Daily Vocabulary Test – 22 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 does the word ‘folly’ denote in the context of administrative or political decisions?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Lack of good sense; foolishness, stupidity, or irresponsibility
💡 Explanation: ‘Folly’ refers to a lack of good sense, silliness, stupidity, or irresponsibility.
2. When an organization is operating ‘in survival mode’, what is its primary goal?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Just to continue existing or functioning, rather than growing or thriving
💡 Explanation: ‘In survival mode’ describes a desperate state of clinging to existence or hanging on.
3. What is the fundamental meaning of the term ‘Atmanirbhar’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Self-reliant or independent in one’s own powers and resources
💡 Explanation: ‘Atmanirbhar’ translates to being self-sufficient, self-supporting, and independent.
4. If a government or system were to ‘spin off its hinges’, what would happen?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. It would descend into a state of chaos, instability, or complete lack of control
💡 Explanation: To ‘spin off its hinges’ means to spiral out of control, break down, or become chaotic.
5. Which of the following defines the adjective ‘unconscionable’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Not right or reasonable; unethical, amoral, unacceptable
💡 Explanation: ‘Unconscionable’ means not right or reasonable; amoral, unreasonable, unacceptable.
6. What does the phrasal verb ‘hollow out’ imply in policy and institutional contexts?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. To weaken, undermine, empty, or deplete
💡 Explanation: To ‘hollow out’ means to weaken, undermine, empty, or deplete a system or entity.
7. A ‘precarious’ state of uncertainty refers to a situation that is:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Uncertain, insecure, unpredictable, and risky
💡 Explanation: ‘Precarious’ means uncertain, insecure, unpredictable, or risky.
8. Which scenario best describes a ‘fumbling’ approach?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Doing or saying something in a hesitant, clumsy, or uncertain way
💡 Explanation: ‘Fumbling’ means acting in a hesitant, clumsy, blundering, or inept manner.
9. The word ‘stewardship’ most closely relates to:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Management, care, custodianship, or administration
💡 Explanation: ‘Stewardship’ refers to the management, care, or custodianship of assets or organizations.
10. What does the term ‘revolving door’ describe in an organizational or governmental context?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. A situation in which personnel or leaders change frequently; rapid turnover
💡 Explanation: A ‘revolving door’ refers to rapid turnover, frequent change, or constant shifting of leaders.
11. What is the meaning of ‘depredation’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. An act of attacking or plundering; pillaging, looting
💡 Explanation: ‘Depredation’ means an act of attacking, plundering, pillaging, looting, or ravaging.
12. If a transformation is ‘wrought’ by a specific policy, it means it is:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Created, shaped, produced, or brought about by it
💡 Explanation: ‘Wrought’ means created, shaped, produced, effected, or brought about.
13. The adjective ‘illiberal’ is used to describe an entity that is:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Intolerant, narrow-minded, undemocratic, or authoritarian
💡 Explanation: ‘Illiberal’ describes something that is intolerant, narrow-minded, undemocratic, or authoritarian.
14. What does the phrase ‘mend fences’ entail?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. To improve a relationship that has been damaged; reconcile, make peace
💡 Explanation: To ‘mend fences’ means to reconcile, make peace, resolve differences, or restore harmony.
15. What is the meaning of the phrasal verb ‘tamp down’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. To reduce the amount, level, size, or importance of something; suppress, restrain
💡 Explanation: To ‘tamp down’ means to suppress, reduce, restrain, or quell.
SECTION B/10: SYNONYMS
16. Choose the closest synonym for ‘disenchantment’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Disillusionment
💡 Explanation: Disenchantment means a feeling of disappointment; disillusionment, dissatisfaction, discontent.
17. Choose the closest synonym for ‘furore’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Uproar
💡 Explanation: Furore is an outbreak of public anger or excitement; uproar, outcry, commotion, turmoil.
18. Choose the closest synonym for ‘botched’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Bungled
💡 Explanation: Botched means carried out badly or carelessly; bungled, ruined, mishandled, spoiled.
19. Choose the closest synonym for ‘dormant’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Inactive
💡 Explanation: Dormant means temporarily inactive or inoperative; resting, sleeping, sluggish.
20. Choose the closest synonym for ‘outstrip’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Surpass
💡 Explanation: Outstrip means to surpass, exceed, outdo, or outpace.
21. Choose the closest synonym for ’embattled’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Besieged
💡 Explanation: Embattled means troubled, under attack, plagued, besieged.
22. Choose the closest synonym for ‘exemplary’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Flawless
💡 Explanation: Exemplary means representing the best of its kind; perfect, ideal, flawless, outstanding.
23. Choose the closest synonym for ‘nimbly’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Swiftly
💡 Explanation: Nimbly means in a quick, light, or agile way; agilely, swiftly, quickly, adeptly.
24. Choose the closest synonym for ‘proportionate’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Commensurate
💡 Explanation: Proportionate means proportional, equivalent, commensurate, relative.
25. Choose the closest synonym for ‘reckoning’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Appraisal
💡 Explanation: Reckoning refers to the action of calculating or estimating; evaluation, judgment, appraisal, accounting.
SECTION C/10: ANTONYMS
26. Choose the antonym for ‘illogical’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Rational
💡 Explanation: Illogical means unreasonable, irrational. Rational is its direct antonym.
27. Choose the antonym for ‘flawed’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Flawless
💡 Explanation: Flawed means defective or faulty. Flawless means without defect.
28. Choose the antonym for ‘dormant’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Active
💡 Explanation: Dormant means temporarily inactive. Active is its antonym.
29. Choose the antonym for ‘illiberal’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Progressive
💡 Explanation: Illiberal means intolerant or undemocratic. Progressive/tolerant represents the opposite.
30. Choose the antonym for ‘orderly’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Chaotic
💡 Explanation: Orderly means organized, systematic, well-regulated. Chaotic is its antonym.
31. Choose the antonym for ‘appreciated’ (in financial terms).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Depreciated
💡 Explanation: Appreciated means having increased in value. Depreciated means losing value.
32. Choose the antonym for ‘ineligible’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Qualified
💡 Explanation: Ineligible means unqualified, disqualified, unsuitable, unfit. Qualified is its opposite.
33. Choose the antonym for ‘exclusion’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. Inclusion
💡 Explanation: Exclusion means rejection or elimination. Inclusion is its direct opposite.
34. Choose the antonym for ‘straightforward’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Complex
💡 Explanation: Straightforward means simple, uncomplicated, clear. Complex means complicated.
35. Choose the antonym for ‘weary’.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. Energetic
💡 Explanation: Weary means feeling extreme tiredness or lack of enthusiasm. Energetic is its antonym.
SECTION D/10: IDIOMS & PHRASES
36. What does the phrase ‘take leave of’ mean?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. To act in a way that suggests one has lost a particular quality, like logic or sense
💡 Explanation: ‘Take leave of’ means to part ways with, abandon, forsake, give up (e.g., take leave of logic).
37. If an action is said to ‘run contrary to’ something, it means it:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Is in opposition to or conflicts with it
💡 Explanation: ‘Run contrary to’ means to conflict with, go against, clash with, be at odds with.
38. What does it mean to ‘set oneself apart’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. To make oneself distinct or superior to others; distinguish oneself
💡 Explanation: ‘Set oneself apart’ means to stand out, make oneself different, or distinguish oneself.
39. The phrase ‘in every pocket’ refers to something that is:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Widely accessible and available to almost everyone via mobile devices
💡 Explanation: ‘In every pocket’ implies ubiquitous, omnipresent, universally accessible via mobile phones.
40. To ‘lose one’s grip on’ a situation means to:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Become unable to control or manage a situation; fail to manage
💡 Explanation: ‘Lose one’s grip on’ means to lose control of, fail to manage, lose hold of, mismanage.
SECTION E/10: ONE WORD SUBSTITUTION
41. The value of the shares issued by a company; shares, stocks, ownership is termed:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Equity
💡 Explanation: Equity refers to the value of the shares issued by a company; ownership.
42. A mistake made due to a poor decision or incorrect assessment; miscalculation, blunder is called:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Error of judgement
💡 Explanation: An error of judgement is a mistake made due to a poor decision or miscalculation.
43. The extreme limit of understanding or achievement in a particular area; boundary, border, edge is known as a(n):
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Frontier
💡 Explanation: Frontier is the extreme limit of understanding or achievement in a particular area.
44. A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state is called:
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Democracy
💡 Explanation: Democracy is a representative government, republic, self-government, or popular state.
45. A situation with unknown dangers or complex problems; hazard, peril, precarious situation is a(n):
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. Minefield
💡 Explanation: A minefield refers to a tricky, precarious situation with unknown dangers.
SECTION F/10: FILL IN THE BLANKS
46. A flawed SIR should not be the _______ for distribution of benefits.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. basis
💡 Explanation: ‘Basis’ means foundation, rationale, reasoning, or groundwork for an action.
47. Andy Burnham cannot _______ for the U.K. if he remains in survival mode.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. deliver
💡 Explanation: ‘Deliver’ means to do something promised or expected; provide, yield, bring about.
48. Andy Burnham, the former Mayor… has picked a _______ time to enter office.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. challenging
💡 Explanation: ‘Challenging’ means demanding, testing, difficult, or tough.
49. Domestic private giving… is what will define India’s _______ future.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. philanthropic
💡 Explanation: ‘Philanthropic’ refers to seeking to promote the welfare of others; charitable, benevolent.
50. None of this _______ the hardship of the transition for affected organizations.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. erases
💡 Explanation: ‘Erases’ means to rub out or remove completely; eliminate, obliterate, wipe out.
51. The social sector can follow the same path. If money is the _______ of philanthropy, trust is its currency.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. fuel
💡 Explanation: ‘Fuel’ is a metaphor for a thing that sustains or inflames passion or an activity; driver, engine.
52. He might have to _______ a radical change in governance and policy.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. spearhead
💡 Explanation: ‘Spearhead’ means to lead an attack or movement; lead, head, front.
53. Despite robust foreign contributions overall, the NGO sector itself has not been _______ money from abroad.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. starved of
💡 Explanation: ‘Starved of’ means deprived of a necessity or vital resource; kept short of.
54. He cannot _______ European allies in their support for Ukraine against Russian depredations.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. abandon
💡 Explanation: ‘Abandon’ means desert, forsake, leave behind, ditch.
55. To avoid continuing this _______ of leaders who appear to be unable to govern what appears to be an ungovernable polity…
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. cycle
💡 Explanation: ‘Cycle’ refers to a series of events regularly repeated; sequence, pattern.
SECTION G/10: WORD FORMATION
56. What is the noun form of the verb ‘reiterate’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Reiteration
💡 Explanation: ‘Reiteration’ is the noun form, representing the act of repeating something for emphasis.
57. Which of the following is the adjective form of the noun ‘philanthropy’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Philanthropic
💡 Explanation: ‘Philanthropic’ is the adjective meaning charitable, benevolent, or generous.
58. What is the adverb form of the adjective ‘proportionate’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Proportionately
💡 Explanation: ‘Proportionately’ is the adverb indicating something done in a proportional or equivalent manner.
59. What is the noun form of the verb ‘govern’?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Governance
💡 Explanation: ‘Governance’ is the noun meaning administration, management, rule, or control.
60. Which of the following is the adjective form of the noun ‘innovation’ based on the given vocabulary?
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. Innovative
💡 Explanation: ‘Innovative’ is the adjective form meaning inventive, original, novel, or ground-breaking.
SECTION H/10: SPOTTING THE ERROR
61. Read the following sentence to find if there is any grammatical error:
These decisions run contrary to the clear instructions of the Court in the Bihar SIR case, which specifically bar authorities from using SIR outcomes for any purpose.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. in the Bihar SIR case, which specifically bar
💡 Explanation: The past action of the Court requires the past tense ‘barred’ instead of ‘bar’.
62. Spot the error:
The Supreme Court has reiterated its position that exclusions from the electoral rolls cannot have consequences unrelated to voting.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. exclusions from the electoral rolls
💡 Explanation: The context dictates the singular abstract noun ‘exclusion’ rather than ‘exclusions’.
63. Spot the error:
He will have to find innovative ways to cut the U.K.’s welfare bill and entitlement.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. and entitlement.
💡 Explanation: The plural form ‘entitlements’ should be used to refer broadly to multiple government benefit programs.
64. Spot the error:
The transition also exposed how uneven the sector had prepared for the new compliance regimes.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. how uneven the sector
💡 Explanation: An adverb is required to modify the verb ‘had prepared’. It should be ‘unevenly’.
65. Spot the error:
The most immediate opportunity sit with India’s fast-growing community of high-net-worth individuals.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. opportunity sit with India’s
💡 Explanation: The singular subject ‘opportunity’ requires the singular verb ‘sits’.
66. Spot the error:
India’s tax framework does not yet signals that philanthropy is a national priority.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. does not yet signals
💡 Explanation: After ‘does not’, the base form of the verb ‘signal’ must be used, not ‘signals’.
67. Spot the error:
Despite appearances, the sector has not been starve of money from abroad over the past decade.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. starve of money
💡 Explanation: In the passive voice ‘has not been’, the past participle ‘starved’ is required.
68. Spot the error:
A small number of organisations faced delayed renewals, disrupting work in education, health, and livelihood.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: D. health, and livelihood.
💡 Explanation: The plural ‘livelihoods’ is required to match the scale of the disruption across multiple communities.
69. Spot the error:
To avoid continuing this cycle of leaders who appears to be unable to govern an ungovernable polity.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. appears to be unable
💡 Explanation: The relative pronoun ‘who’ refers to the plural ‘leaders’, so the verb must be ‘appear’.
70. Spot the error:
Mr. Burnham will need to quickly implement reform while tamping down on infighting within Labour.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. quickly implement reform
💡 Explanation: The plural noun ‘reforms’ is required to indicate multiple improvements or amendments.
SECTION I/10: SPELLING TEST
71. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Unconscionable
💡 Explanation: Unconscionable means not right or reasonable; unethical.
72. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Entrepreneur
💡 Explanation: An entrepreneur is a person who sets up a business, taking on financial risks.
73. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Macroeconomic
💡 Explanation: Macroeconomic relates to the branch of economics concerned with large-scale factors.
74. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. Philanthropy
💡 Explanation: Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others, especially by donating money.
75. Choose the correctly spelled word.
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: C. Sovereign
💡 Explanation: Sovereign means possessing supreme or ultimate power; independent, autonomous.
SECTION J/10: CLOZE TEST
Directions (Questions 76-80): Read the passage below and fill in the blanks with the most appropriate words from the options provided.
“There is a legal (76)______ in the relationship between citizenship and the electoral roll. The roll is (77)______ to include only citizens, but (78)______ on the roll is not, (79)______, proof of citizenship. This paradox (80)______, it is a sound and commonsensical assumption that many citizens are not enrolled as voters.”
76. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (76).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. paradox
💡 Explanation: ‘Paradox’ means contradiction or anomaly, which fits the logical inconsistency described.
77. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (77).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. meant
💡 Explanation: ‘Meant’ means intended or purposed to include only citizens.
78. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (78).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. enrolment
💡 Explanation: ‘Enrolment’ refers to the action of officially registering on the roll.
79. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (79).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: B. by itself
💡 Explanation: ‘By itself’ means on its own or independently, indicating enrolment alone isn’t proof.
80. Choose the most appropriate word for blank (80).
✓ Check Answer
✓ Correct Answer: A. apart
💡 Explanation: ‘Apart’ means aside or notwithstanding (“This paradox apart…”).
Test Completed
You have completed today’s Editorial Words Daily Vocabulary Test.