General English Vocabulary UK MCQs

1. Which is not what it seems to be?

2. Which kind of person can keep a secret?

3. A practitioner of law is referred to as a _________ in British English.

4. Which of the following is an antonym to "steadfast"?

5. Which of the following is an antonym to "ample"?

6. Which of the following would measure the size of a diamond?

7. Which of the following is used in a religious ritual?

8. Which is the best definition for "irascible"?

9. The new edition conflates the original text with scholarly commentary. "Conflates" most nearly means ...

10. Which of the following is the best definition of venerable?

11. Which of the following is a synonym for "before"?

12. Which is most commonly used as a verb?

13. Which type of person is likely to believe something uncritically?

14. Which is the best definition for "emollient"?

15. Father was kind but parsimonious. "Parsimonious" most nearly means ....

16. Which means "relating to the ears"?

17. Which might describe the weather?

18. We dove in search of starfish and other echinoderms. "Echinoderms" most nearly means ...

19. Which of the following is an antonym to "discord"?

20. Which of the following is a synonym for "praise"?

21. He disdained doing his math homework. "Disdained" most nearly means:

22. Galileo was forced to recant his heliocentric theory. "Recant" most nearly means ...

23. Choose the best word to complete the following sentence: The woman just started playing chess, so she was a true ________.

24. Leonardo da Vinci was the quintessential polymath. "Polymath" most nearly means ...

25. Which is the best definition for "concatenate"?

26. Which properly completes this sentence: "She gave the dog ____ bone"?

27. Which means "against the rules"?

28. Which of the following is the best definition of amicable?

29. Which does an artist use?

30. Which means "to determine the value of"?

31. Which kind of person is unable to believe something?

32. Which is a baby deer?

33. The embattled politician was granted asylum in a nearby country. "Asylum" most nearly means:

34. Choose the best word to complete the following sentence: The _____ woman used her wealth to help others.

35. Which is the middle number in a set (half the values are above and half are below)?

36. Which is used to tie up a package?

37. Which of the following is a synonym for "change"?

38. The professor gave the student sagacious advice. "Sagacious" most nearly means:

39. The side dish was a mélange of runner beans and carrots. "Mélange" most nearly means ...

40. Whose keys are they? ____ keys.

41. He poured the soup into a tureen. "Tureen" most nearly means ...

42. Which means "morally wrong"?

43. Where might you have left your keys?

44. Who would you go to for relationship advice?

45. Which means "relating to the weather"?

46. Which means "to start something"?

47. ____ not leaving without their keys, are they?

48. Which means "not including"?

49. Wilde spawned a multitude of epigones, but no true successor. "Epigones" most nearly means ...

50. Which of the following is an antonym to "diminish"?

51. The boss showed his sagacity in naming Ellen as his successor. "Sagacity" most nearly means ...

52. Which is the best definition for "feign"?

53. Which of the following might contain a liquid?

54. Which is the best definition for "perfidy"?

55. Which of the following is the best definition of opulent?

56. My car has a flat ______.

57. The apartment was on the seamy side of town. "Seamy" most nearly means ...

58. Choose the best word to complete the following sentence: The man _____ to his problems, but did not explicitly describe them.

59. Choose the best word to complete the following sentence: His friend was ______ after a long night at the bar.

60. Which is the best definition for "propitiate"?

61. Which of the following is an antonym to "acquit"?

62. Which of the following is a synonym for "dam"?

63. Which is the best definition for "antediluvian"?

64. Which means "to mark out offending material"?

65. The tedious presentation was filled with superfluous information. "Superfluous" most nearly means:

66. We'd rarely seen such a tenebrous day. "Tenebrous" most nearly means ....

67. The boss would only adumbrate next year's strategy. "Adumbrate" most nearly means ...

68. Which of the following is the best definition of "thrifty"?

69. He had no patience for a caitiff soldier. "Caitiff" most nearly means ....

70. Which of the following is a tool?

71. The youngsters' argot was incomprehensible to the rest of us. "Argot" most nearly means ...

72. Which of the following is an antonym to "compulsory"?

73. Which of the following is an editing mark?

74. Which is the best definition for "ossify"?

75. Bringing up religion at the party would have been impolitic. "Impolitic" most nearly means ...

76. Which of the following is a geographic feature?

77. Which is the best definition for "dotage"?

78. Which of the following is a synonym for "shave"?

79. Which of the following means "bring up for discussion"?

80. Which is the best definition for "recidivist"?

81. Which of the following is an antonym to "barren"?

82. Which of the following is a type of fabric?

83. Which of the following is a synonym for "carried"?

84. Wolves roam on the taiga. "Taiga" most nearly means ....

85. Which is the best definition for "saturnine"?

86. The baby is crying. May be she needs a _______ change.

87. Which is the best definition for "fatuous"?

88. The first step is to solve for the abscissa. "Abscissa" most nearly means ...

89. Which of the following is an antonym to "boon"?

90. Which is the best definition for "inchoate"?

91. Which is the best definition for "laconic"?

92. Which of the following is an antonym to "spendthrift"?

93. Which of the following is the best definition of circuitous?

94. Which is the best definition for "impecunious"?

95. Which is the best definition for "deracinate"?

96. Legerdemain is the key element in a magician's bag of tricks. "Legerdemain" most nearly means ...

97. Which is the best definition for "tyro"?

98. Which of the following is an antonym to "attenuate"?

99. I love to go on road trips. But I prefer to ride pillion on the _______.

100. Which is the best definition for "sedulous"?

101. Which is the best definition for "ingenuous"?

102. Shakespeare's sobriquet is "the Bard." "Sobriquet" most nearly means ...

103. Which is the edge of a road or sidewalk?

104. Her oleaginous attitude toward the owner contrasted sharply with her typical manner. "Oleaginous" most nearly means ...

105. Which is the best definition for "enervate"?

106. Which of the following is a synonym for "stream"?

107. What do you call an instance of turning something aside from its course?

108. Which is the best definition for "feign"??

109. n. A mass or crowd; multitude. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

110. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. INORDINATE

111. n. The act or fact of lessening; reduction. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

112. Mr Winthrop was dismayed to discover that his wilful young wife __________ her wealth and __________ the law at every opportunity.

113. The plots of all her novels just seem to MEANDER along, to the point where I can't follow the storyline or figure out who's who.

114. Although _________ wanted to keep the boat all to _________, I knew it would be used extensively by both Susan and _________.

115. Who has the power to _________ out justice to the citizens of this country?

116. She entered the ballroom on the arm of a DEBONAIR young man.

117. adj. Narrow-minded; limited in scope. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

118. The workers were allowed to ___________ down once they'd ________ the brick, but the foreman himself has not yet ___________ down.

119. We all remarked on how well the spray of begonias _____________ her hair colour.

120. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. MITIGATE

121. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. AVARICE

122. The diplomats, who have been accused of DUPLICITY by their respective countries, have been removed from their posts.

123. v. To impose with authority; urge strongly. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

124. The recent shenanigans in the town square went against all PRECEPTS of decency.

125. The journalist denied that he had any PRURIENT interest in the politician's private life, but his titillating articles seemed to indicate otherwise.

126. adj. Easily provoked to anger; irritable. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

127. adj. Sluggish; apathetic; dull. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

128. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. REFUTE

129. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. LASSITUDE

130. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. ITINERANT

131. n. A position that entails little work but provides a salary. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

132. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. ADVERSE

133. n. Local or provincial dialect. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

134. n. Flair; style; a flamboyant manner. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

135. adj. Understood by or intended for only a select few or a particular group. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

136. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. NONCHALANT

137. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. PRETENTIOUS

138. adj. Similar to something else in certain respects, as in form, function, or meaning. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

139. Capacity for producing a desired result; effectiveness. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

140. adj. Tending to create ill will or give offense. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

141. Running around barefoot in the snow will only EXACERBATE your flu symptoms.

142. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below. RILE

143. v. To issue a vehement verbal attack; to denounce explosively. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

144. It's a good thing you're so _________ at paperwork, because you'll need to fill out hundreds of forms to __________ a child.

145. The skilful candidate's ____________ speech was delightful to listen to, but failed to explain how he would achieve the ___________ goals of peace and prosperity.

146. Oscar, who did not possess a discerning __________, preferred hotdogs to steak.

147. Her MELLIFLUOUS voice is perfectly suited to lullabies and never fails to put us all to sleep.

148. The exchange student was disheartened by the rather BRUSQUE welcome she received from her host family.

149. It would BEHOVE you to show a little more respect to the judge and jury who are deciding your case.

150. The companies are __________ committed to developing educational television programmes for children.

151. The coach was absolutely disgusted by his team's INDOLENCE and nasty attitude.

152. This experiment was designed to ___________ certain behaviours from the test subjects.

153. The WIZENED old woman gave Jack a handful of beans and some good advice.

154. I screamed as the monstrous presence snaked towards me on the dark and __________ path.

155. She always got a VICARIOUS thrill from watching her father skydive.

156. The soldier's EXEMPLARY conduct did not go unnoticed by his sergeant.

157. That gruelling competition really tested the _____________ of the gymnastics team.

158. Now that the festivities have ended, perhaps we can return to some SEMBLANCE of normality.

159. Roger might be more AMENABLE to your ideas if you presented them without sneering.

160. Alicia, who loved both men equally and wanted to hurt neither, found herself in quite a QUANDARY over which one she should choose.

161. We expected the waiter to shoo us out of that snooty restaurant in a hurry, but he turned out to be quite jolly and __________.

162. The mysterious message Claude received could be a HARBINGER of what's in store for him and his family.

163. These artists really IMBUE their work with a spirit of profound freedom.

164. Agatha RUMINATED for weeks about the consequences of telling Arthur about the affair.

165. I can _________ all the terms of the lease for the flat _________ the one about not allowing pets.

166. It seems we've reached an IMPASSE in our negotiations.

167. The despot's MINIONS were only too eager to tout his edicts and report any unrest among his subjects.

168. Maude managed to sweep up the broken dishes without a word of REPROOF to her children.

169. The community theatre troupe faced one problem after another, so it was no surprise that their season ended in a DEBACLE.

170. Our solicitors have informed us that whilst the new tax laws will not __________ our business directly, they may have an adverse _________ on the spending power of our clients.

171. Though he didn't win the advertising account, Sal made a __________ presentation that he can be proud of.

172. His son's group of friends had a DELETERIOUS effect on his schoolwork.

173. She hastened to _________ me that she intends to pay the bill, and that she will _________ that the cheque is posted today.

174. Alec has always been CONTEMPTUOUS of his fellow writers.

175. The publicist was surprised by the INUNDATION of fan letters for her top client.

176. Poverty is RIFE in the rural areas of our county, where one in three families receives some assistance.

177. Rachel knew that she'd soon be living in ___________ circumstances unless she got her financial problems ____________ out immediately.

178. Sally was greatly __________ when I said I didn't like redheads.

179. The crafty spy gave a ____________ name to the hotel clerk.

180. Marilyn conveyed a BLITHE indifference to the troubles that mounted around her.

181. Dan was a nice bloke, but he was far too GARRULOUS and tended to monopolize people at parties.

182. We fully expect Elizabeth to FOIST her work on us and disappear for the weekend as usual.

183. She launched her new line of handbags _________ a fanfare of publicity.

184. adj. Hardhearted; unmoved by pity. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

185. The _________ poet, knowing his death was _________, struggled to finish his final ode.

186. The only ________________ difference between the twins is the shape of their noses.