English Synonyms, Antonyms and Confusing Words for Tests
Updated 17 Oct 2026
High-frequency vocabulary and commonly confused word pairs from Police, PPSC and NTS English sections.
Synonyms and antonyms
| Word | Synonym (same meaning) | Antonym (opposite) |
|---|---|---|
| Abundant | Plentiful | Scarce |
| Ancient | Old | Modern |
| Brave | Courageous | Cowardly |
| Diligent | Hardworking | Lazy |
| Enormous | Huge | Tiny |
| Feeble | Weak | Strong |
| Generous | Liberal | Miserly |
| Hostile | Unfriendly | Friendly |
| Obstinate | Stubborn | Flexible |
| Prudent | Wise | Foolish |
| Rapid | Quick | Slow |
| Vacant | Empty | Occupied |
Commonly confused words
| Pair | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Affect / Effect | Affect is usually a verb (to influence); effect is usually a noun (a result) |
| Accept / Except | Accept = to receive; except = other than |
| Advice / Advise | Advice is a noun; advise is a verb |
| Its / It's | Its = belonging to it; it's = it is |
| Principal / Principle | Principal = head of a school, or main; principle = a rule or belief |
| Stationary / Stationery | Stationary = not moving; stationery = paper, pens etc. |
Quick grammar rules
- Use an before a vowel sound: an hour, an honest man; but a university, a European.
- Use since with a point in time (since 2010) and for with a period (for five years).
- With he/she/it in the present simple, add -s: She goes to school.
Practise: English MCQs.