One Word Substitution MCQs With Answers
One word substitution MCQs ask you to replace a descriptive phrase with a single precise word, for example 'a person who knows several languages' with polyglot, or 'the killing of a king' with regicide. The topic measures the depth of your vocabulary and appears regularly in the English sections of PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS and PMS tests.
These one word substitution MCQs with answers are drawn from the categories examiners use most: people and their beliefs or attitudes (atheist, agnostic, misanthrope, philanthropist), professions and specialists (pediatrician, ornithologist), fears and dislikes (hydrophobia, xenophobe), places (aviary, mortuary) and words built on omni- (omniscient, omnipotent). Each explanation breaks the word into its Greek or Latin roots and contrasts it with similar words, so a single question helps you learn several substitutions.
Which single word means ‘a person who loves and collects books’?
A 'bibliophile' is a person who loves books, often collecting and cherishing them beyond simple practical use. The word combines the Greek roots 'biblio-' (book) and '-phile' (lover of), a pattern seen in many similar words like 'audiophile' (lover of music or sound). Its rough opposite, someone with a fear or dislike of books, would be a 'bibliophobe.'
Which single word means ‘a person who eats human flesh’?
A 'cannibal' is a person (or animal) that eats the flesh of its own species, specifically referring to a human eating human flesh in most common usage. This differs from 'carnivore,' which simply describes any meat-eating organism in general, without specifying that the flesh consumed belongs to the same species. One-word substitution questions often test this kind of precise distinction between similar-sounding categories.
Which single word means ‘a place where birds are kept’?
An 'aviary' is a large enclosure or building specifically designed for keeping birds, often allowing them space to fly. This differs from an 'aquarium,' which houses fish and aquatic creatures, and a general 'zoo,' which houses a wide variety of animal species rather than birds specifically. Learning these specific single-word terms for particular kinds of enclosures is a common one-word substitution exam pattern.
Which single word means ‘a person who cannot read or write’?
'Illiterate' specifically describes a person who cannot read or write. This is a more precise term than 'ignorant,' which broadly means lacking knowledge or awareness in general, or 'uneducated,' which more broadly refers to a lack of formal schooling rather than the specific inability to read and write. Precision in choosing the most exact one-word substitute, rather than a vaguely similar word, is the key skill this question type tests.
Which single word means ‘a person who hates mankind’?
A 'misanthrope' is a person who dislikes or distrusts humankind in general. This word is essentially the opposite of a 'philanthropist,' a person who works to promote the welfare of others, often through charitable giving. Note that a 'pessimist,' someone who expects the worst outcomes, is a related but distinct concept from actively disliking people, which makes this a useful distinction to remember for exams.
Which single word means ‘a person who can use both hands with equal skill’?
'Ambidextrous' specifically describes a person who can use both their left and right hands with equal skill, such as writing or throwing equally well with either hand. This is different from 'ambivalent,' which describes having mixed or conflicting feelings about something, a common source of confusion due to the similar-sounding prefix 'ambi-,' meaning 'both,' shared by both words.
Which single word means ‘an animal that eats only plants’?
A 'herbivore' is an animal that eats only plant material, such as a cow, deer, or rabbit. This differs from a 'carnivore,' which eats only meat, and an 'omnivore,' which eats both plants and meat, making 'herbivore' the precise term needed for an exclusively plant-based diet.
Which single word means ‘one who knows everything’?
'Omniscient' describes having complete or unlimited knowledge, or knowing everything, as in an 'omniscient narrator' in literature who knows the thoughts of every character. This word is often confused with 'omnipotent,' meaning having unlimited power, and 'omnipresent,' meaning present everywhere at once, all of which share the Latin prefix 'omni-,' meaning 'all.'
Which single word means ‘a person who is new to or inexperienced in a particular field or activity’?
A 'novice' is a person who is new to a particular activity, skill, or field and therefore still lacks experience in it, as in 'As a novice cook, she still struggled with basic recipes.' This word is the direct opposite of terms like 'expert' or 'veteran,' both of which describe someone with considerable experience and skill.
Which single word means ‘a written account of a person’s own life, written by that person’?
An 'autobiography' is a written account of a person's own life, composed by that same person, distinguishing it from a 'biography,' which is an account of someone's life written by a different author. The prefix 'auto-' means 'self,' the same root found in words like 'automobile' (a self-moving vehicle), which helps clarify that the subject and the writer are the same person.
Which single word means ‘a person who is excessively concerned with themselves and their own interests’?
An 'egoist' is a person who is excessively self-centered, focused primarily on their own interests, needs, or advantage, often with little regard for others. This word stands in direct contrast to an 'altruist,' a person who is selflessly concerned with the welfare of others, making these two terms a useful contrasting pair to remember together.
Which single word means ‘a person who donates money or time to help others’?
A 'philanthropist' is a person who generously donates money, resources, or time to promote the welfare of others, often through charitable organizations. The word combines Greek roots meaning 'love' and 'humankind,' reflecting its meaning of caring deeply for the wellbeing of people in general. It stands in direct contrast to an 'egoist,' a person primarily concerned with their own self-interest.
Which single word means ‘a doctor who specializes in treating children’?
A 'pediatrician' is a doctor who specializes in the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. This differs from other medical specialists named similarly, such as a 'cardiologist,' who specializes in the heart, or a 'dermatologist,' who specializes in the skin, all of which follow a similar pattern of combining a Greek or Latin root with the suffix denoting a medical specialist.
Which single word means ‘a person who moves from place to place without a permanent home’?
A 'nomad' is a person, often part of a community, who moves from place to place rather than settling permanently in one location, traditionally in search of resources like water or grazing land for livestock. The word is also used more broadly today to describe anyone who frequently relocates or travels rather than maintaining a fixed, permanent residence.
Which single word means ‘a person who habitually doubts accepted beliefs’?
A 'skeptic' is a person who habitually questions or doubts claims and beliefs that are widely accepted, typically demanding evidence before accepting something as true. This word is essentially the opposite of 'gullible,' describing someone who believes things too readily without sufficient evidence, making the two words a useful contrasting pair to remember.
Which single word means ‘a person with expert knowledge and refined taste in a particular field, such as art or food’?
A 'connoisseur' is a person with expert knowledge and refined, discerning taste in a particular field, especially in areas like fine art, food, or wine, as in 'a connoisseur of classical music.' This word stands in direct contrast to a 'novice,' someone who is new to and inexperienced in a given field.
Which single word means ‘a person who does not eat meat’?
A 'vegetarian' is a person who chooses not to eat meat, fish, or poultry, though dietary practices can vary in whether other animal products like dairy or eggs are included. This differs from 'herbivore,' which is the biological term specifically used to describe animals that eat only plants, rather than a description of human dietary choice.
Which single word means ‘a person who fears or dislikes foreigners or strangers’?
A 'xenophobe' is a person who has an intense or irrational fear or dislike of people from other countries or cultures. The word combines Greek roots meaning 'stranger' and 'fear,' distinguishing it from 'misanthrope,' a person who dislikes humankind in general rather than specifically people who are foreign or unfamiliar.
Which single word means ‘a person who has difficulty sleeping’?
An 'insomniac' is a person who regularly has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, a condition known as insomnia. This differs from a 'narcoleptic,' a person with a medical condition causing sudden, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep, which describes essentially the opposite sleep-related problem.
Which single word means ‘a performer who can speak without visibly moving their lips, making their voice seem to come from elsewhere’?
A 'ventriloquist' is a performer skilled at speaking without visibly moving their lips, creating the illusion that their voice is coming from another source, such as a puppet. While a 'puppeteer' operates a puppet, that skill alone does not necessarily include the specific vocal technique that defines a ventriloquist.
Which single word means ‘a person who knows and can use several languages’?
A 'polyglot' is a person who knows and can competently use several different languages. This differs from a 'linguist,' who is specifically a scholar or student of linguistics, the scientific study of language and its structure, which does not necessarily require being able to speak multiple languages fluently oneself.
Which single word means ‘a person who is primarily focused on their own thoughts and feelings, often preferring solitude to extensive socializing’?
An 'introvert' is a person whose attention and energy are primarily directed inward, toward their own thoughts and feelings, and who often prefers quieter, more solitary environments over highly social ones. This is the direct opposite of an 'extrovert,' a person who draws energy from social interaction and tends to seek out lively, outward-focused environments.
Which single word means ‘a person who eats and drinks to excess’?
A 'glutton' is a person who eats and drinks excessively, far beyond what is necessary or healthy, as in 'He ate like a glutton at the buffet.' This word stands in direct contrast to an 'ascetic,' a person who deliberately practices strict self-discipline and abstains from indulgence, often for religious or philosophical reasons.
Which single word means ‘an animal that eats only meat’?
A 'carnivore' is an animal that eats only meat, such as a lion, wolf, or eagle. This directly contrasts with a 'herbivore,' which eats only plant material, and an 'omnivore,' which eats both plants and meat, making 'carnivore' the precise term for an exclusively meat-based diet.
Which single word means ‘a person who takes pleasure in causing pain or suffering to others’?
A 'sadist' is a person who derives pleasure or satisfaction from inflicting pain or suffering on others. This word stands in stark contrast to an 'altruist,' a person unselfishly devoted to the welfare of others, making the two words useful, sharply contrasting opposites to remember together.
Which single word means ‘a person who is unselfishly concerned with the wellbeing of others’?
An 'altruist' is a person who is unselfishly concerned with promoting the welfare and happiness of others, often at some personal cost or sacrifice. This word is the direct opposite of an 'egoist,' a person primarily focused on their own self-interest, making these two terms a commonly tested contrasting pair.
Which single word means ‘a person who does not eat or use any animal products at all, including dairy and eggs’?
A 'vegan' is a person who avoids eating or using any animal products whatsoever, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey, following a stricter standard than a 'vegetarian,' who avoids meat but may still consume dairy or eggs depending on personal choice. This distinction between vegan and vegetarian diets is a commonly tested nuance in vocabulary related to dietary habits.
Which single word means ‘a person who studies, collects, or deals in antiques and rare old objects’?
An 'antiquarian' is a person who studies, collects, or deals in antiques, rare books, or other old and historically significant objects. While a 'curator' may also manage a collection of such items, typically within a museum, 'antiquarian' more specifically describes a personal scholarly or collecting interest in antiquity itself.
Which single word means ‘a scientist who studies birds’?
An 'ornithologist' is a scientist who specializes in the study of birds, including their behavior, biology, and habitats. This word follows a common pattern in scientific terminology, distinguishing it from a 'botanist,' who studies plants, and an 'entomologist,' who studies insects, each field having its own specific term derived from Greek roots.
Which single word means ‘a ruler who has absolute, unrestrained power’?
An 'autocrat' is a ruler who holds absolute power, unrestrained by laws, a constitution, or any other check on their authority. This differs from an 'aristocrat,' a member of the nobility or upper class, and a 'bureaucrat,' an official who works within a government administrative system, both of which describe a role rather than the specific possession of unlimited power.
Which single word means ‘a person who marries someone while still legally married to another person’?
A 'bigamist' is a person who marries someone while already legally married to another person, an act that is illegal in most countries. This is distinct from a 'polygamist,' a person who has multiple spouses simultaneously in a system where such marriages are legally or culturally recognized, since bigamy specifically refers to the illegal act of a second, unrecognized marriage.
Which single word means ‘a person who represents their country in dealings with other nations’?
A diplomat is a person officially appointed to represent his or her country and conduct negotiations with other nations. Ambassadors and envoys are particular ranks of diplomat.
An expatriate is someone living outside their own country, an emigrant is someone who leaves their country to settle elsewhere, and a consulate is the office of a consul, not a person.
Which single word means ‘a person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink’?
An 'epicure' is a person who takes refined, discerning pleasure in fine food and drink, appreciating quality and flavor rather than simply eating in large quantities. This differs from a 'glutton,' a person who eats and drinks excessively without necessarily appreciating quality, and stands in direct contrast to an 'ascetic,' who deliberately avoids indulgence altogether.
Which single word means ‘a person who has escaped from captivity or is in hiding, typically to avoid arrest’?
A 'fugitive' is a person who has escaped from captivity, such as prison, or who is in hiding, typically to avoid being arrested or caught by authorities. This differs from an 'immigrant,' a person who has come to live permanently in a different country, and a 'nomad,' a person who regularly moves from place to place without a fixed intent to evade capture.
Which single word means ‘a person who lives in solitude, especially for religious or spiritual reasons’?
A 'hermit' is a person who lives in solitude, traditionally for religious or spiritual reasons, deliberately withdrawing from society to focus on contemplation or devotion. While the word is often used similarly to 'recluse,' a person who simply avoids the company of others for any reason, 'hermit' more specifically carries this traditional spiritual or religious connotation.
Which single word means ‘a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country’?
An 'immigrant' is a person who comes to live permanently in a country other than their country of origin. This is the counterpart to an 'emigrant,' a person who leaves their own country to settle elsewhere, with the two terms describing the same movement of people from two different perspectives, departure versus arrival.
Which single word means ‘a person who studies the science of language’?
A linguist studies linguistics, the scientific study of language and its structure.
A polyglot is someone who speaks several languages, a translator turns written text from one language into another, and an orator is a skilled public speaker.
Which single word means ‘a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army’?
A 'mercenary' is a professional soldier who is hired to fight for a foreign army or group, typically motivated by payment rather than loyalty to that nation or cause. The word is also used more broadly, in a critical sense, to describe anyone whose primary motivation appears to be personal financial gain rather than genuine commitment.
Which single word means ‘a person who walks while asleep’?
A 'somnambulist' is a person who walks or performs other activities while still asleep, a condition commonly known as sleepwalking. This differs from an 'insomniac,' a person who has difficulty sleeping at all, describing essentially the opposite type of sleep-related condition.
Which single word means ‘a person who believes that nothing can be known about the existence of God’?
An agnostic holds that God's existence cannot be known or proved either way. The word comes from Greek a- (not) + gnosis (knowledge) and was coined by T. H. Huxley in 1869.
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Atheist: a person who does not believe in God.
- Theist: a person who believes in God.
- Heretic: a person who holds beliefs contrary to accepted religious teaching.
- Infidel: a person who does not believe in a particular religion.
Which single word means ‘a person who travels on foot’?
Pedestrian comes from Latin pes, pedis (foot). As an adjective it also means dull or ordinary, as in 'a pedestrian speech'.
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Pedant: a person who is overly concerned with minor rules or who shows off learning.
- Pilgrim: a person who travels to a holy place.
- Itinerant: a person who travels from place to place.
- Pedal, pedicure and quadruped come from the same root.
Which single word means ‘an abnormal fear of water’?
Hydrophobia (Greek hydor = water + phobos = fear) is a fear of water. It is also an old name for rabies, because people with rabies find swallowing water painful.
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Claustrophobia: fear of closed spaces.
- Acrophobia: fear of heights.
- Xenophobia: fear or dislike of foreigners.
- Agoraphobia: fear of open or crowded places; Nyctophobia: fear of darkness.
Which single word means ‘the killing of a king’?
Regicide comes from Latin rex, regis (king) + -cide (killing).
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Homicide: killing of a human being.
- Patricide: killing one's father; Matricide: one's mother; Fratricide: one's brother; Infanticide: an infant.
- Genocide: deliberate killing of a whole national, ethnic or religious group.
- Suicide: killing oneself; Pesticide and Insecticide: substances that kill pests and insects.
Which single word means ‘handwriting that cannot be read’?
Illegible means not clear enough to be read (il- = not + legible = readable).
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Ineligible: not qualified or allowed.
- Indelible: that cannot be erased, as in the indelible ink used in elections.
- Illiterate: unable to read or write.
- Inaudible: that cannot be heard; Invisible: that cannot be seen.
Which single word means ‘a person who cannot be corrected or reformed’?
Incorrigible comes from Latin corrigere (to correct) and describes a person or habit that cannot be reformed, as in 'an incorrigible liar'.
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Incurable: (a disease) that cannot be cured.
- Invincible: that cannot be defeated.
- Indomitable: (a spirit) that cannot be subdued.
- Irreparable: that cannot be repaired; Inevitable: that cannot be avoided.
Which single word means ‘a place where dead bodies are kept until burial or post-mortem’?
A mortuary, also called a morgue, is a room or building where dead bodies are kept for identification, autopsy or until burial.
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Cemetery (graveyard): a place where the dead are buried.
- Crematorium: a place where dead bodies are burnt.
- Sanatorium: a place for the treatment of long-term illness or recovery.
- Autopsy (post-mortem): examination of a dead body to find the cause of death; Mausoleum: a large, stately tomb.
Which single word means ‘one who is all-powerful’?
Omnipotent comes from Latin omni- (all) + potens (powerful).
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Omniscient: all-knowing.
- Omnipresent: present everywhere.
- Omnivorous: eating both plants and animals.
- Omnibus: a book containing several works; also an old word for a bus.
Which single word means ‘a speech delivered without previous preparation’?
Extempore (Latin ex tempore, 'out of the moment') means spoken or done without preparation. Synonyms include impromptu, off-the-cuff and ad-lib.
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Soliloquy: speaking one's thoughts aloud when alone, especially by a character in a play.
- Monologue: a long speech by one person.
- Epilogue: the concluding section of a book or play; Prologue: its introduction.
- Maiden speech: a person's first speech in a parliament.
Which single word means ‘a remedy or cure for all diseases or problems’?
Panacea, named after Panakeia, the Greek goddess of universal remedy, means a cure-all. It is often used critically, as in 'There is no panacea for unemployment.'
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Antidote: a medicine that counteracts a poison.
- Placebo: a harmless substance given for its psychological effect.
- Antiseptic: a substance that prevents infection by killing germs.
- Elixir: a magical or medicinal potion.
Which single word means ‘a person who never drinks alcohol’?
A teetotaller abstains completely from alcoholic drinks. The 'tee' is thought to stress the 'T' of 'total' abstinence, from the 19th-century temperance movement.
Related facts often asked in exams:
- Alcoholic, drunkard or dipsomaniac: a person addicted to alcohol.
- Teetotal (adjective): never drinking alcohol.
- Glutton: a person who eats and drinks to excess.
- Connoisseur: an expert judge in matters of taste.