Last reviewed 30 Sept 2026 · 11 min read
What the question asks
A phrase or a definition is given, and you must choose the single word that means the same. One who knows everything → omniscient. The best way to master this is to learn words in groups and to use roots (prefixes and suffixes) to unlock their meaning.
Exam TipUsing word roots
Many of these words are built from Greek or Latin parts: -cide (killing), -phobia (fear), -mania (obsession), -cracy (rule), -ology (study), -arium (place for). Once you know the root, a group of words becomes easy.
Persons — characters and roles
| Phrase | Word |
|---|---|
| One who knows everything | omniscient |
| One who is present everywhere | omnipresent |
| One who has unlimited power | omnipotent |
| One who loves mankind | philanthropist |
| One who hates mankind | misanthrope |
| One who hates women | misogynist |
| One who lives alone away from society | hermit / recluse |
| One who is new to a field | novice / tyro |
| One who is careful about small details | meticulous / pedant (pedant: over-attentive to learning and rules) |
| One who does not believe in God | atheist |
| One who believes that God cannot be known | agnostic |
| One who believes in God | theist |
| One who thinks only about himself | egoist / egotist |
| One who cares for others' welfare | altruist |
| One who is fond of good food and drink | gourmet / gourmand / epicure |
| One who eats too much | glutton |
| One who eats human flesh | cannibal |
| One who eats only vegetables | vegetarian |
| One who eats everything | omnivorous |
| One who sees the bright side of everything | optimist |
| One who sees the dark side | pessimist |
| One who is skilled in many fields | polymath / versatile |
| One who speaks two languages | bilingual |
| One who speaks many languages | polyglot / multilingual |
| One who can use both hands equally | ambidextrous |
| One who is incapable of being corrected | incorrigible |
| One who cannot be defeated | invincible |
| One who cannot be seen | invisible |
| One who cannot be heard | inaudible |
| One who cannot read or write | illiterate |
| One who lives at the same time | contemporary |
| A person of 100 years | centenarian |
| A person who walks in sleep | somnambulist |
| A person who makes maps | cartographer |
| A person who studies handwriting | graphologist |
Fear and obsession
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| claustrophobia | fear of closed spaces |
| acrophobia | fear of heights |
| agoraphobia | fear of open spaces or crowds |
| hydrophobia | fear of water |
| xenophobia | fear or hatred of foreigners |
| photophobia | fear of light |
| cynophobia | fear of dogs |
| kleptomania | irresistible urge to steal |
| pyromania | urge to set things on fire |
| megalomania | delusion of greatness or power |
| monomania | obsession with one subject |
| bibliomania | craze for collecting books |
| nostalgia | longing for the past |
| insomnia | inability to sleep |
Killing (-cide)
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| homicide | killing a human being |
| suicide | killing oneself |
| regicide | killing a king |
| patricide | killing a father |
| matricide | killing a mother |
| fratricide | killing a brother |
| infanticide | killing an infant |
| genocide | killing a race or group |
| insecticide | that which kills insects |
| pesticide | that which kills pests |
| germicide | that which kills germs |
Government and rule (-cracy, -archy)
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| democracy | rule by the people |
| autocracy | rule by one person with absolute power |
| aristocracy | rule by the nobles |
| plutocracy | rule by the rich |
| theocracy | rule by religious leaders |
| bureaucracy | rule by officials |
| monarchy | rule by a king or queen |
| oligarchy | rule by a few |
| anarchy | absence of government, disorder |
| matriarchy / patriarchy | rule by women / men |
| utopia | an ideal, imaginary perfect place |
| dictatorship | rule by a dictator |
Study of and science of (-ology)
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| anthropology | study of man and his origins |
| archaeology | study of ancient remains |
| astrology | study of the influence of stars on human life |
| astronomy | study of heavenly bodies |
| biology | study of living things |
| ecology | study of relation between organisms and environment |
| entomology | study of insects |
| etymology | study of the origin of words |
| geology | study of the earth's structure |
| ornithology | study of birds |
| philology | study of languages |
| pathology | study of diseases |
| psychology | study of the mind |
| seismology | study of earthquakes |
| zoology | study of animals |
| numismatics | study of coins |
| philately | collecting/study of stamps |
| calligraphy | art of beautiful handwriting |
Medicine
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| antidote | a medicine against poison |
| paediatrician | doctor for children |
| cardiologist | heart specialist |
| neurologist | nerve specialist |
| gynaecologist | doctor for women's health |
| dermatologist | skin specialist |
| oculist / ophthalmologist | eye specialist |
| orthopaedic | bone specialist |
| obstetrician | doctor who delivers babies |
| epidemic | a disease spreading widely among many at once |
| pandemic | an epidemic over the whole world |
| endemic | a disease regularly found in a region |
| panacea | a remedy for all diseases |
| quarantine | isolation to prevent spread of disease |
Places and buildings (-arium, -ery)
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| aquarium | place to keep water animals |
| aviary | place to keep birds |
| apiary | place to keep bees |
| orphanage | home for orphans |
| sanatorium | place for the treatment of long-term illness |
| mortuary | place where dead bodies are kept |
| crematorium | place where bodies are cremated |
| cemetery | burial ground |
| granary | store of grain |
| armoury / arsenal | store of weapons |
| library | place of books |
| museum | place for objects of art and history |
| observatory | place to observe stars |
| dormitory | large room with many beds |
| laboratory | place for scientific experiments |
| menagerie | collection of wild animals |
| nursery | place where plants are grown |
| stable | place for horses |
| kennel | shelter for dogs |
| asylum | place of refuge; also for mentally ill |
| cloister | place of religious seclusion |
| oasis | fertile spot in a desert |
Collections and groups
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| anthology | a collection of poems or writings |
| herbarium | a collection of dried plants |
| audience | a group of listeners |
| congregation | a gathering of worshippers |
| fleet | a group of ships |
| flock | a group of sheep/birds |
| galaxy | a group of stars |
| panel | a group of experts |
| bouquet | a bunch of flowers |
| archipelago | a group of islands |
| constellation | a group of stars in a pattern |
| litter | a group of puppies/kittens |
| swarm | a group of bees |
Speech, writing and sound
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| monologue | a speech by one person alone |
| dialogue | conversation between two |
| soliloquy | speaking one's thoughts aloud alone (in a play) |
| epitaph | writing on a tomb |
| obituary | notice of a person's death |
| autobiography | life story written by oneself |
| biography | life story written by another |
| anonymous | of unknown name |
| pseudonym | a false name, pen name |
| eulogy | a speech in praise |
| sermon | a religious talk |
| oration | a formal speech |
| manuscript | a handwritten document |
| palindrome | a word or phrase that reads the same backwards |
| inaudible | not able to be heard |
| unanimous | with the agreement of all |
| verbatim | word for word |
| euphemism | a mild word instead of a harsh one |
Abstract ideas and conditions
| Phrase | Word |
|---|---|
| That which cannot be avoided | inevitable / unavoidable |
| That which cannot be believed | incredible |
| That which cannot be imitated | inimitable |
| That which cannot be explained | inexplicable |
| That which cannot be corrected | incorrigible |
| That which cannot be read | illegible |
| That which cannot be done | impracticable / impossible |
| One who cannot be appeased | implacable |
| That which cannot be satisfied | insatiable |
| That which can be easily broken | fragile / brittle |
| That which can be eaten | edible |
| That which lasts for a very short time | ephemeral / transient |
| That which lasts forever | eternal / everlasting / perpetual |
| That which is out of date | obsolete |
| That which is no longer in use | archaic / obsolete |
| That which is spread all over | pervasive / ubiquitous |
| Something that is done in secret | clandestine |
| A remedy for all | panacea |
| A statement that seems to contradict itself but may be true | paradox |
| Story with a moral, using animals | fable |
| An imaginary story with a moral meaning | allegory |
| A story of a hero's deeds, in verse | epic |
| Habit of using too many words | verbosity / prolixity |
Behaviour and conditions
| Phrase | Word |
|---|---|
| Fond of talking too much | garrulous / loquacious |
| Speaking little | taciturn / reticent |
| Fond of the company of others | gregarious |
| Living on plants | herbivorous |
| Living on flesh | carnivorous |
| Living both on land and water | amphibian |
| Living in trees | arboreal |
| Active at night | nocturnal |
| Active in the day | diurnal |
| One who talks in his sleep | somniloquist |
| Feeling happy in the misfortune of others | schadenfreude |
| Unwillingness to give way | obstinacy |
| Not moved by feelings | stoic / impassive |
Worked ExampleExample 1
A person who knows two languages — (a) polyglot (b) bilingual (c) linguist (d) bibliophile
Solution. Bi- means two, so the word is bilingual (b); polyglot knows many languages, a linguist studies language, and a bibliophile loves books.
Worked ExampleExample 2
A government by the rich → plutocracy (pluto = wealth).
Worked ExampleExample 3
Study of ancient things → archaeology; study of stars → astronomy; study of coins → numismatics.
Tips for learning
- Learn the roots: -cide, -cracy, -phobia, -mania, -ology, -arium/-ary, -vorous (eating), -loquent (speaking).
- Learn in groups (fears, killings, governments).
- Use mnemonics — herbivorous (herb-eating), carnivorous (carne = meat).
- Revise regularly and use the words in sentences.
- In the exam, eliminate options by their root.
Revision SummarySummary
- One-word substitutions are best learnt in groups by their root.
- Key groups: -cide (killing), -cracy/-archy (rule), -phobia/-mania, -ology (study), -arium/-ary (places), collections.
- Learn person types: omniscient, omnipotent, philanthropist, misanthrope, atheist, agnostic, polyglot.
- Check the exact definition — many words look similar (epidemic/pandemic/endemic).
- Revise regularly and practise with sentences.