15+ High-Level CAT Vocabulary Questions to Improve your Score

Overview: Boost your score and percentage with 15+ high level CAT vocabulary questions. Read on to know more!

• A strong vocabulary is the foundation for success in the CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section. 
• While the exam rarely asks for simple synonyms, it tests your ability to understand complex words in context to solve RC passages, Para Jumbles, and Sentence Completion questions. 
• You need to know the subtle meanings and correct usage of high-level, academic words.

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Read on to know more about the CAT Vocabulary Questions to boost your scores and percentile!

Why is it important to practice CAT Vocabulary Questions?

The CAT VARC section typically has 24 questions. Pure, direct vocabulary questions are rare or non-existent.

However, questions where vocabulary knowledge is critical to getting the answer include:

CAT Voacubalory Question Type	Typical Count	Vocabulary's Role
Reading Comprehension (RC)	16	Essential for understanding 100% of the passages and all inference questions.
Odd-One-Out (OOC)	3	Crucial for grasping the nuance of the sentences to spot the outlier.
Para Summary (PS)	3	Necessary to identify the choice that best captures the meaning of the original paragraph.
Word Usage/Fill-in-the-Blanks	0−2	Direct check of contextual meaning and confusing pairs (less common, but appear).

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Important CAT Vocabulary Questions to Practice Now

Here are the important CAT Vocabulary questions to boost your percentage in the final exam:

Q1. Choose the option in which the usage of the word 'Buckle' is incorrect or inappropriate.

1. After the strenuous 20-mile hike, the experienced climber’s knees were beginning to buckle under the weight of his heavy pack, forcing him to rest. 
2. The seasoned journalist refused to buckle under the intense pressure and relentless interrogation from the panel of investigative reporters. 
3. It is critically important for all passengers to buckle up as soon as they get into the car, as a safety measure against sudden impacts.
4. The old wooden bridge was notorious for its structural weakness; heavy traffic could eventually make its main support buckle. 
5. The horse suddenly broke into a graceful buckle, surprising the rider who was expecting a steady trot on the long plain.

Correct Answer: 5

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Q2. In the following sentences, a pair of words is given in brackets. Select the most appropriate word (A or B) to form correct sentences. Then, choose the option that indicates the sequence of your selections.

1. His decision was peremptory (A) / pre-emptive (B), halting all discussion before the opposing side could even present its full argument.
2. The authorities found the man's explanation of how he acquired so much wealth to be highly incredulous (A) / incredible (B) and immediately launched an inquiry.
3. The politician’s speech contained many oblique (A) / opaque (B) references, which confused the audience who were expecting a direct statement of policy.
4. The famous scientist was not averse (A) / adverse (B) to collaborating with his long-time rival, as the project was for the greater good of the scientific community.
   1. ABBA
   2. B. BABA
   3. C. ABAA
   4. D. BAAB
   5. E. AABB

Correct Answer: 3

Q3. The critics argued that the artist's sudden popularity was not due to a genuine __________ of talent, but rather a temporary __________ in public taste, which they expected to dissipate quickly.

1. manifestation; aberration 
2. dissemination; hiatus 
3. confluence; paradox 
4. repudiation; conjecture 
5. travesty; paradigm

Correct Answer: 1

Q4. Select the pair of words that best expresses a relationship similar to the one expressed in the question pair:

INCENDIARY: FLAME

1. Soporific: Sleep 
2. Deleterious: Cure 
3. Parochial: Globe 
4. Abstruse: Clarity 
5. Belligerent: Peace

Correct Answer:1

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Q5. Choose the option in which the usage of the word 'File' is incorrect or inappropriate.

1. After the initial paperwork, the lawyer had to file an official petition in the district court before the deadline. 
2. The long-term effects of the company’s accounting scandal led to a significant file in investor confidence. 
3. The cadets marched in a single file across the parade ground, ensuring their alignment was perfect. 
4. You should gently file your nails in one direction to prevent them from splitting and becoming brittle. 
5. The clerk meticulously organized the documents in the new file cabinet before she left for the day.

Correct Answer: 2

Q6. The author’s primary intention in the essay was to __________ the common __________ that economic prosperity is inherently __________ with environmental sustainability, arguing instead for a model of responsible resource management.

1. propagate; premise; synonymous 
2. refute; notion; antithetical 
3. bolster; contention; concomitant 
4. abjure; fallacy; contiguous
5. delineate; certainty; commensurate

Correct Answer: 2

Q7. Three of the following four words are related in meaning. Identify the word that does not fit the group.

1. Capricious
2. Whimsical
3. Volatile
4. Fickle

Correct Answer: 3

Q8. Despite the efforts of the local community, the rapid __________ of the invasive species was __________ to the survival of the native plant life.

1. accretion; auxiliary B. proliferation; deleterious C. stagnation; propitious D. decadence; negligible E. retrenchment; salient

Correct Answer: 2

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Q9. From the italicised and highlighted words, select the most appropriate words (A or B) to form correct sentences. The sentences are followed by options that indicate the words that may be selected to complete the set of sentences correctly.

1. The doctor's prescribed (A) / proscribed (B) the powerful antibiotic only for the most severe cases of bacterial infection.
2. The art gallery had to quickly broach (A) / brooch (B) the subject of the forgery before the main collector arrived.
3. She suffered from migraine (A) / migrant (B) headaches, which would often render her incapable of working for an entire day.
4. The new trade policy was designed to allude (A) / elude (B) any potential conflict with the nation’s long-standing allies.

• BAAB
• ABAA
• ABBA
• BBAA
• AABB

Correct Answer: 1

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Q10. Choose the option in which the usage of the word 'Candid' is incorrect or inappropriate.

1. The interviewer asked the CEO to be completely candid about the company's recent financial losses and future outlook. 
2. His candid nature made him a terrible diplomat, as he was prone to saying exactly what he thought without any regard for propriety. 
3. The photographer was known for capturing surprisingly beautiful candid shots of celebrities, often without their immediate knowledge. 
4. The new law was a candid measure designed to restrict certain rights that the government deemed detrimental to national security.
5. I appreciate your candid feedback on my presentation; it was harsh, but exactly what I needed to hear to improve.

Correct Answer: 4

Q11. The investigative committee was tasked with uncovering the financial __________ that had allowed several key executives to secretly enrich themselves at the expense of the shareholders.

1. largesse 
2. chasm 
3. machinations 
4. synergy 
5. placidity

Correct Answer: 3

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Q12. Choose the option in which the usage of the word 'Insipid' is incorrect or inappropriate.

1. The food critic wrote that the chef’s signature dish was insipid, lacking any distinct flavor or zest. 
2. After years of reading profound philosophy, the popular fiction novel felt rather insipid to the professor.
3. The artist used a variety of dull, insipid colors in his latest landscape painting to evoke a sense of melancholy. 
4. Following his initial burst of energy, the speaker settled into an insipid monotone that failed to hold the audience's attention. 
5. The wine was quite insipid, leaving a lingering, warm sensation on the palate long after the glass was empty.

Correct Answer: E.

Q13. The politician’s speech, full of __________ rhetoric and promises, failed to __________ the skeptical electorate, who demanded concrete plans rather than mere emotional appeals.

1. saccharine; placate
2. trenchant; exasperate
3. erudite; confound
4. perfunctory; mollify
5. vitriolic; galvanize

Correct Answer:1

Q14. Select the pair of words that best expresses a relationship similar to the one expressed in the question pair:

EPHEMERAL: PERMANENCE

1. Arid: Moisture
2. Insatiable: Appetite
3. Lucid: Comprehension
4. Squalid: Cleanliness
5. Obsequious: Flattery

Correct Answer: 1

Q15. Choose the option in which the usage of the word 'Grave' is incorrect or inappropriate.

1. The government is facing a grave crisis as a result of the collapse of the national bank.
2. He spoke in a solemn and grave tone, conveying the seriousness of the situation to the assembled press.
3. The geological survey discovered a small, shallow grave containing artefacts from the Bronze Age.
4. Following the long illness, his demeanor became increasingly grave and distant, worrying his family.
5. The ancient Roman emperor was buried with all his jewels in a grave of colossal and imposing dimensions.

Correct Answer: 3

Q16. From the italicized and highlighted words, select the most appropriate words (A or B) to form correct sentences. The sentences are followed by options that indicate the words that may be selected to correctly complete the set of sentences.

1. The committee decided to disburse (A) / disperse (B) the remaining funds immediately to the deserving students.
2. The military analysts worried that a minor border skirmish could escalate (A) / echelon (B) into a full-scale regional war.
3. A brilliant but irresolute (A) / irresponsible (B) leader will often fail to take the necessary decisive actions when faced with a crisis.
4. The lawyer’s summary was perfectly cogent (A) / cognizant (B), clearly explaining the complex legal arguments to the jury.
   1. ABBA
   2. ABAA
   3. BABA
   4. BAAB
   5. AAAA

Correct Answer: 2

Q17.The research paper was so __________ with highly specialized jargon and complex mathematical notation that it was virtually __________ to anyone outside the field of theoretical physics.

1. replete; accessible
2. convoluted; redundant
3. fraught; intelligible
4. replete; incomprehensible
5. contingent; relevant

Correct Answer: 4

Q18. Three of the following four words are related in meaning, signifying a lack of feeling or interest. Identify the word that does not fit the group.

1. Apathy
2. Aloofness
3. Lassitude
4. Indifference

Correct Answer: 3

Q19. Choose the option in which the usage of the word 'Intend' is incorrect or inappropriate.

1. The developers intend to complete the massive housing project before the end of the fiscal year.
2. I did not mean to offend you; my comments were intend to be humorous, though I see now they weren't.
3. His actions, while appearing accidental, were clearly intended to cause a disruption at the meeting.
4. The new legislation is primarily intended for the benefit of small, independent businesses.
5. We intend to find a long-term solution to the problem, not just a temporary fix.

Correct Answer: 2

Q20. The new director's management style was often criticized as overly __________; she refused to acknowledge any advice that did not align with her own __________ beliefs about corporate governance.

1. pragmatic; empirical

2. dogmatic; entrenched
3. malleable; equivocal
4. esoteric; fallacious
5. sanguine; arbitrary

Correct Answer: 2

Q21. The ancient treaty was written in such a verbose and highly __________ style that generations of historians have struggled to definitively agree on its exact meaning and clauses.

1. florid
2. succinct
3. austere
4. terse
5. pellucid

Correct Answer:1

Explanation: The word must describe a style that is excessively complicated, leading to confusion among historians. Florid means excessively elaborate or intricate.

• Succinct and terse both mean brief and to the point (opposites of the required meaning).
• Austere means severe or plain in appearance.
• Pellucid means translucently clear (opposite of the required meaning).

Q22. Choose the option in which the usage of the word 'Amaze' is incorrect or inappropriate.

1. The sheer scale of the Grand Canyon never fails to amaze first-time visitors with its immense beauty.
2. It's often said that the most effective leaders have the ability to amaze and inspire their entire team.
3. The discovery of the lost city's ruins was an absolute amaze to the entire archaeological community.
4. He managed to amaze the necessary funds for his charity by running a marathon in record time.
5. We were completely amazed by the young prodigy's virtuosic performance on the piano.

Correct Answer: 4.

Explanation: To amaze means to surprise or astonish (A, B, E). Option D uses amaze incorrectly; the context requires the word 'amass', which means to gather or accumulate (a large amount of money or information).

Tips to boost your accuracy over CAT vocabulary Questions 2026

Here are the tips that your can follow to enhance your speed and accuracy over the CAT vocabulary questions:

• First, read the sentence or passage carefully — understanding the context really helps you guess the meaning of unfamiliar words.
• Look out for word parts like prefixes and suffixes; they’re handy clues that help you figure out tricky words.
• When it’s a synonym or antonym question, start by eliminating options that clearly don’t fit. This narrows down your choices quickly.
• Practice common CAT vocabulary words regularly. Flashcards or fun memory tricks can make this much easier and enjoyable.
• Make a habit of reading newspapers, articles, or stories — this naturally grows your vocabulary over time.
• Keep an eye on the clock during the exam. If a word stumps you, take your best guess and move on. You can circle back later if there’s time.
• Most importantly, stay consistent with your practice. The more you work on vocabulary, the more confident you’ll get!

These simple tips can make CAT vocabulary questions feel a lot less scary and way more manageable!

Conclusion

Building a strong vocabulary isn’t just about memorizing words it’s about understanding their meaning, usage, and impact.

The more you practice with CAT vocabulary questions, the more confident and accurate you’ll become in the VARC section.

Keep revising, keep testing yourself, and stay consistent in your preparation. With the right strategy and regular practice through Supergrads CAT resources, mastering vocabulary will soon become your strength and help you score higher in the CAT exam.