A synonym is a word with almost the same meaning (big → large); an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning (big → small). In the exam you get one word and four options, and you choose the closest in meaning (synonym) or the farthest (antonym). Read the question line carefully — it tells you which one is wanted, and the wrong options often include the opposite word as a trap. Build a habit of splitting words into roots and prefixes (like in-/un-/dis- = not), and guessing becomes easy. Every quiz below is a real Punjab Police SI or Constable question.
99
Past questions on this page
Punjab Police SI & Constable
2
types: synonym & antonym
1
question line tells you which
Synonym or antonym — read the line first
The biggest mistake is giving the opposite when a synonym is asked.
KEY TERM
Synonym vs antonym
Synonym = closest in meaning; antonym = opposite / farthest in meaning. The exam phrasing varies: 'closest in meaning' and 'similar' mean synonym; 'opposite', 'farthest in meaning' and 'OPPOSITE' mean antonym. If you know the word only roughly, decide first whether it is positive or negative, then pick an option with the same (synonym) or the reverse (antonym) feeling.
Beat it with prefixes and roots
A known prefix instantly flips a word to its opposite.
| Prefix / root | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in- / im- / il- / ir- | not | insignificant, impatient, irrelevant |
| un- / dis- | not / reverse | unkind, dishonest, dislike |
| mal- / mis- | bad / wrong | malnourished, mislead |
| bene- | good / well | beneficial, benevolent |
| magn- / muni- | great / giving | magnanimous, munificent (generous) |
| -ous / -ful | full of | voracious (greedy), careful |
| caco- / eu- | bad sound / good | cacophony (harsh noise), euphony (sweet sound) |
High-frequency words from these papers
These exact words have appeared in Punjab Police English.
| Word | Meaning | Meaning (Punjabi) |
|---|---|---|
| Furtive | secretive, sly | ਲੁਕਵਾਂ / ਚੋਰੀ-ਛਿਪੇ |
| Munificent | very generous | ਬਹੁਤ ਦਾਨੀ / ਉਦਾਰ |
| Cacophony | harsh mix of sounds | ਕੰਨ-ਚੀਰਵਾਂ ਰੌਲਾ |
| Vigilant | watchful, alert | ਸੁਚੇਤ / ਚੌਕਸ |
| Judicious | wise, sensible | ਸਿਆਣਾ / ਸੂਝਵਾਨ |
| Clandestine | secret, hidden | ਗੁਪਤ |
| Voracious | greedy, hugely hungry | ਪੇਟੂ / ਬਹੁਤ ਭੁੱਖਾ |
| Obdurate / Stubborn | unbending | ਜ਼ਿੱਦੀ / ਅੜੀਅਲ |
Real Punjab Police questions
Decide synonym or antonym, then match the feeling of the word.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate SYNONYM of the given word. SIGNIFICANT
Tap an option to answer
Answer: B — important
Punjab Police Constable 2021. A synonym is asked. Significant means 'important / of great effect', so the closest word is important. Energetic means full of energy, lustful means full of desire, and static means unchanging — none matches 'important'.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Furtive
Tap an option to answer
Answer: B — Secretive
Punjab Police Constable 2025. Furtive means done quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed, so the synonym is secretive. Transparent and open are its opposites (placed as traps), and bold is the reverse of sly.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate synonym of: Munificent
Tap an option to answer
Answer: A — Generous
Punjab Police Constable 2025. Munificent (root muni- = giving, magn- = great) means extremely generous, so the synonym is generous. Stingy is the exact opposite (trap); indifferent means not caring; concise means short.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Cacophony
Tap an option to answer
Answer: C — Dissonance
Punjab Police Constable 2025. Cacophony (caco- = bad + phony = sound) means a harsh, jarring mix of sounds, so the synonym is dissonance. Harmony, melody and silence are all the opposite feeling — pleasant or no sound.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.
Vigilant
Tap an option to answer
Answer: C — Cautious
Punjab Police Constable 2025. Vigilant means keeping careful watch for danger, so the closest word is cautious. Insensible, oblivious and abstracted all mean 'not paying attention' — the opposite of vigilant.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Proliferation
Tap an option to answer
Answer: B — Escalate
Punjab Police Constable 2025. Proliferation means a rapid increase or spread, so the synonym is escalate (to grow). Wane, abatement and diminution all mean a decrease — the opposite direction.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.
Judicious
Tap an option to answer
Answer: A — Sensible
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2022. Judicious means showing good judgement, so the synonym is sensible. Inspiring, agitated and obnoxious are unrelated — agitated is even negative, while judicious is positive.
QUICK CHECK
Choose the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word: BENEFICIAL
Tap an option to answer
Answer: C — harmful
Punjab Police Constable 2021. An antonym is asked. Beneficial (bene- = good) means helpful, so its opposite is harmful. Useful and helpful are synonyms (traps); careful only rhymes and is unrelated.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word: Clandestine
Tap an option to answer
Answer: C — Open
Punjab Police Constable 2024. Clandestine means kept secret, so its antonym is open. Impartial (fair), indifferent (not caring) and pious (religious) are all unrelated to secrecy.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Diligent
Tap an option to answer
Answer: A — Lazy
Punjab Police Constable 2025. Diligent means hardworking and careful, so its antonym is lazy. Enthusiastic, hardworking and active are all synonyms placed as traps — hardworking is diligent itself.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Voracious
Tap an option to answer
Answer: B — Satisfied
Punjab Police Constable 2025. Voracious means wanting huge amounts (of food or, say, books), so its antonym is satisfied. Insatiable is a synonym (never satisfied) placed as the trap; foolish and wise are unrelated.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.
Stubborn
Tap an option to answer
Answer: D — Docile
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2022. Stubborn means refusing to change or obey, so its antonym is docile (easily led). Adamant and determined are synonyms (traps); severe means harsh and is unrelated.
QUICK CHECK
Choose the correct ANTONYM of the given word. GRATITUDE
Tap an option to answer
Answer: B — Thanklessness
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2021. Gratitude means thankfulness, so its antonym is thanklessness. Gratefulness is a synonym placed as a trap; unpleasantness and felicitousness are unrelated.
QUICK CHECK
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the following word.
Transgress
Tap an option to answer
Answer: D — Obey
Punjab Police Sub Inspector 2023. Transgress means to break a rule or go beyond a limit, so its antonym is obey. Traduce (to slander), trespass and infringe are all near-synonyms of breaking/violating — placed as traps.
COMMON TRAPS
- Read 'closest' vs 'opposite / farthest' before you look at options.
- The opposite word is almost always planted among the options.
- For antonyms, a prefix (in-, un-, dis-) option is often — but not always — the answer; check meaning.
- Beware synonyms sitting in an antonym question (hardworking for 'Diligent').
- If unsure, decide positive or negative first, then match or reverse.
- 'OPPOSITE in meaning' and 'farthest in meaning' both mean antonym.
CHECK YOURSELF
Select the ANTONYM of: BENEVOLENT. (a) generous (b) kind (c) malevolent (d) charitable
Show answer
(c) malevolent. Bene- means 'good' and mal- means 'bad', so benevolent (wishing good) flips to malevolent (wishing harm). Generous, kind and charitable are all synonyms placed as traps.