Top 50 Synonyms & Antonyms Asked in SSC CGL (Real PYQ Data, 2019–2025)

Synonym and antonym questions are one of the most consistent scoring opportunities in SSC CGL Tier 1 English — they test pure vocabulary recall rather than tricky grammar rules, which means the right preparation can turn them into guaranteed marks. We went through official SSC CGL Tier 1 papers from 2019 to 2025 and pulled out every synonym and antonym question that repeated across different shifts and years.

As with our other real-PYQ articles, we did not rely on the dataset's recorded "chosen option" (that reflects what one candidate picked, not an official answer key). Every word below was independently checked against its four given options before being included.

Top 25 Synonyms Asked in SSC CGL

#	Word	Correct Synonym
1	Fury	Anger
2	Obligatory	Mandatory
3	Scintillating	Glittering
4	Pathetic	Pitiful
5	Penitence	Repentance
6	Prevent	Avert
7	Revere	Respect
8	Acknowledgement	Confirmation
9	Prodigal	Extravagant
10	Solitary	Singular
11	Expensive	Dear
12	Retain	Maintain
13	Erudite	Learned
14	Violent	Aggressive
15	Catastrophic	Disastrous
16	Preferred	Favoured
17	Ovation	Applause
18	Cordial	Warm
19	Disheartened	Depressed
20	Juvenile	Childish
21	Repercussion	Reaction
22	Sacred	Holy
23	Weary	Exhausted
24	Accurate	Precise
25	Affluent	Prosperous

Top 25 Antonyms Asked in SSC CGL

#	Word	Correct Antonym
1	Liberty	Slavery
2	Harmony	Conflict
3	Vigilant	Negligent
4	Hostile	Friendly
5	Native	Foreign
6	Repulsive	Attractive
7	Synthetic	Natural
8	Attack	Defence
9	Exodus	Arrival
10	Quiescent	Active
11	Hilarious	Sad
12	Vicious	Virtuous
13	Broad	Narrow
14	Obsolete	Recent
15	Derogatory	Complimentary
16	Sparse	Abundant
17	Friendship	Enmity
18	Dexterity	Ignorance
19	Divide	Unite
20	Bizarre	Usual
21	Allure	Repulse
22	Sluggish	Active
23	Persist	Cease
24	Glee	Woe
25	Fickle	Stable

Note on #18 (Dexterity): the given options were Mastery, Skill, Agility, and Ignorance — none is a true antonym (the real opposite is "clumsiness"), but Ignorance is the closest fit among what was actually offered in the paper, so that's what we've listed.

How to Use This List

Don't just memorize the pairs in isolation. For each word, try using it in a sentence, and note its part of speech — many SSC CGL distractors are built from related but wrong forms of a word (like an adjective swapped for a noun). Revise this list in short daily bursts rather than one long sitting; vocabulary retention works better with spaced repetition than with cramming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many questions come from Synonyms and Antonyms in SSC CGL Tier 1?
Based on our full dataset analysis across the English section, Synonym and Antonym questions together account for over 700 questions across the 2019–2025 papers we examined, making vocabulary one of the highest-yield areas to prepare.

Q2. Are these words repeated across different years?
Yes. Every word in this list appeared in at least two different papers (different years or shifts), which is exactly why we prioritized them — they represent vocabulary the exam returns to often, not one-off appearances.

Q3. Should I trust "answer keys" found online for practice papers?
Be cautious. Many circulating PYQ sheets record what one candidate answered, not an official key. Always verify vocabulary answers independently against dictionary meaning rather than trusting an unverified source.

Q4. What's the difference between preparing synonyms and antonyms versus one-word substitutions?
Synonyms and antonyms test direct word-to-word recall, while one-word substitution tests recognizing a full phrase's meaning — both are vocabulary-based, but require slightly different practice approaches. See our One-Word Substitutions PYQ list for the second type.

For more vocabulary-focused practice, check out our Idioms and Phrases PYQ list and our Common Errors in SSC CGL English guide.