Free One Word Substitution MCQs with Answers

173 One Word Substitution MCQs from English, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

One-word substitution replaces a descriptive phrase with a single precise word, such as a person who cannot read or a place where aircraft are kept. Questions test vocabulary for people, actions, qualities, places and systems, along with distinctions between near-synonyms and correct spelling.

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173 questions · page 5 of 9

Moderate
  • A. Astrology
  • B. Paleontology
  • C. Meteorology
  • D. Geology

Explanation: Astrology is the practice of judging supposed effects of the stars and planets on human life.

Correct answer: Astrology
Moderate
  • A. Centenary
  • B. Elysium
  • C. Assassin
  • D. None of the above

Explanation: A centenary marks the hundredth anniversary of an event. The word century refers to a period of one hundred years, whereas centenary…

Correct answer: Centenary
Moderate
  • A. Cosmopolitan
  • B. Unsophisticated
  • C. Provincial
  • D. All of the above

Explanation: A cosmopolitan person is familiar with and comfortable in different countries and cultures.

Correct answer: Cosmopolitan
Very hard
  • A. Monarchy
  • B. Gerontocracy
  • C. Paedocracy
  • D. Autocracy

Explanation: Gerontocracy means government by elderly people, from Greek geron meaning old man or elder.

Correct answer: Gerontocracy
Fairly easy
  • A. Encyclopedia
  • B. Cynic
  • C. Desperado
  • D. Elysium

Explanation: An encyclopedia is a reference work containing information on many branches of knowledge.

Correct answer: Encyclopedia
Moderate
  • A. Constellation
  • B. Plainness
  • C. Elysium
  • D. None of the above

Explanation: Constellation can mean a group or arrangement of related things, and it most commonly refers to a recognised group of stars.

Correct answer: Constellation
Moderate
  • A. Convalescent
  • B. Regressing
  • C. Faltering
  • D. Failing

Explanation: A convalescent is a person recovering from an illness or medical treatment. The other choices describe decline or weakness, not recovery.

Correct answer: Convalescent
Hard
  • A. Emigrate
  • B. Eradicate
  • C. Immigrate
  • D. Extempore

Explanation: To emigrate means to leave one's own country to settle elsewhere, while to immigrate means to enter a foreign country for settlement.

Correct answer: Emigrate
Easy
  • A. Optimist
  • B. Patricide
  • C. Pessimist
  • D. Philanthropist

Explanation: A pessimist habitually expects or notices the worst, so such a person looks on the dark side of things.

Correct answer: Pessimist
Easy
  • A. Pessimist
  • B. Novice
  • C. Optimist
  • D. Credulous

Explanation: An optimist expects favourable outcomes and focuses on the positive side of situations.

Correct answer: Optimist
Fairly easy
  • A. Dead Letter
  • B. Adjustment Letter
  • C. Complaint Letter
  • D. Acknowledgment Letter

Explanation: A dead letter is a letter that cannot be delivered to or claimed by its intended recipient.

Correct answer: Dead Letter
Fairly easy
  • A. Anonymous
  • B. Identified
  • C. Signed
  • D. Apostate

Explanation: An anonymous composition has no name or identifying signature attached to its writer. Signed and identified have the opposite meaning.

Correct answer: Anonymous
Very hard
  • A. Petticoat government
  • B. Corporatocracy
  • C. Patriarchy
  • D. None of these

Explanation: “Petticoat government” is an informal expression for government or domination by women.

Correct answer: Petticoat government
Moderate
  • A. matricide
  • B. parricide
  • C. regicide
  • D. patricide

Explanation: Matricide means the killing of one’s mother, from Latin mater meaning “mother.” Parricide is the killing of a parent or close relative…

Correct answer: matricide
Fairly easy
  • A. filicide
  • B. fratricide
  • C. genocide
  • D. homicide

Explanation: Genocide is the deliberate destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

Correct answer: genocide
Fairly easy
  • A. hamlet
  • B. aviary
  • C. apiary
  • D. none of these

Explanation: A hamlet is a very small settlement, usually smaller than a village and often without its own church or other major facilities.

Correct answer: hamlet
Moderate
  • A. cares & worries
  • B. cares & failures
  • C. mistakes & failures
  • D. Worries & troubles

Explanation: Infallible literally means incapable of making mistakes or being wrong, so “mistakes and failures” is the closest option.

Correct answer: mistakes & failures
Moderate
  • A. regicide
  • B. suicide
  • C. patricide
  • D. parricide

Explanation: Regicide is the killing of a king or other monarch. Suicide means killing oneself, patricide means killing one’s father, and parricide…

Correct answer: regicide
Easy
  • A. Claustrophobia
  • B. Misogynist
  • C. Ambidextrous
  • D. Philanthropy

Explanation: Claustrophobia is the fear of enclosed or closed spaces. A misogynist dislikes women, an ambidextrous person uses both hands well, and…

Correct answer: Claustrophobia
Fairly easy
  • A. delinquent
  • B. frank
  • C. juvenile
  • D. guilty

Explanation: A delinquent is a person, especially a young person, who habitually breaks the law or violates accepted social standards.

Correct answer: delinquent