One Word Substitutes – Solved Questions and Answers (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 7 Apr, 2026

One word substitutes are single words that replace a phrase or group of words while conveying the same meaning more concisely. They help make language more precise and efficient.

**One Word Substitutes questions and answers are provided below for you to learn and practice.

**Question 1: A person who can speak many languages is called:

  1. Linguist
  2. Bilingual
  3. Multilingual
  4. Polyglot

Correct Answer: (4) **Polyglot

**Explanation: _“Poly” means many and “glot” means tongue/language. So, a polyglot is someone who can speak several languages.

**Question 2: A speech delivered without preparation:

  1. Dialogue
  2. Extempore
  3. Debate
  4. Monologue

Correct Answer: (2) **Extempore

**Explanation: _Extempore refers to something spoken or done without preparation, especially a speech.

**Question 3: One who believes in the existence of God:

  1. Atheist
  2. Theist
  3. Rationalist
  4. Mystic

Correct Answer: (2) **Theist

**Explanation: A **Theist is someone who believes in the existence of God or gods.

**Question 4: One who is all-powerful:

  1. Invincible
  2. Omnipotent
  3. Omniscient
  4. Dominant

Correct Answer: (2) **Omnipotent

**Explanation: Omnipotent means having unlimited power or being all-powerful.

**Question 5: A person who doesn’t believe in marriage:

  1. Atheist
  2. Misogamist
  3. Feminist
  4. Celibate

Correct Answer: (2) **Misogamist

**Explanation: “Miso” means hate and “gyn” refers to women. A misogynist is someone who despises women.

**Question 6: A person who pretends to have more knowledge or skills than they actually possess:

  1. Charlatan
  2. Connoisseur
  3. Altruist
  4. Pragmatist

Correct Answer: (1) **Charlatan

**Explanation: A charlatan is a fraud or imposter who falsely claims to have expert knowledge or skills.

**Question 7: A person who studies election trends and voting behavior:

  1. Anthropologist
  2. Psephologist
  3. Sociologist
  4. Ethnographer

Correct Answer: (2) **Psephologist

**Explanation: A psephologist analyzes voting patterns, public opinion, and electoral results.

**Question 8: A word or phrase that reads the same backward and forward:

  1. Anagram
  2. Palindrome
  3. Homophone
  4. Oxymoron

Correct Answer: (2) **Palindrome

**Explanation: Examples include “madam” or “racecar”—words that remain the same when reversed.

**Question 9: One who dies for a noble cause or belief:

  1. Patriot
  2. Martyr
  3. Volunteer
  4. Renegade

Correct Answer: (2) **Martyr

**Explanation: A martyr sacrifices their life for a cause or religious belief.

**Question 10: A person who insists on strict adherence to rules or literary meaning:

  1. Idealist
  2. Pragmatist
  3. Literalist
  4. Realist

Correct Answer: (3) **Literalist

**Explanation: A literalist interprets words and rules exactly as written, without room for metaphor or flexibility.

**Question 11: A person who is always hopeful and looks on the bright side:

  1. Optimist
  2. Pessimist
  3. Realist
  4. Cynic

Correct Answer: (1) **Optimist

**Explanation: A person who is always hopeful and looks on the bright side is called an **optimist. They tend to focus on positive outcomes, even in difficult situations.

**Question 12: A life history written by oneself:

  1. Biography
  2. Autobiography
  3. Memoir
  4. Report

Correct Answer: (2) **Autobiography

**Explanation: A life history written by oneself is called an **autobiography. It is a self-written account of one’s own life experiences and events.

**Question 13: One who walks on foot:

  1. Walker
  2. Pedestrian
  3. Hiker
  4. Nomad

Correct Answer: (2) **Pedestrian

**Explanation: One who walks on foot is called a **pedestrian. They travel by walking rather than using any vehicle.

**Question 14: A handwriting that cannot be read:

  1. Illegible
  2. Invisible
  3. Inaudible
  4. Indelible

Correct Answer: (1) **Illegible

**Explanation: A handwriting that cannot be read is called **illegible. It refers to writing that is difficult or impossible to read due to unclear or messy handwriting.

**Question 15: A person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain is called:

  1. Optimist
  2. Stoic
  3. Cynic
  4. Epicure

Correct Answer: (2) **Stoic

**Explanation: A person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain is called an **stoic. They maintain a calm and rational mindset, unaffected by emotional extremes.

**Question 16: A person who always expects the worst to happen:

  1. Optimist
  2. Realist
  3. Pessimist
  4. Idealist

Correct Answer: (3) **Pessimist

**Explanation: A person who always expects the worst to happen is called a **pessimist. They tend to focus on negative outcomes and believe that things will go wrong.

**Question 17: Government by the wealthy is known as:

  1. Democracy
  2. Bureaucracy
  3. Plutocracy
  4. Aristocracy

Correct Answer: (3) **Plutocracy

**Explanation: Government by the wealthy is known as **plutocracy. It refers to a system where power is primarily held by the wealthy individuals or families.

**Question 18: The act of killing one’s own father is called:

  1. Matricide
  2. Patricide
  3. Fratricide
  4. Homicide

Correct Answer: (2) **Patricide

**Explanation: The act of killing one’s own father is called **patricide. It refers to the deliberate killing of one's father.

**Question 19: A person who collects coins:

  1. Philatelist
  2. Numismatist
  3. Ornithologist
  4. Cartographer

Correct Answer: (2) Numismatist

**Explanation: A person who collects coins is called a **numismatist. They study and collect currency, such as coins, paper money, and medals.

**Question 20: The study of human societies and cultures:

  1. Zoology
  2. Anthropology
  3. Paleontology
  4. Entomology

Correct Answer: (2) **Anthropology

**Explanation: The study of human societies and cultures is called **anthropology. It involves understanding human behavior, social structures, and cultural practices across different societies.

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