

(a) Flaunt (b) Coax (c) Beguile (d) Flatter (e) None of these

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Keyed answer: (a) Flaunt. It is keyed only because it is the one option that is not a synonym; logically, (e) None of these is also defensible.

  • Urdu: پھسلانا، خوشامد سے منانا
  • Meaning (v.): to persuade by flattery or coaxing
  • Synonyms: coax, beguile, flatter, wheedle, sweet-talk, entice
  • Antonyms: coerce, force, bully, intimidate, compel
  • Sentences:
    1. The child cajoled his mother into buying sweets.
    2. The regime chose to coerce rather than cajole the opposition.
  • Exam tip: three of the four options are synonyms. Eliminate the synonyms first, then choose.
  • 🔁 Asked in 2009, 2013 and 2026.

16. CELIBACY

(a) Virginity (b) Wedlock (c) Chastity (d) Single (e) None of these

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Answer: (b) Wedlock

  • Urdu: تجرد، غیر شادی شدہ زندگی
  • Meaning (n.): the state of abstaining from marriage (often for religious reasons)
  • Synonyms: chastity, singleness, bachelorhood, abstinence, virginity
  • Antonyms: wedlock, marriage, matrimony, conjugality
  • Sentences:
    1. Catholic priests take a vow of celibacy.
    2. Islam encourages wedlock over celibacy.

17. INCLEMENT

(a) Rough (b) Unpleasant (c) Unfavourable (d) Genial (e) None of these

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Answer: (d) Genial

  • Urdu: سخت، خراب (موسم)، بے رحم
  • Meaning (adj.): (of weather) unpleasantly cold or wet; harsh
  • Synonyms: rough, harsh, stormy, unpleasant, severe, foul
  • Antonyms: genial, mild, fine, pleasant, clement
  • Sentences:
    1. Flights to Skardu were cancelled due to inclement weather.
    2. The genial spring weather brought families to the parks.

18. IRRESOLUTE

(a) Ineffective (b) Without resolution (c) Yielding (d) Sturdy (e) None of these

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Answer: (d) Sturdy

  • Urdu: متذبذب، ڈانواں ڈول، کمزور ارادے والا
  • Meaning (adj.): showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain
  • Synonyms: indecisive, hesitant, wavering, vacillating, undecided, weak-willed
  • Antonyms: resolute, determined, firm, sturdy, steadfast
  • Sentences:
    1. An irresolute leader loses the trust of the nation.
    2. The sturdy old man walked ten miles daily.

19. ANNEXATION

(a) Supplement (b) Augmentation (c) Appendix (d) Contraction (e) None of these

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Answer: (d) Contraction

  • Urdu: الحاق، قبضہ کر کے شامل کرنا
  • Meaning (n.): the action of adding territory or an item to a larger whole
  • Synonyms: appropriation, occupation, takeover, addition, augmentation, attachment
  • Antonyms: contraction, separation, cession, secession, reduction
  • Sentences:
    1. India's annexation of Junagadh was condemned by Pakistan.
    2. Russia's annexation of Crimea triggered sanctions.

20. INCUR

(a) Shun (b) Run (c) Blamed (d) Meet (e) None of these

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Answer: (a) Shun

  • Urdu: مول لینا، (نقصان/قرض) اپنے ذمے لینا
  • Meaning (v.): to become subject to something unwelcome as a result of one's actions
  • Synonyms: suffer, sustain, bring upon oneself, provoke, meet with, invite
  • Antonyms: shun, avoid, evade, escape, prevent
  • Sentences:
    1. PIA incurred heavy losses last year.
    2. He incurred the wrath of his boss by arriving late.

Source: 2013 paper (CSS Exam blog)