Synonyms for Competitive Exams with Their Pictures

If you’re preparing for competitive exams like NTS, GAT, FPSC, CSS, IELTS, or TOEFL, having a strong vocabulary is very important. These exams often include advanced English words that are not used in daily conversation. In this blog post, you will learn 100 important exam words with their powerful synonyms, explained in simple English to help you understand and remember them easily.

What are Synonyms in English?

Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.

Example:

Big → Large, Huge, Massive
All three words mean big, but they are used in different ways.

In competitive exams, you are tested on high-level synonyms, not casual or basic words. So let’s explore those important words now.

Synonyms for Competitive Exams

Read More: 100 Antonyms for Competitive Exams

Why Are Synonyms Important in Exams?

→ To understand difficult vocabulary in passages
→ To choose the right options in MCQs
→ To improve your writing and speaking scores
→ To sound more professional and confident

100 Competitive Exam Words with Their Synonyms

Learn these words to boost your test performance!

Abate → Diminish, Lessen, Decrease
Aberration → Anomaly, Deviation, Irregularity
Abhor → Detest, Hate, Loathe
Acumen → Insight, Shrewdness, Wisdom
Alacrity → Eagerness, Willingness, Readiness
Ambiguous → Vague, Unclear, Obscure
Amiable → Friendly, Cordial, Affable
Anomaly → Oddity, Irregularity, Deviation
Antipathy → Hatred, Aversion, Hostility
Apathy → Indifference, Disinterest, Coldness
Apprehensive → Anxious, Nervous, Worried
Arduous → Difficult, Challenging, Hard
Articulate → Fluent, Expressive, Clear
Ascertain → Discover, Find out, Determine
Assiduous → Diligent, Hardworking, Persistent
Astute → Clever, Smart, Sharp
Audacious → Bold, Daring, Fearless
Avarice → Greed, Covetousness, Materialism
Belie → Misrepresent, Contradict, Disguise
Belligerent → Aggressive, Hostile, Combative
Benevolent → Kind, Generous, Helpful
Blatant → Obvious, Clear, Open
Bombastic → Pretentious, Pompous, Showy
Bucolic → Rural, Countryside, Pastoral
Cacophony → Noise, Harsh sound, Dissonance
Candid → Honest, Truthful, Frank
Capitulate → Surrender, Yield, Give in
Caustic → Sharp, Bitter, Sarcastic
Censure → Criticize, Condemn, Blame
Chicanery → Trickery, Fraud, Deception
Coerce → Force, Compel, Pressure
Cogent → Convincing, Persuasive, Strong
Complacent → Smug, Self-satisfied, Lazy
Concise → Brief, Short, Compact
Concur → Agree, Approve, Consent
Condone → Overlook, Forgive, Excuse
Conducive → Helpful, Supportive, Useful
Conundrum → Puzzle, Riddle, Problem
Copious → Abundant, Large, Plenty
Cryptic → Mysterious, Hidden, Obscure
Cursory → Quick, Hasty, Superficial
Dauntless → Brave, Fearless, Courageous
Debilitate → Weaken, Exhaust, Drain
Deference → Respect, Honor, Courtesy
Delineate → Describe, Outline, Explain
Deride → Mock, Ridicule, Make fun of
Despot → Tyrant, Ruler, Dictator
Detrimental → Harmful, Damaging, Dangerous
Didactic → Instructive, Educational, Teaching
Diligent → Hardworking, Attentive, Focused
Disdain → Scorn, Disrespect, Hate
Disparate → Different, Separate, Unrelated
Disseminate → Spread, Share, Distribute
Dogmatic → Rigid, Strict, Firm
Eccentric → Odd, Strange, Unusual
Eclectic → Mixed, Varied, Diverse
Egregious → Awful, Terrible, Shocking
Elated → Happy, Joyful, Cheerful
Elucidate → Explain, Clarify, Define
Emulate → Copy, Imitate, Match
Enervate → Weaken, Tire, Drain
Engender → Create, Cause, Produce
Ennui → Boredom, Dullness, Weariness
Entreat → Beg, Plead, Request
Enumerate → Count, List, Mention
Ephemeral → Short-lived, Temporary, Brief
Equanimity → Calmness, Peace, Patience
Esoteric → Mysterious, Hidden, Complex
Euphemism → Polite word, Mild term, Substitute
Exacerbate → Worsen, Intensify, Aggravate
Exculpate → Forgive, Clear, Excuse
Fastidious → Picky, Fussy, Demanding
Fatuous → Silly, Foolish, Absurd
Fecund → Productive, Fertile, Creative
Flagrant → Blatant, Clear, Obvious
Flippant → Disrespectful, Saucy, Rude
Fortuitous → Accidental, Lucky, Random
Frivolous → Silly, Unimportant, Trivial
Garrulous → Talkative, Chatty, Wordy
Grandiose → Magnificent, Showy, Impressive
Gregarious → Sociable, Friendly, Outgoing
Guile → Trickery, Deceit, Slyness
Hackneyed → Overused, Cliché, Common
Harbinger → Sign, Signal, Forerunner
Hegemony → Power, Control, Rule
Iconoclast → Rebel, Critic, Challenger
Idiosyncrasy → Habit, Trait, Quirk
Imminent → Near, Coming, Approaching
Immutable → Unchanging, Fixed, Constant
Impetuous → Rash, Hasty, Quick
Implacable → Merciless, Unforgiving, Harsh
Impugn → Question, Dispute, Challenge
Inane → Foolish, Silly, Stupid
Inchoate → Unformed, Beginning, Early
Incisive → Sharp, Clear, Direct
Indolent → Lazy, Idle, Slow
Ineffable → Indescribable, Beyond words, Unexplainable
Inimical → Hostile, Unfriendly, Harmful
Inscrutable → Mysterious, Hard to read, Strange
Insipid → Dull, Boring, Tasteless
Intrepid → Brave, Fearless, Bold
Irascible → Irritable, Angry, Moody

These 100 synonyms are not just vocabulary—they are your stepping stones to scoring better in English-related questions in competitive exams. You don’t have to memorize long definitions. Just remember the core meaning and practice using them in sentences.

Tip: Try learning 10 words a day with examples for better memory.