ADVANCED VOCABULARY: ONE-WORD SUBSTITUTION

Definition & Concept

Concept: One-word substitution is the process of replacing a phrase, a clause, or a full sentence with a single, precise word without changing the original meaning of the sentence. It is a key skill for building a strong vocabulary and making writing more concise and effective.

Why is it important for competitive exams?

This is a direct and high-scoring vocabulary topic. Questions are often asked in "fill in the blanks" or direct "what is the word for..." formats. Mastering this topic significantly improves reading comprehension speed and writing ability.

  • Instead of saying "He is a person who loves books," you can say, "He is a bibliophile."
  • Instead of saying "The king's decision was something that could not be avoided," you can say, "The king's decision was inevitable."

100 Essential One-Word Substitutes

    Related to People

  1. A person who loves books: Bibliophile
  2. A person who can speak many languages: Polyglot
  3. One who does not believe in the existence of God: Atheist
  4. One who believes in the existence of God: Theist
  5. A person who is new to a profession or activity: Novice / Tyro
  6. A person who looks at the bright side of things: Optimist
  7. A person who looks at the dark side of things: Pessimist
  8. One who loves all mankind: Philanthropist
  9. One who hates mankind: Misanthrope
  10. A person who eats human flesh: Cannibal
  11. A person who eats only vegetables: Vegetarian
  12. A person who eats meat: Carnivore
  13. A person who eats everything: Omnivore
  14. A person who travels to a holy place: Pilgrim
  15. One who can use both hands equally well: Ambidextrous
  16. A person who does something for pleasure, not as a profession: Amateur
  17. A person who leaves his own country to settle in another: Emigrant
  18. A person who comes to one country from another to settle: Immigrant
  19. One who is all-powerful: Omnipotent
  20. One who is present everywhere: Omnipresent
  21. One who knows everything: Omniscient
  22. A person who can do anything for money: Mercenary
  23. One who has a long experience in a particular field: Veteran
  24. A person who walks in sleep: Somnambulist
  25. A person who talks in sleep: Somniloquist
  26. One who is unable to pay one's debts: Insolvent / Bankrupt
  27. A person who is indifferent to pain and pleasure: Stoic
  28. One who secretly listens to the talks of others: Eavesdropper
  29. A person who is a great lover of their country: Patriot
  30. A person who betrays their country: Traitor
  31. One who is a hundred years old or more: Centenarian
  32. A person who knows many different subjects: Polymath

    33. Related to Groups

  33. A group of stars: Constellation
  34. A group of ships: Fleet
  35. A group of cattle or elephants: Herd
  36. A group of birds or sheep: Flock
  37. A group of lions: Pride
  38. A group of wolves or hounds: Pack
  39. A group of fish: Shoal / School
  40. A large group of people: Crowd / Horde

    41. Related to Places

  41. A place where weapons are stored: Arsenal
  42. A place where birds are kept: Aviary
  43. A place where bees are kept: Apiary
  44. A place for sick people who need long periods of recovery: Sanatorium
  45. A place where dead bodies are kept for identification: Morgue
  46. A place where clothes are washed and pressed: Laundry
  47. A home for orphans: Orphanage
  48. A place where leather is tanned: Tannery
  49. A place for storing grain: Granary
  50. A large bedroom for a number of people in a school or institution: Dormitory

    51. Related to Government & Systems

  51. A government by the people: Democracy
  52. A government by a king or queen: Monarchy
  53. A government by a single person with absolute power: Autocracy / Dictatorship
  54. A government by the rich and powerful class: Plutocracy
  55. A government by the officials: Bureaucracy
  56. A state with no government, law, or order: Anarchy
  57. A government by the nobility: Aristocracy

    58. Related to Killings

  58. The killing of one person by another: Homicide
  59. The killing of one's own self: Suicide
  60. The killing of a king or queen: Regicide
  61. The killing of an infant: Infanticide
  62. The killing of a whole race or group of people: Genocide
  63. The killing of one's brother: Fratricide

    64. Related to Fears (Phobias)

  64. An extreme fear of water: Hydrophobia
  65. An extreme fear of heights: Acrophobia
  66. An extreme fear of enclosed spaces: Claustrophobia
  67. An extreme fear of foreigners or strangers: Xenophobia
  68. An extreme fear of books: Bibliophobia
  69. An extreme fear of spiders: Arachnophobia

    70. Concepts, Ideas, and General Terms

  70. Something that cannot be avoided or prevented: Inevitable
  71. A life history written by oneself: Autobiography
  72. A life history written by another: Biography
  73. Something that is no longer in use: Obsolete
  74. A remedy for all diseases: Panacea
  75. That which cannot be read: Illegible
  76. That which cannot be corrected: Incorrigible
  77. That which cannot be conquered: Invincible
  78. Something that is liable to be easily broken: Brittle
  79. A speech made without any preparation: Extempore
  80. Something that can be believed: Credible
  81. Something that cannot be believed: Incredible
  82. A handwritten book or document: Manuscript
  83. A period of ten years: Decade
  84. A period of one hundred years: Century
  85. A period of one thousand years: Millennium
  86. An animal that lives in groups: Gregarious
  87. An animal that can live both on land and in water: Amphibian
  88. Something that is against the law: Illegal
  89. Lasting for a very short time: Ephemeral
  90. The study of the human mind and behavior: Psychology
  91. The study of the stars and planets: Astronomy
  92. The study of the origin and history of words: Etymology
  93. The act of looking back on past events: Retrospection
  94. A person or thing of the same time: Contemporary
  95. Something that happens once a year: Annual
  96. Something that happens once in two years: Biennial
  97. A building where a collection of historical items is kept: Museum
  98. A person who is recovering from an illness: Convalescent
  99. A sound that cannot be heard: Inaudible
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