GRE TEST PREPARATION - VERBAL ANALOGIES

1. PHILATELIST : STAMPS
a. philanthropist : loves
b. philologist : languages
c. numismatist : coins
d. philistine : seals
e. philosopher : wisdom

8. FROWN : DISAPPROBATION
a. chortle : sorrow
b. glower : anger
c. snicker : respect
d. whisper : confidentiality
e. guffaw : circumlocution

2. EXPEDITION : PURPOSE
a. voyage : discovery
b. examination : score
c. archery : target
d. wrongdoing : punishment
e. journey : destination

9. HOURGLASS : CHRONOMETER
a. parachute : helicopter
b. month : almanac
c. watch : clock
d. sand : wheel
e. abacus : calculator

3. DRY : SOAKED
a. desert : oasis
b. air : moisture
c. arid : parched
d. anhydrous : saturated
e. teetotal : alcohol

10. ISLET : CONTINENT

a. pond : ocean
b. aiglet : lace
c. agnail : nail
d. excessive : restrained
e. water : land

4. HISTRIONIC : THEATER
a. olden : drama
b. forensic : court
c. harmonic : orchestra
d. halcyon : opera
e. dramatic : stage

11. EPHEMERAL : ETERNITY

a. perfunctory : superficiality
b. scrupulous : punctilio
c. apocryphal : authenticity
d. ubiquitous : omnipresence
e. pusillanimous : permanence

5. HANDS : CLUTCH
a. throat : cough
b. feet : accelerate
c. speech : stammer
d. tongue : swallow
e. eyes : blink

12. INNOCUOUS : HARMLESS

a. deleterious : healthy
b. incongruous : harmonious
c. indolent : assiduous
d. insipid : tasteful
e. ingenuous : artless

6. THESIS : PROPOSITIONS
a. book : chapters
b. encyclopedia : premises
c. composition : paragraphs
d. poem : verses
e. dissertation : ideas

13. FOND : DOTING

a. tender : loving
b. ingenious : silly
c. omnipotent : feeble
d. moist : drenched
e. fanatic : zealous

7. OPHTHALMOLOGIST : EYES
a. psychologist : brain
b. archaeologist : man
c. dermatologist : skin
d. optometrist : ears
e. orthodontist : bones

14. CARAVAN : TRAVELERS

a. company : merchants
b. train : wagons
c. fleet : ships
d. band : musicians
e. cavalcade : pilgrims
1

15. DISLIKE : ANTIPATHY

a. empathy : apathy
b. disavowal : aversion
c. hate : sympathy
d. fear : phobia
e. abhorrence : mania

22. BIGOT : PREJUDICED

a. zealot : fanatical
b. adversary : pessimistic
c. braggart : rash
d. recluse : lazy
e. ascetic : indulgent

16. POUND : WEIGHT

a. crush : shape
b. money : load
c. ounce : time
d. light year : distance
e. scale : mass

23. TRUNCATE : CONE

a. circumscribe : pyramid
b. behead : person
c. hibernate : animal
d. disseminate : seed
e. rotate : cylinder

17. SURVEYOR : TRANSIT

a. artist : studio
b. astronomer : kaleidoscope
c. druggist : pharmacy
d. surgeon : syringe
e. butcher : cleaver

24. PEAK : MOUNTAIN

a. vertex : triangle
b. length : wave
c. slope : valley
d. apex : cone
e. edge : plateau

18. RUNG : LADDER

a. alarm : clock
b. flight : floor
c. stair : step
d. link : chain
e. ascent : mountain

25. ITINERARY : TRAVELER

a. logbook : orator
b. voyage : astronaut
c. expedition : explorer
d. excursion : tourist
e. diary : scientist

19. CELLAR : WINE

a. ocean : water
b. kernel : corn
c. refinery : oil
d. silo : grain
e. husk : rice

26. SMELL : OLFACTORY

a. movement : voluntary
b. hearing : tympanic
c. touch : parietal
d. taste : gustatory
e. vision : astigmatic

20. EMPLOYEE : WAGES

a. composer : symphony
b. worker : jobs
c. negotiator : conflicts
d. scholar : books
e. entrepreneur : profits

27. IMPECCABLE : FAULT

a. implacable : attack
b. implausible : money
c. impregnable : cause
d. immutable : change
e. impecunious : passion

21. SYLLABLE : ELISION

a. note : music
b. key : piano
c. number : division
d. letter : contraction
e. word : clause

28. LABYRINTH : MAZE

a. dilemma : hypothesis
b. heresy : mystery
c. passage : doctrine
d. enigma : riddle
e. experiment : network

29. EMBEZZLE : TRUST

a. admonish : caution
b. plagiarize : right
c. adjudge : belief
d. adulterate : faith
e. perjure : oath

36. SCULPTOR : ATELIER

a. miner : mineral
b. lawyer : agreement
c. lyrist : lyric
d. physician : infirmary
e. painter : easel

30. VEIN : BLOOD

a. duct : water
b. pump : heart
c. kidney : urine
d. compressor : air
e. liver : bile

37. COVEY : PARTRIDGES

a. gander : geese
b. pride : lions
c. aviary : birds
d. cote : pigeons
e. twitter : swallows

31. SHOAL : FISH

a. apiary : bees
b. aerie : eagles
c. gaggle : geese
d. drake : ducks
e. gobble : turkeys

38. URSINE : BEAR

a. porcine : porcupine
b. vulpine : vulture
c. equine : endure
d. asinine : yield
e. aquiline : eagle

32. LAMENTATION : KILLJOY

a. abandonment : diehard
b. sophistication : scarecrow
c. disloyalty : turncoat
d. accusation : scapegoat
e. caution : daredevil

49. SONNETEER : SONNETS

a. author : pages
b. mason : bricks
c. choreographer : ballets
d. architect : maps
e. cartographer : buildings

33. DOVE : PEACE

a. eagle : war
b. insignia : nation
c. flag : victory
d. laurel : liberty
e. scale : justice

50. URBANE : SUAVE

a. tempestuous : calm
b. pedestrian : prosaic
c. rustic : sophisticated
d. boorish : courteous
e. urban : rural

34. IMPETUOUS : CAUTION

a. arduous : action
b. impassive : respect
c. excessive : moderation
d. ingenuous : trust
e. fatuous : inanity

51. WHIMPER : WHINE

a. scream : shout
b. strut : walk
c. wail : cry
d. murmur : speak
e. mumble : talk

35. ELEGY : PAEAN

a. lamentation : joy
b. euphemism : expression
c. eulogy : praise
d. benediction : blessing
e. threnody : song

42. BAROMETER : PRESSURE

a. tachometer : tension
b. barrator : urgency
c. barretter : intensity
d. odometer : distance
e. chronometer : degree

43. INCANDESCENT : GLOW

a. evanescent : fade
b. amorphous : heat
c. iridescent : disappear
d. stagnant : move
e. ephemeral : persist

50. SOUND : DECIBEL

a. energy : power
b. angle : degree
c. heat : temperature
d. waves : volume
e. chord : vocal

44. EFFUSIVE : DEMONSTRATIVE

a. downcast : dejected
b. gushing : throttled
c. pouring : choked
d. theoretical : experimental
e. effective : defective

51. SIDEREAL : STAR

a. arboreal : asteroid
b. apocryphal : planet
c. ephemeral : meteor
d. surreal : sun
e. terrestrial : earth

45. BRITTLE : BREAK

a. pliable : compress
b. futile : separate
c. fertile : crush
d. flexible : bend
e. ductile : divide

52. RETICENCE : RESERVED

a. opulence : impoverished
b. loquacity : silent
c. integrity : mendacious
d. corpulence : stout
e. penury : wealthy

46. SPEECH : ORATOR

a. journal : librarian
b. sermon : minister
c. evidence : case
d. alibi : criminal
e. lecture : subject

53. FELDSPAR : MINERAL

a. geognosy : rock
b. cumulonimbus : cloud
c. magma : lava
d. chemical : crystal
e. road : tar

47. SANCTUARY : PROTECTION

a. hospice : storage
b. fortress : defense
c. receptacle : treatment
d. asylum : distribution
e. reservoir : shelter

54. EXTRICATE : FREE

a. hone : sharp
b. acclaim : independent
c. abridge : long
d. expedite : slow
e. debilitate : strong

48. ELEPHANT : HERBIVOROUS

a. vegetarian : omnivorous
b. dog : canine
c. tiger : carnivorous
d. quadruped : proboscis
e. snail : mollusc

55. APATHY : INDIFFERENCE

a. reticence : verbosity
b. vacillation : steadfastness
c. anathema : curse
d. penury : opulence
e. indolence : industry

49. EXTEMPORE : PREPARATION

a. permeable : readiness
b. expert : practice
c. offhand : proliferation
d. fluent : eloquence
e. impromptu : rehearsal

56. NULLIFY : INVALID

a. vilify : famous
b. rectify : right
c. exemplify : happy
d. mollify : model
e. gratify : possible

57. HAUGHTY : ARROGANCE

a. dauntless : cowardice
b. spiteful : malice
c. mendacious : honesty
d. fastidious : bravery
e. impecunious : benevolence

64. PARASITE : MISTLETOE

a. aerie : eagle
b. saprophyte : mallard
c. marsupial : kangaroo
d. scavenger : carrion
e. fungus : marigold

58. TERRESTRIAL : LAND

a. aerial : gas
b. aquatic : liquid
c. sidereal : banks
d. arboreal : trees
e. amphibious : shores

65. CALF : VEAL

a. deer : venison
b. muscle : horn
c. cub : fox
d. sheep : ram
e. joey : kangaroo

59. PRIDE : LIONS

a. aviary : birds
b. gander : geese
c. cote : pigeons
d. covey : partridges
e. twitter : swallows

66. BURROW : RABBIT

a. nest : thrush
b. cage : bird
c. desert : camel
d. shell : snail
e. shed : cow

60. KILN : BRICKS

a. extruder : plastics
b. oven : cakes
c. silo : crops
d. factory : tiles
e. furnace : metals

67. BOTANIST : PETUNIA

a. biologist : energy
b. geologist : gypsum
c. physicist : matter
d. numismatist : coin
e. zoologist : periwinkle

61. SIEVE : SIFT

a. crowbar : pry
b. needle : separate
c. mortar : pestle
d. spanner : sever
e. chisel : hammer

68. PHILANTHROPIST : BENEVOLENCE

a. misogynist : blasphemy
b. philatelist : benediction
c. altruist : generosity
d. optimist : quintessence
e. pessimist : providence

62. COTE : PIGEON

a. eyrie : eagle
b. shoal : fish
c. peace : dove
d. apiary : bird
e. aviary : bee

69. RIVER : SILT

a. glacier : detritus
b. rain : acid
c. volcano : magma
d. stream : salt
e. geyser : steam

63. RIBALD : DECENT

a. equivocal : ambiguous
b. ingenious : clever
c. deleterious : harmful
d. parsimonious : magnanimous
e. ephemeral : fleeting

70. SOLO : MUSIC

a. sonata : opera
b. monopoly : trade
c. monologue : drama
d. soliloquy : parade
e. sonnet : poem

ANSWER KEY
1. A philatelist collects stamps and a
numismatist collects coins.
2. An expedition is a journey or voyage
with a definite purpose.
3. Dry and soaked are opposite in
meaning. Anhydrous and saturated are
also antonyms. Importantly, anhydrous
means "lack of water" or dry, where
assaturated means "soaked".
4. Histrionic means "suitable for acting or
the theater." Similarly, forensic means
"suitable to debate or a court of law."
5. Here, it is the relationship between the
body part and the action it can perform.
With your hands, you can clutch. With
your eyes, you can blink.
6. A thesis is based on propositions that
one attempts to formally prove. A
dissertation is based on ideas that one
attempts to formally convey.
7. The relationship here is about doctors
and what they specialize in. The
ophthalmologist treats disorders of the
eyes and the dermatologist treats
diseases of the skin.
8. Frown implies knitting the brows to
express
disapprobation
(or
disapproval). Glower implies scowling
to express anger. Note that whisper,
chortle, snicker and guffaw all involve
sounds.
9. The hourglass was used for measuring
time in olden days, whereas a
chronometer (watch / clock) is used
today. Similarly, the abacus was used
for calculations in olden days, whereas
a calculator is used today.
10. An islet is a small piece of land
(surrounded by water) and a continent
is a large mass of land. Similarly, a pond
is a small body of water and an ocean is
a large mass of water.
11. Ephemeral is an adjective meaning
"short-lived." Eternity is a noun
meaning "infinite time." We are seeking
opposites in meaning. Apocryphal is an
adjective meaning "not genuine."

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

Authenticity is a noun meaning

"genuine."
Innocuous and harmless are synonyms.
Similarly, ingenuous and artless are
synonyms.
Doting is "passionately fond," and thus
differs from fond in its degree of
intensity. Similarly, drenched is "totally
wet," and thus differs from moist in
terms of degree of wetness.
A caravan of travelers signifies humans
moving together in a procession. A
similar relationship exists in the case of
a cavalcade of pilgrims.
A strong dislike is termed antipathy.
Similarly, an extreme irrational fear is
termed phobia.
Pound is a measure of weight. Similarly,
light year is a measure of distance
(typically, astronomical distances). A
light year is the distance light travels in
one year, which is about six million
million miles.
A surveyor uses a transit (measuring
instrument) as a tool. A butcher uses a
cleaver (chopping instrument) as a tool.
Just as a rung (crossbar) is a part of a
ladder, a link (loop or ring) is a part of a
chain.
A cellar is a room for storing wine.
Similarly, a silo is a chamber for storing
grain.
An employee works for wages.
Similarly, an entrepreneur works for
profits.
The suppression of a syllable during the
pronunciation of a word is termed
elision. The suppression of a letter
during the writing of a word is termed
contraction.
A bigot is a person who is prejudiced
and intolerant to differing views.
Similarly, a zealot is a person who is
fanatical in support of a cause.
When you truncate a cone, you cut the
end off. When you behead a person,
you cut the head off.
6

24. Peak is the pointed top of a mountain.

Similarly, apex is the pointed tip of a
cone.
25. Itinerary of a traveler maintains a
record of the places on a journey. Diary
of a scientist maintains a record of the
experiments during the research.
26. Olfactory is the adjective that means
"concerned with sense of smell."
Gustatory is the adjective that means
"concerned with sense of taste."
27. Impeccable means without fault.
Immutable means without change.
28. A labyrinth is a maze or a network of
winding passages. An enigma is a riddle
or puzzle.
29. Embezzle is to appropriate fraudulently
when holding in trust. Similarly, perjure
is to testify falsely when under oath.
30. Just as a vein carries blood, a duct
carries water.
31. Shoal is the collective noun for fish.
Similarly, gaggle is the collective noun
for geese. Note that aerie (also spelt
aery) is the nest that eagles build high
up. Apiary is the place where bees are
kept. Drake is the masculine of duck.
Gobble refers to the gurgling sound that
turkeys make.
32. Lamentation (or expression of grief) is
characteristic of a killjoy (a depressing
person). Similarly, disloyalty (or
betrayal) is characteristic of a turncoat
(a person who changes sides).
33. Dove symbolizes peace. Similarly, scales
symbolize justice.
34. Impetuous implies "tending to act
without caution." Similarly, excessive
implies "tending to act without
moderation."
35. Elegy is a song of lamentation, whereas
paean is a song of joy.
36. A sculptor works in an atelier (or
studio). Similarly, a physician works in
an infirmary (or hospital).
37. Covey is the collective noun for
partridges. Similarly, pride is the
collective noun for lions. Note that cote
is the shelter for pigeons. Aviary is a
large cage where birds are kept. Gander

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

is the masculine of goose, and geese is

the plural of goose. Twitter refers to the
succession of sounds that birds like
swallows utter.
Just as ursine means "like a bear",
aquiline means "like an eagle". Note
that equine means "like a horse".
Asinine means "like an ass", vulpine
means "like a fox", and porcine means
"like a pig."
Just as a sonneteer (poet) is a composer
of sonnets (rhymed verse of fourteen
lines), a choreographer is a designer of
ballets. Note that an architect is a
designer of blueprints for buildings, and
a cartographer is a person who draws
maps.
Urbane and suave are synonyms
meaning "refined and courteous."
Similarly, pedestrian and prosaic are
synonyms
meaning
"dull
and
unimaginative."
Whimper is to whine softly. Similarly,
murmur is to speak softly. Note that
mumble is to talk indistinctly.
Just as a barometer is an instrument for
measuring atmospheric pressure, an
odometer is an instrument for
measuring distance. Note that a
chronometer is used for measuring time
and a tachometer is used for measuring
angular speed.
Something that is incandescent tends to
glow with heat. Something that is
evanescent tends to fade from sight.
Effusive (or not restrained emotionally)
and demonstrative are synonyms.
Downcast and dejected are the only
pair of synonyms.
A thing that is brittle is apt to break,
and a thing that is flexible is apt to
bend.
A speech is delivered by an orator
(skillful speaker who delivers public
lectures). Similarly, a sermon (talk on
moral or religious subject) is delivered
by a minister.
A sanctuary provides protection.
Similarly, a fortress (or military
stronghold) provides defense.
7

48. An elephant is a herbivorous (grasseating) animal. A tiger is a carnivorous

(flesh-eating) animal.
49. Just as extempore means "without
preparation" or "offhand", impromptu
means "without rehearsal". Extempore
and impromptu are synonyms.
50. Sound (loudness) is measured in
decibels. Similarly, an angle (in
geometry) is measured in degrees.
51. Sidereal by definition means related to
the stars. Terrestrial by definition
means related to the earth.
52. Reticence is the state of being reserved
in speech and not revealing one's
thoughts or feelings. Corpulence is the
state of being stout and bulky in body.
53. Feldspar is a kind of mineral (crystalline
white or flesh-red). Cumulonimbus is a
kind of cloud.4.
54. When you extricate something, you
make it free (from an entanglement or
difficulty). When you hone something,
you make it sharp.
55. Apathy (lack of concern or interest) and
indifference are synonyms. Similarly,
anathema and curse are synonyms. The
other four options are essentially pairs
of opposites.
56. Nullify by definition is "to make invalid
or ineffective." Rectify by definition is
"to make right or correct."
57. Someone who is haughty possesses
arrogance. Someone who is spiteful
possesses malice.
58. Terrestrial by definition implies living on
land. Arboreal by definition implies
living on or in trees.
59. Pride is the collective noun for lions.
Similarly, covey is the collective noun
for partridges. Note that cote is the
shelter for pigeons. Aviary is a large
cage where birds are kept. Gander is
the masculine of goose, and geese is
the plural of goose. Twitter refers to the
succession of sounds that birds like
swallows utter.
60. A kiln is used for baking bricks. Similarly,
an oven is used for baking cakes. Note a

61.

62.

63.

64.

65.
66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

furnace is used for melting metals. A

silo is used for storing crops.
A sieve (with a mesh through which
liquids or fine particles can pass) is used
to sift or strain materials. A crowbar
(metal bar with a bent end used as a
lever) is used to pry things apart.
Cote is the shelter for pigeons. Eyrie
(also spelt aery or aerie) is the shelter
(nest built high up) for eagles. Aviary is
a large cage where birds are kept.
Apiary is the place where bees are kept.
Shoal (or school) refers to a large
number of fish swimming together.
Ribald (vulgar) is the opposite of
decent. Similarly, parsimonious (stingy)
is the opposite of magnanimous
(generous). The other four options are
pairs of synonymous words.
An example of a parasite (organism
living in or on another) is the mistletoe.
An example of a marsupial (animal that
carries its young in a pouch) is the
kangaroo.
Calf's flesh as food is veal. Deer's flesh
as food is venison.
A burrow is a dwelling (hole) made by a
rabbit. Similarly, a nest is a shelter
made by a thrush (bird).
A botanist studies plants, and petunia is
an example of a plant (with funnelshaped flowers). A geologist studies the
earth, rocks and minerals. Gypsum is an
example of a mineral (from which
plaster of Paris is made).
A philanthropist, being a lover of
mankind, is characterized by his
benevolence. In the same way, an
altruist being interested in helping
others is characterized by his
generosity.
A river deposits silt (sediment) as it
flows, whereas a glacier deposits
detritus (worn-down matter like rock
debris) as it moves.
Solo is the piece in which only one
person sings or plays in a musical
performance. Monologue (or soliloquy)
is the part in which only one person
speaks in a drama.
8