Daily Vocabulary Test – 18 July 2026
✓ Editorials Covered: 3
✓ Total Questions: 80
✓ Difficulty: Moderate–Advanced
✓ Estimated Time: 45 Minutes
Covers:
✓ Vocabulary MCQs
✓ Synonyms
✓ Antonyms
✓ Idioms & Phrases
✓ One Word Substitution
✓ Fill in the Blanks
✓ Word Formation
✓ Spotting the Error
✓ Spelling Test
✓ Cloze Test
Start Test ↓
SECTION A/10: VOCABULARY MASTERY
1. What is the meaning of the word ‘purposeless’ in the context of the Cadaver Synod article?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Meaningless, pointless, or senseless
💡 Explanation: Purposeless means meaningless, pointless, senseless, or futile.
2. Which of the following best describes the usage of the word ‘outpace’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. To go, rise, or improve faster than someone or something else
💡 Explanation: Outpace means to surpass, exceed, outstrip, or overtake.
3. In the context of drug abuse, what does the adjective ‘festering’ imply?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Becoming worse or more intense due to neglect
💡 Explanation: Festering implies worsening, deteriorating, brewing, or intensifying.
4. “The theatre degrades the tribunal more than the accused.” What is a ‘tribunal’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. A court of justice or body established to settle a dispute
💡 Explanation: A tribunal refers to a court, board, panel, or judiciary.
5. “The outlay is likely to be spent lavishly…” The word ‘lavishly’ refers to:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. In a sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious manner
💡 Explanation: Lavishly means extravagantly, generously, profusely, or abundantly.
6. What does ‘gargantuan’ mean in the phrase “gargantuan proportions”?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Enormous in size, volume, or degree
💡 Explanation: Gargantuan means massive, huge, colossal, or gigantic.
7. Which of the following defines ‘unilateral’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved
💡 Explanation: Unilateral implies a one-sided, independent, single-handed, or arbitrary action.
8. What is the meaning of ‘leverage’ as a verb?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. To use something to maximum advantage
💡 Explanation: Leverage means to utilize, make use of, capitalize on, or exploit.
9. In the context of drug addiction, ‘rehabilitation’ refers to:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. The action of restoring someone to health or normal life through training and therapy
💡 Explanation: Rehabilitation means recovery, therapy, restoration, or healing.
10. “Impeachment is not punishment.” What does ‘impeachment’ mean?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. A charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public office
💡 Explanation: Impeachment refers to an indictment, accusation, prosecution, or arraignment of a public official.
11. What is an ‘ecosystem’ in an industrial context (e.g., semiconductor ecosystem)?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. A complex network or interconnected system
💡 Explanation: In business, an ecosystem refers to a complex network or interconnected system supporting an industry.
12. Identify the correct meaning of ‘contraband’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Goods that have been imported, exported, or possessed illegally
💡 Explanation: Contraband refers to smuggled goods, illicit goods, or illegal items.
13. The word ‘jurisdiction’ most closely means:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. The official power to make legal decisions and judgments
💡 Explanation: Jurisdiction means authority, power, control, or dominion.
14. What does the adjective ‘fraught’ imply in the phrase “geopolitically fraught environment”?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Causing or affected by anxiety or stress
💡 Explanation: Fraught means anxious, worried, stressed, or uneasy.
15. “Psychotropic substances” are drugs that:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Affect a person’s mental state
💡 Explanation: Psychotropic relates to drugs that are psychoactive, mind-altering, or psychiatric.
SECTION B/10: SYNONYMS
16. Choose the closest synonym for ‘consecration’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Sanctification
💡 Explanation: Consecration means solemn dedication to a special purpose; dedication, devotion, sanctification.
17. Choose the closest synonym for ‘deterrent’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Disincentive
💡 Explanation: Deterrent is a thing that discourages someone; disincentive, discouragement, obstacle.
18. Choose the closest synonym for ‘streamline’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Optimize
💡 Explanation: Streamline means to make an organization or system more efficient; rationalize, simplify, optimize.
19. Choose the closest synonym for ‘insurrection’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Mutiny
💡 Explanation: Insurrection is a violent uprising against an authority; rebellion, revolt, uprising, mutiny.
20. Choose the closest synonym for ‘tantalising’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Enticing
💡 Explanation: Tantalising means exciting one’s senses or desires; teasing, enticing, tempting, alluring.
21. Choose the closest synonym for ‘intricately’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Convolutedly
💡 Explanation: Intricately means in a very complicated or detailed manner; complexly, elaborately, tangledly, convolutedly.
22. Choose the closest synonym for ‘censure’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Condemnation
💡 Explanation: Censure is the expression of formal disapproval; condemnation, criticism, reprimand, rebuke.
23. Choose the closest synonym for ‘pursuit’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Quest
💡 Explanation: Pursuit refers to an endeavor, undertaking, quest, or activity.
24. Choose the closest synonym for ‘crippling’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Paralyzing
💡 Explanation: Crippling means devastating, debilitating, paralyzing, or destructive.
25. Choose the closest synonym for ‘disclose’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Divulge
💡 Explanation: Disclose means to make secret or new information known; reveal, divulge, uncover, expose.
SECTION C/10: ANTONYMS
26. Choose the antonym for ‘unfit’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Capable
💡 Explanation: Unfit means unsuitable or incapable. Capable is its opposite.
27. Choose the antonym for ‘insignificant’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Substantial
💡 Explanation: Insignificant means trivial or minor. Substantial (significant) is its opposite.
28. Choose the antonym for ‘speedy’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Sluggish
💡 Explanation: Speedy means fast or rapid. Sluggish (slow) is the antonym.
29. Choose the antonym for ‘deliberate’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Accidental
💡 Explanation: Deliberate means done consciously and intentionally. Accidental is its opposite.
30. Choose the antonym for ‘boom’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. Slump
💡 Explanation: Boom means a period of rapid economic growth. A slump or recession is its opposite.
31. Choose the antonym for ‘reliability’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. Inconsistency
💡 Explanation: Reliability means dependability or consistency. Inconsistency is its antonym.
32. Choose the antonym for ‘impossible’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Feasible
💡 Explanation: Impossible means unattainable. Feasible (possible) is the antonym.
33. Choose the antonym for ‘welcome’ (adjective).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. Dreaded
💡 Explanation: Welcome as an adjective means gladly received or pleasing. Dreaded or unwelcome is its opposite.
34. Choose the antonym for ‘effective’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Ineffective
💡 Explanation: Effective means successful or productive. Ineffective is its exact antonym.
35. Choose the antonym for ‘condemn’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Praise
💡 Explanation: Condemn means to express complete disapproval of. Praise is its antonym.
SECTION D/10: IDIOMS & PHRASES
36. What is the meaning of the phrase ‘hold someone hostage’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. To keep someone in a vulnerable position or under one’s control to force compliance
💡 Explanation: It means to coerce, manipulate, or hold to ransom to force compliance with specific demands.
37. Which of the following defines ‘out of the grasp of’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Beyond someone’s ability to achieve, reach, or understand
💡 Explanation: ‘Out of the grasp of’ means beyond reach, unattainable, or unachievable.
38. “Equally important is to strengthen cyber forensic capabilities so that neither investigation nor prosecution is found wanting.” What does ‘found wanting’ mean?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. To be discovered as lacking in quality, skill, or essential requirements
💡 Explanation: ‘Found wanting’ means deficient, lacking, inadequate, or short of expectations.
39. What is the meaning of the phrase ‘at the edge of’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. On the brink of, on the verge of, or near
💡 Explanation: ‘At the edge of’ means on the brink of, on the verge of, near, close to.
40. What does the expression ‘in the pipeline’ signify?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. In the process of being planned or developed; in preparation
💡 Explanation: ‘In the pipeline’ means under way, coming up, on the way, or in preparation.
SECTION E/10: ONE WORD SUBSTITUTION
41. Required, permitted, or enacted by statute; legal, legislative, or constitutional is called:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Statutory
💡 Explanation: Statutory means required, permitted, or enacted by statute; legal, lawful, legislative.
42. The total amount of money set aside for a specific purpose; fund, capital, pool, reserve is known as:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Corpus
💡 Explanation: Corpus refers to the total amount of money set aside for a specific purpose.
43. A person who sells illegal drugs or stolen goods; drug dealer, trafficker, supplier is known as a:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Peddler
💡 Explanation: A peddler is a person who sells illegal drugs or stolen goods; trafficker, pusher.
44. An earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances is a:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Precedent
💡 Explanation: A precedent is an earlier event/action regarded as an example or guide; model, exemplar.
45. The process of printing from a flat surface treated so as to repel the ink except where it is required is termed:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Lithography
💡 Explanation: Lithography is a printing process from a flat surface that repels ink except where required.
SECTION F/10: FILL IN THE BLANKS
46. Parliament must avoid a _________ exercise over the Justice Yashwant Varma report.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. purposeless
💡 Explanation: ‘purposeless’ means meaningless, futile, fitting the context of avoiding a pointless political exercise.
47. The second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission’s _________ far outpaces the first.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. outlay
💡 Explanation: ‘outlay’ means an amount of money spent on something; expenditure, which outpaces the first phase.
48. Kerala has shown initiative in coordinated action against synthetic drug _________.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. cartels
💡 Explanation: ‘cartels’ refers to illegal drug syndicates or networks being tackled by the government.
49. The difficulty is _________. Justice Varma resigned on April 9, with immediate effect.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. stark
💡 Explanation: ‘stark’ means blunt, clear, plain, or sheer, highlighting the clear difficulty of the situation.
50. The industry may not become a massive employer, but in a geopolitically _________ environment, the wisdom of spending public money is clearer.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. fraught
💡 Explanation: ‘fraught’ means causing or affected by anxiety or stress, describing the tense geopolitical situation.
51. The network of drug cartels is often too _________ webbed, with investigations netting only the small fish.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. intricately
💡 Explanation: ‘intricately’ means in a very complicated or detailed manner; tangledly.
52. The framers knew that a legislature free to debate judicial conduct _________ would soon hold judges hostage to majorities.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. at will
💡 Explanation: ‘at will’ means at whatever time or in whatever way one pleases; arbitrarily.
53. There are bright spots in India’s _________ ecosystem, with semiconductor engineers and designers sought worldwide.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. talent
💡 Explanation: ‘talent ecosystem’ refers to a comprehensive network of skilled individuals and institutions.
54. Equally important is to strengthen cyber _________ capabilities so that neither investigation nor prosecution is found wanting.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. forensic
💡 Explanation: ‘cyber forensic’ refers to the application of investigation techniques to gather digital evidence.
55. The Speaker can just inform Parliament that such a report has been received, but no further action is _________ necessary.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. deemed
💡 Explanation: ‘deemed’ means considered, judged, or adjudged.
SECTION G/10: WORD FORMATION
56. What is the noun form of the verb ‘disqualify’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. Disqualification
💡 Explanation: ‘Disqualification’ is the noun form, representing the act of pronouncing someone ineligible.
57. What is the verb form of the noun ‘consecration’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Consecrate
💡 Explanation: ‘Consecrate’ is the base verb meaning to solemnly dedicate to a special purpose.
58. What is the adjective form of the noun ‘intellect’ derived from the supplied word list?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Intellectual
💡 Explanation: ‘Intellectual’ is the adjective form, seen in the term ‘intellectual property’.
59. Which part of speech is the word ‘gargantuan’ as used in the phrase “gargantuan proportions”?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. Adjective
💡 Explanation: ‘Gargantuan’ is an adjective modifying the noun ‘proportions’, meaning enormous in size.
60. What is the noun form of the verb ‘rehabilitate’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Rehabilitation
💡 Explanation: ‘Rehabilitation’ is the noun form meaning the action of restoring someone to health.
SECTION H/10: SPOTTING THE ERROR
61. Read the following sentence to find if there is any grammatical error:
The three fingers of his right hand, the fingers of consecration, was hacked off.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. of consecration, was
💡 Explanation: The subject ‘fingers’ is plural, so the verb must be ‘were’, not ‘was’.
62. Spot the error:
The second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission’s outlay far outpace the first.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. outlay far outpace
💡 Explanation: ‘outlay’ is singular, therefore the singular verb ‘outpaces’ must be used.
63. Spot the error:
For a few years now, a growing section of Kerala’s youth have been consumed by a festering addiction.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. section of Kerala’s youth have
💡 Explanation: ‘a growing section’ functions as a singular subject, taking the singular verb ‘has’.
64. Spot the error:
The framers knew that a legislature free to debate judicial conduct at will would soon held judges hostage.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. soon held judges hostage.
💡 Explanation: The modal auxiliary ‘would’ must be followed by the base form ‘hold’, not ‘held’.
65. Spot the error:
The prospect of India deploying investments towards such frontier technology are hard to imagine.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. such frontier technology are
💡 Explanation: The main subject is ‘prospect’ (singular), so the verb must be ‘is’, not ‘are’.
66. Spot the error:
Given that narcotics case are often weakened by questionable forensic reliability.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. narcotics case
💡 Explanation: The plural verb ‘are’ indicates that the subject must be plural ‘cases’.
67. Spot the error:
Before Parliament proceeds further, members must demand that it be advise by the Attorney General.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. demand that it be advise
💡 Explanation: The passive structure requires the past participle ‘advised’, not the base verb ‘advise’.
68. Spot the error:
The bad news is that the capacity to inflict pain are the best deterrent against supply chain shocks.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. pain are the best deterrent
💡 Explanation: The subject ‘capacity’ is singular, so it should be followed by ‘is’, not ‘are’.
69. Spot the error:
The State police joining hands with the police forces in the southern States, central agency, and State education.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. southern States, central agency, and
💡 Explanation: To maintain parallelism with ‘States’, it should be the plural ‘agencies’.
70. Spot the error:
It requires no accept by the President or anyone else.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. no accept by
💡 Explanation: ‘Accept’ is a verb. The context requires the noun form ‘acceptance’.
SECTION I/10: SPELLING TEST
71. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Predecessor
💡 Explanation: Predecessor means a person who held a job or office before the current holder.
72. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. Semiconductor
💡 Explanation: Semiconductor refers to a solid substance like a silicon chip used to make computer chips.
73. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Rehabilitation
💡 Explanation: Rehabilitation means the action of restoring someone to health or normal life through therapy.
74. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Legislature
💡 Explanation: Legislature refers to the legislative body of a country or state; parliament, assembly.
75. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Psychotropic
💡 Explanation: Psychotropic relates to drugs that affect a person’s mental state; psychoactive, mind-altering.
SECTION J/10: CLOZE TEST
Directions (Questions 76-80): Read the following passage and fill in the blanks with the most appropriate words from the options provided.
“For a few years now, a growing section of Kerala’s youth has been (76)______ by a (77)______ addiction to (78)______ drugs and contraband/psychotropic substances. The signs of the State (79)______ towards substance abuse were apparent in the (80)______ of the liquor ban a decade ago.”
76. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (76).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. consumed
💡 Explanation: ‘consumed’ fits the context of being completely overwhelmed or destroyed by addiction.
77. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (77).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. festering
💡 Explanation: ‘festering’ describes a problem worsening or becoming more intense due to neglect.
78. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (78).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. narcotic
💡 Explanation: ‘narcotic’ refers to illegal mind-altering drugs, pairing correctly with psychotropic substances.
79. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (79).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. teetering
💡 Explanation: ‘teetering’ means balancing unsteadily on the brink of a dangerous situation like substance abuse.
80. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (80).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. wake
💡 Explanation: ‘in the wake of’ means following as a result or consequence of an event.
Test Completed
You have completed today’s Editorial Words Daily Vocabulary Test.