One-word substitution

 


One-word substitution is the practice of replacing a long phrase with a single, precise word. This tests your grasp of "lexical precision"—the ability to communicate more with fewer words.




1. Substitutes for People and Professions

These often appear in the "Match the Following" section of Paper II.

Phrase One Word

One who believes in God -Theist

One who does not believe in God -Atheist

One who looks at the bright side of things -Optimist

One who looks at the dark side of things- Pessimist

A person who works for the welfare of women -Feminist

A person who loves mankind- Philanthropist

A person who hates mankind- Misanthrope

One who is all-powerful -Omnipotent

One who is present everywhere -Omnipresent

One who knows everything- Omniscient

A person who eats too much -Glutton

One who is indifferent to pleasure or pain- Stoic


2. Substitutes for Government and Politics

Critical for KPSC Group C (Non-Technical) aspirants

Phrase One Word

Government by one person with absolute power- Autocracy

Government by the people, for the people -Democracy

Government by a few powerful people -Oligarchy

Government by the wealthy class -Plutocracy

Government by officials (red tape) -Bureaucracy

Government by the nobility/highest social class- Aristocracy

Absence of any government or order -Anarchy

A state where the laws are based on religion -Theocracy


3. Substitutes for Groups, Collections, and Places

Phrase One Word

A collection of poems or literary pieces- Anthology

A place where birds are kept -Aviary

A place where bees are kept- Apiary

A place where dead bodies are kept for identification- Morgue

A place where government records are kept -Archives

A collection of flowers -Bouquet

A group of stars forming a pattern- Constellation

A large number of fish swimming together- Shoal / School


4. Substitutes for Scientific Studies (Logies)

Phrase One Word

Study of the skin -Dermatology

Study of insects -Entomology

Study of ancient things/civilizations- Archaeology

Study of birds- Ornithology

Study of the human mind and behavior -Psychology

Study of earthquakes -Seismology


5. Important "Cides" (Words for Killing)

Phrase One Word

Killing of one's father -Patricide

Killing of one's mother- Matricide

Killing of a brother -Fratricide

Killing of a king- Regicide

Killing of an infant- Infanticide

Killing of a large group of people (race) -Genocide

Killing of oneself -Suicide.


KPSC Exam Strategy: The Root Word Trick

You don't need to memorize 2,500 words if you know the Roots:

-Cracy: Rule/Government (Democracy, Bureaucracy).

-Logy: Study of (Biology, Zoology).

-Cide: Killing (Homicide, Pesticide).

-Phobia: Fear of (Hydrophobia, Claustrophobia).

-Phil: Love for (Bibliophile, Philanthropist).

Practice Questions

1. A person who is unable to pay his debts:

A) Solvent

B) Insolvent

C) Banker

D) Lender

Answer: B

2. A life history of a person written by himself:

A) Biography

B) Bibliography

C) Autobiography

D) Calligraphy

Answer: C

3. Something that cannot be heard:

A) Audible

B) Inaudible

C) Invisible

D) Illegal

Answer: B











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