Synonyms for Kerala PSC

Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning. They are used to enhance vocabulary, avoid repetition, and improve clarity in writing and communication. 

For eg: happy and joyful are synonyms as both express a positive emotion.

As we know in Kerala PSC exams, synonyms are frequently tested in the English language section to evaluate vocabulary skills.

Following is the list of synonyms and their meanings that are taken from the previous year Kerala PSC question papers.


List of Synonyms & their meanings for Kerala PSC



When the same word is used in multiple locations or a word is used that was not quite appropriate, a thesaurus can be used to look up a (n) __________ or a word similar in meaning  = Synonym. (Superintendent, 2024)

A

  • Abate = Diminish, subside, lessen, decrease.
  • Absurd = Foolish. (Beat Forest Officer, 2018)
  • Abundant = Plentiful, Copious, Overflowing. (LDC Kottayam, 2024)
  • Acquiesce = Agree, consent, comply, assent.
  • Adage = A brief statement that expresses a general truth, or a common saying or observation. (Police Constable, 2023)
  • Ad-hoc = for the special purpose of.  (Beat Forest Officer, 2018)
  • Admonish = Warn, reprimand, rebuke, scold.
  • Adroit = Skillful, dexterous, adept, proficient.
  • Affable = Friendly.  (LDC SR for SC/ST, 2017)
  • Akin = Similar. (Degree Level Prelims, Stage II, 2021)
  • Alert = Watchful. (Woman Police Constable, 2018)
  • Alleviate = Relieve, ease, mitigate, assuage.
  • Alma mater = School/College/University that one formerly attended.
  • Alter ego = intimate friend.
  • Alumna = Woman graduate.
  • Alumni = Old Student in an institution.
  • Ambiguous = Vague, Obscure, Cryptic, Unclear, Equivocal, Obscure.
  • Amendment = modification. (Clerk (various), 2024)
  • Ameliorate = Improve, enhance, upgrade, refine.
  • Amiable = Friendly, Affable, Genial, Cordial.
  • Amicable = Friendly. (Degree level prelims Stage iii, 2024) 
  • Apathy = Indifference, unconcern, disinterest, lethargy.
  • Arbitrary = Random, capricious, whimsical, subjective.
  • Arduous = Difficult, strenuous, laborious, taxing.
  • Assertive = Confident, Bold, Decisive.
  • Attentive = Watchful. (Sergeant, 2015)
  • Au fait = familiar or acquainted with. (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
  • Augur =  to predict/foretell especially from omen.
  • Autobiography = The life history of a man written by himself. (Eligibility Test Lab Assistant, KHSE, 2019)
  • Azure = Blue. (Instructor in Commerce, 2023)


B

  • Babyboom = increase in birthrate. (Beat Forest Officer, 2018)
  • Behaviour = Deportment. (Women Civil Excise Officer, 2018)
  • Benevolent = Kindhearted, Charitable, Compassionate, Generous.
  • Berserk = Out of control with anger or excitement.
  • Betray = Deceive. (Junior Assistant, 2023)
  • Blasphemous = Profane. (Assistant Kannada Knowing, 2024)
  • Black sheep = A disreputable member of a family or a group. (LDC SR for SC/ST, 2017)
  • Bonafide = In good faith.
  • Bon Voyage = Have a pleasant journey.
  • Brisk = Swift, Agile, Vigorous.


C

  • Carpe diem = enjoy the present. (Assistant/LD Clerk/Cashier/Branch Manager, 2024)
  • Censure = Criticize, condemn, denounce, reprimand.
  • Charisma = Magnetic appeal.
  • Chide = Scold.
  • Commence = To begin. (Assistant Prison Officer (Male), 2018)
  • Comprehensive = Extensive, Thorough, Exhaustive.
  • Conceal = Delitescence. (Woman Police Constable, 2017)
  • Concede = Agree. (Degree Prelims Stage III, 2023)
  • Concise = Brief, succinct, terse, pithy.
  • Confluence = Convergence, meeting, junction, merging.
  • Conjecture = Guess, speculate, hypothesize, surmise.
  • Conjurer = A person who does clever tricks which appear magical.  (Clerk Tamil & Kannada knowing, 2024)
  • Consolidate = Strengthen, unify, combine, reinforce.
  • Contempt = Disdain, scorn, disrespect, derision
  • Contrite = Remorseful, repentant, penitent, apologetic
  • Corroborate = Confirm, verify, substantiate, authenticate
  • Credulous = Gullible, naive, trusting, unsuspecting.


D

  • Debauchery = Immoral. (Lab Assistant, HSE, 2017)
  • Deceptive = Misleading, Fraudulent, Illusory.
  • Deleterious = Harmful, detrimental, injurious, adverse.
  • Delineate = Describe, outline, portray, depict.
  • Deprecate = Disapprove, criticize, condemn, object to.
  • Deride = Mock, ridicule, scoff, jeer.
  • Despondent = Depressed, dejected, disheartened, gloomy.
  • Deter = Discourage, prevent, hinder, impede.
  • Diatribe = verbal attack against a person. (SI Mains, 2024) 
  • Diligent = Hardworking, industrious, assiduous, conscientious.
  • Discard = Reject.  (Armed SI SR for ST, 2023)
  • Disciple = Attendant, Adherent, Acolyte.
  • Disposition = Character. (Clerk, 2025)
  • Disparage = Belittle, criticize, denigrate, deprecate.
  • Disseminate = Spread, circulate, distribute, propagate.
  • Dogmatic = Opinionated, assertive, authoritarian, inflexible.
  • Dominant = Prevailing, Supreme, Influential.
  • Dormant = inactive. (Assistant Compiler, 2024)
  • Dubious = Doubtful, uncertain, questionable, suspicious.
  • Dutch courage = Courage induced by alcohol. (LDC, 2017)



E

  • Eccentric = Unusual, odd, peculiar, unconventional.
  • Efficient = Able to perform ones duties well. (Assistant Kannada Knowing, 2024)
  • Eloquent = Fluent, articulate, persuasive, expressive. (LDC Idukki, 2024)
  • Emaciated = Thin.
  • En masse = as a group.
  • Enticing = Enchanting. (Deputy Manager, 2023)
  • Ephemeral = Temporary, short-lived, transient, fleeting. (LDC Kottayam, 2024)
  • Equivocal = Ambiguous, uncertain, vague, dubious.
  • Erudite = Learned, scholarly, knowledgeable, educated.
  • Exacerbate = Worsen, aggravate, intensify, heighten.
  • Exemplary = Outstanding, commendable, praiseworthy, model.
  • Extravagant = Lavish. (Junior Assistant Degree Level Mains, 2023)
  • Exonerate = Clear, acquit, vindicate, absolve.
  • Extol = Praise, applaud, commend, admire.


F

  • Facetious = Humorous, witty, amusing, comical.
  • Fascimile = Exact copy. (LDC Kollam, 2024)
  • Fastidious = Meticulous, scrupulous, punctilious, painstaking.
  • Feud = Quarrel. (Female Warden/Jr Lab Assistant, 2024)
  • Fervent = Passionate, enthusiastic, ardent, zealous.
  • Frugal = Thrifty, economical, sparing, prudent.
  • Futile = Useless, pointless, ineffective, vain.


G

  • Gaunt = Extremely thin and bony.        (Clerk by transfer, 2024)
  • Gregarious = Sociable, outgoing, convivial, affable.


H

  • Hackneyed = Overused, trite, banal, cliché.
  • Hinder = Impede, obstruct, hamper, prevent.
  • Hypocrisy = Insincerity, pretense, duplicity, deceit.


I

  • Immobilize = paralyze.        (Clerk by transfer, 2024)
  • Immutable = Unchangeable, fixed, permanent, invariable.
  • Impartial = Unbiased, neutral, objective, fair.
  • Impetuous = Impulsive, rash, hasty, reckless.
  • Implausible = Unbelievable, improbable, unlikely, doubtful.
  • Inclination = Tendency. (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
  • Incessant = Continuous, constant, unceasing, perpetual.
  • Incipient = Beginning, developing, emerging, nascent.
  • Incorrigible = Incapable of being corrected. (Junior Assistant Degree Level Mains, 2023)
  • Indignant = Angry, resentful, annoyed, offended.
  • Inherent = Innate, intrinsic, natural, inborn.
  • Insolent = Rude, disrespectful, impudent, arrogant.
  • Intrepid = Fearless, courageous, brave, valiant. (SI Mains, 2023)
  • Invincible = that which cannot be conquered or defeated / too powerful to be defeated or overcome.
  • Isolated = Secluded (Reporter Gr II, 2024)


J

  • Judicious = Wise, sensible, prudent, thoughtful.

K

  • Kind hearted = benevolent. (LDC, 2017)


L

  • Lethargic = Sluggish, inactive, lazy, apathetic.
  • Loquacious = Talkative, garrulous, verbose, chatty.
  • Ludicrous = Absolve. (Lab Assistant HSE, 2018)



M

  • Maiden speech = First speech. (Sergeant, 2015)
  • Magnum opus (Latin) = the most important work of an artist, writer etc (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
  • Manifest = Display.
  • Malafide = With bad intention.
  • Malign = Slander, defame, vilify, disparage.
  • Mediocre = One who is neither intelligent nor dull. (LDC SR for SC/ST, 2017)
  • Meticulous = Careful, thorough, precise, painstaking.
  • Misanthropist = One who hates mankind. (Deputy Manager, 2023)
  • Misogynist = A person who hates woman. (Woman Police Constable, 2017)
  • Mitigate = Alleviate, reduce, lessen, ease. (Police Constable, 2023)
  • Modus operandi = method of working.
  • Morose = Gloomy, sullen, melancholy, depressed.


N

  • Nom de plume = pen name.
  • Nota bene = Noted carefully and important.  (LDC, 2017)
  • Novel = New, original, innovative, unique.


O

  • Obvious = Explicit. (Aeromodelling Helper Sergeant, 2017)
  • Obdurate = Stubborn, inflexible, unyielding, obstinate.
  • Obsequious = Servile, submissive, fawning, sycophantic.
  • Obsolete = Outdated, antiquated, archaic, old-fashioned.
  • Ominous = Threatening, menacing, foreboding, inauspicious.
  • Opulent = Wealthy, luxurious, lavish, affluent.
  • Ostentatious = Showy, pretentious, flamboyant, conspicuous.
  • Oligarchy = A country which is governed by a small group of people. (Aeromodelling Helper Sergeant, 2017)
  • Ombudsman = an impartial person who watches for administrative abuses inside organizations. (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
  • Omnipotent = All powerful (Theatre Assistant (Main Exam), 2024)


P

  • Paradox = Contradiction, inconsistency, anomaly, enigma.
  • Parsimonious = Stingy, miserly, frugal, tightfisted.
  • Pauper = A person who has no money. (Degree Prelims Stage III, 2024)
  • Peer = Equal. (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
  • Perfidious = Treacherous, disloyal, faithless, deceitful.
  • Perfunctory = Cursory, superficial, indifferent, routine.
  • Pernicious = Harmful, destructive, detrimental, injurious.
  • Pervasive = Widespread, prevalent, ubiquitous, extensive.
  • Philanthropist = One who is engaged in charity works. (Junior Assistant, 2023)
  • Placate = Appease, pacify, soothe, mollify.
  • Plutocracy = A government controlled by the rich. (LDC, 2017)
  • Pragmatic = Practical, realistic, sensible, down-to-earth.
  • Precarious = Dangerous.
  • Preclude = Prevent, prohibit, exclude, impede.
  • Pretentious = Showy, affected, ostentatious, pompous.
  • Prima facie = At first view. (Sergeant, 2015)
  • Prodigal = Wasteful, extravagant, lavish, spendthrift. (Deputy Collector, 2019)
  • Profound = Deep, insightful, thoughtful, significant.
  • Prolific = Productive, fruitful, abundant, fertile.
  • Propitious = Favorable, auspicious, promising, advantageous.
  • Provincial = Narrow-minded, parochial, insular, limited.
  • Prudent = Careful, cautious, sensible, wise.
  • Pseudonym = The pen name adopted by a writer. (Sergeant, 2015)

Q

  • Quid pro quo = Something given in return for something received. (Deputy Manager, 2023)

R

  • Rancor = Bitterness, resentment, hatred, animosity.
  • Raze = Demolish, destroy, obliterate, devastate.
  • Rectify = Correct, amend, remedy, improve.
  • Redundant = Unnecessary, superfluous, excessive, surplus.
  • Rendezvous = A meeting in an agreed time and place. (Deputy Collector, 2019)
  • Repondez s'il vous plait (RSVP) = Please reply. (SI Mains, 2023)
  • Resemblance = Similarity. (LDC Alappuzha, 2024)
  • Resilient = Tough, strong, durable, adaptable.
  • Reticent = Reserved, silent, taciturn, uncommunicative.
  • Robust = Strong, healthy, vigorous, sturdy.

S


  • Sagacious = Wise, insightful, discerning, shrewd.
  • Salient = Prominent, noticeable, conspicuous, striking.
  • Sanction = Approve, authorize, permit, allow.
  • Sanguine = Optimistic, hopeful, confident, positive.
  • Scared = Very afraid. (Eligibility Test Lab Assistant, KHSE, 2019)
  • Scrupulous = Careful, meticulous, conscientious, punctilious.
  • Sedentary = Inactive. (Degree Level Prelims Stage I, 2021)
  • Senicide = killing an old man / elderly. (VEO, 2019)
  • Shoestring = A small or inadequate budget.
  • Soar = Ascend. (SSLC Level Mains, 2023)
  • Somniloquist = One who talks in sleep. (LDC, 2017)
  • Spartan = To lead a simple life.
  • Sporadic = Occasional, irregular, intermittent, infrequent.
  • Stalwart = Strong, sturdy, robust, valiant.
  • Stolid = Unemotional, impassive, indifferent, apathetic.
  • Sublime = Noble. (Lab Assistant, Officer Attender Gr II, Care taker, LD Clerk, 2023)
  • Substantiate = Prove, verify, confirm, validate.
  • Succinct = Brief, concise, terse, pithy.
  • Succulent = Juicy.
  • Superfluous = Unnecessary, redundant, excessive, surplus.
  • Swarm = A large group of insects moving in a mass. (Clerk Tamil & Kannada knowing, 2024)
  • Sycophant = A person who tries to gain people's favour by insincerely flattering them and agreeing with them. (Armed SI SR for ST, 2023)
  • Synonym = Meaning. (Eligibility Test Lab Assistant, KHSE, 2019)


T

  • Taciturn = Reserved, silent, uncommunicative, reticent.
  • Tenacious = Persistent, determined, resolute, steadfast.
  • Tete-a-tete = private / confidential conversation.
  • Tittle-tattle = Gossip. (Assistant Prison Officer (Male), 2018)
  • To interrogate = To question. (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
  • Transient = Temporary, fleeting, ephemeral, short-lived.
  • Transliterate = Write words or letters in the letters of a different alphabet. (Assistant/Auditor, 2018)
  • Trepidation = Fear, anxiety, apprehension, dread.


U

  • Ubiquitous = Omnipresent, Pervasive, Universal, Widespread.
  • Unanimous = United, Harmonious, Consensual.
  • Unprecedented = Unique, Groundbreaking, Revolutionary.

V

  • Vacillate = Waver, hesitate, fluctuate, oscillate.
  • Venerate = respect, revere, admire, esteem. (Degree level prelims Stage ii, 2024)  
  • Veni vidi vici =  I came, I saw, I conquered.
  • Verbose = Wordy, talkative, loquacious, garrulous.
  • Vicarious = Indirect, secondhand, substitute, empathetic.
  • Vigilant = Watchful, Alert, Attentive, Observant.
  • Virtuoso = Expert, master, skilled, proficient.
  • Volatile = Unstable, changeable, erratic, unpredictable.
  • Vice-versa = in reverse order.
  • Vis-a-vis = opposite / face to face.
  • Vivid = Vivacious. (Drugs control Lab attender, 2024)

W

  • Wary = Cautious, careful, vigilant, circumspect.
  • Whet = Sharpen. (Civil Police Officer, 2018)
  • Whimsical = Capricious, fanciful, playful, quirky.
  • Widower = A man whose wife is dead. (VEO, 2019)
  • Wrath = Anger.

Z
  • Zealous = Enthusiastic, passionate, fervent, ardent.
  • Zenith = Summit.

We have also included one words and other related English meanings as well as Synonyms from the previous year's Kerala PSC question paper, to make it easier for students to study without having to read multiple posts.

Thanks for learning!!!