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    Vocabulary: Word Meanings, Analogies and Usage PYQs for GATE DA

    Solve 4+ Vocabulary: Word Meanings, Analogies and Usage previous year questions for GATE DA with answers and detailed solutions. Free sample questions below.

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    Question 1
    2026 PYQ
    Level 3: Exam Standard
    Verbosity : Brevity :: Insolence :___________
    Choose the word that best fills the blank.
    Question 2
    2025 PYQ
    Level 3: Exam Standard
    Column-I has statements made by Shanthala; and, Column-II has responses given by Kanishk.

    Column-I Column-II
    P. This house is in a mess. 1. Alright, I won’t bring it up during our conversations.
    Q. I am not happy with the marks given to me. 2. Well, you can easily look it up.
    R. Politics is a subject I avoid talking about. 3. No problem, let me clear it up for you.
    S. I don’t know what this word means. 4. Don’t worry, I will take it up with your teacher.

    Identify the option that has the correct match between Column-I and Column-II.
    Question 3
    2025 PYQ
    Level 3: Exam Standard
    Courage : Bravery :: Yearning : __________

    Select the most appropriate option to complete the analogy.
    Question 4
    2024 PYQ
    Level 3: Exam Standard
    If ‘→’ denotes increasing order of intensity, then the meaning of the words
    [sick → infirm → moribund] is analogous to [silly → _______ → daft].
    Which one of the given options is appropriate to fill the blank?
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    Vocabulary: Word Meanings, Analogies and Usage PYQs for GATE DA

    Solve 4+ Vocabulary: Word Meanings, Analogies and Usage previous year questions for GATE DA with answers and detailed solutions. Free sample questions below.

    Chapter Roadmap: Verbal Aptitude Journey

    1
    Word Meanings, Analogies and Semantic Relations
    Core Foundation | High Weightage
    Mastering relationships between words, synonyms, antonyms, and intensity scales.
    2
    Contextual Usage and Dialogue Response Matching
    Applied Skills | Moderate Weightage
    Selecting appropriate responses and understanding words within specific contexts.

    Topic Hero: The Logic of Language

    Core Philosophy
    Vocabulary in competitive exams is Relational Logic, not rote memory.
    1. Precision
    Distinguishing between near-synonyms based on connotation and context.
    2. Relation Mapping
    Identifying the exact logical bridge in analogies, such as Cause-Effect versus Symptom-Disease.
    3. Gradient Sensitivity
    Recognizing linear progressions in intensity, such as Dislike to Hate to Loathe.
    Key Insight: Treat every analogy question as an equation: . The relationship function where must be identical to .

    Vocabulary: Word Meanings, Analogies and Usage: Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Explanations (4 Problems)

    Question 1 · Verbal Aptitude · 2026 MCQ
    Verbosity : Brevity :: Insolence :___________
    Choose the word that best fills the blank.
    1. A.

      Innocence

    2. B.

      Respect

    3. C.

      Solace

    4. D.

      Wealth

    Correct Answer:

    B

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Insight: This is an antonymic analogy. The relationship in the first pair is direct opposition, which must be mirrored precisely in the second pair.

    Exam route: "Verbosity" (excessive wordiness) is the direct opposite of "Brevity" (conciseness). Therefore, we need the direct opposite of "Insolence" (rude disrespect). "Respect" is the precise antonym.

    Learning route:

    1. Analyze Pair A: Verbosity : Brevity. Verbosity means using too many words; Brevity means using few. They are polar opposites regarding communication style.
    2. Construct Bridge: Word A is the excessive form of a trait, and Word B is the deficient or opposite form of that same trait.
    3. Apply to Pair B: Insolence means rude arrogance or disrespectful behavior. We need the word representing polite modesty or regard for others.
    4. Evaluate options:
    • Innocence: Lack of guilt or wrongdoing. Not the direct opposite of rudeness.
    • Respect: Regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others. This is the direct opposite of insolence.
    • Solace: Comfort in a time of distress. Unrelated to social conduct.
    • Wealth: Abundance of valuable resources. Unrelated domain.
    1. Conclusion: "Respect" perfectly mirrors the antonymic relationship established in the first pair.
    Question 2 · Verbal Aptitude · 2025 MCQ
    Column-I has statements made by Shanthala; and, Column-II has responses given by Kanishk.

    Column-I Column-II
    P. This house is in a mess. 1. Alright, I won’t bring it up during our conversations.
    Q. I am not happy with the marks given to me. 2. Well, you can easily look it up.
    R. Politics is a subject I avoid talking about. 3. No problem, let me clear it up for you.
    S. I don’t know what this word means. 4. Don’t worry, I will take it up with your teacher.

    Identify the option that has the correct match between Column-I and Column-II.
    1. A.

      P – 2; Q – 3; R – 1; S – 4

    2. B.

      P – 3; Q – 4; R – 1; S – 2

    3. C.

      P – 4; Q – 1; R – 2; S – 3

    4. D.

      P – 1; Q – 2; R – 4; S – 3

    Correct Answer:

    B

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Insight: This is a dialogue response matching question. The correct response must address the speaker's underlying intent, tone, and context, not just repeat keywords.

    Exam route:

    • P ("house is in a mess") implies a need for cleaning/help. Match with 3 ("clear it up for you").
    • Q ("not happy with marks") implies a grievance needing escalation. Match with 4 ("take it up with your teacher").
    • R ("avoid talking about politics") sets a boundary. Match with 1 ("won't bring it up").
    • S ("don't know what this word means") implies a knowledge gap. Match with 2 ("easily look it up").

    Result: P-3, Q-4, R-1, S-2.

    Learning route:

    1. Analyze Statement P: "This house is in a mess." Intent: Statement of a practical problem requiring action. Response 3 ("No problem, let me clear it up for you") directly offers a remedy.
    2. Analyze Statement Q: "I am not happy with the marks given to me." Intent: Expression of dissatisfaction or grievance. Response 4 ("Don't worry, I will take it up with your teacher") offers appropriate escalation and reassurance.
    3. Analyze Statement R: "Politics is a subject I avoid talking about." Intent: Setting a conversational boundary. Response 1 ("Alright, I won't bring it up during our conversations") respects this boundary perfectly.
    4. Analyze Statement S: "I don't know what this word means." Intent: Admission of a knowledge gap. Response 2 ("Well, you can easily look it up") provides a practical, direct solution.
    5. Conclusion: The mapping P-3, Q-4, R-1, S-2 is the only configuration where every response naturally and appropriately continues the social action of the corresponding statement.
    Question 3 · Verbal Aptitude · 2025 MCQ
    Courage : Bravery :: Yearning : __________

    Select the most appropriate option to complete the analogy.
    1. A.

      Longing

    2. B.

      Yelling

    3. C.

      Yawning

    4. D.

      Glaring

    Correct Answer:

    A

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Insight: This is a synonymic analogy. The two words in the first pair share a nearly identical meaning, and the second pair must replicate this synonymic relationship.

    Exam route: "Courage" and "Bravery" are synonyms denoting strength in facing danger. "Yearning" means a strong desire or longing. The synonym for "Yearning" among the options is "Longing".

    Learning route:

    1. Analyze Pair A: Courage : Bravery. Both are nouns representing the quality of being brave and facing fear. The relationship is direct synonymy.
    2. Construct Bridge: Word A is a direct synonym for Word B.
    3. Apply to Pair B: Yearning is a noun meaning an intense feeling of loss or lack, and a deep longing for something.
    4. Evaluate options:
    • Longing: A yearning desire. This is a direct synonym.
    • Yelling: Shouting loudly. This is an unrelated physical action.
    • Yawning: Opening the mouth wide due to tiredness. This is an unrelated physical action.
    • Glaring: Staring fiercely. This is an unrelated physical action.
    1. Conclusion: "Longing" is the only word that maintains the synonymic relationship, while the others are phonetic or random distractors.
    Question 4 · Verbal Aptitude · 2024 MCQ
    If ‘→’ denotes increasing order of intensity, then the meaning of the words
    [sick → infirm → moribund] is analogous to [silly → _______ → daft].
    Which one of the given options is appropriate to fill the blank?
    1. A.

      frown

    2. B.

      fawn

    3. C.

      vein

    4. D.

      vain

    Correct Answer:

    D

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Insight: This question tests semantic gradients, requiring a word that fits the increasing intensity of cognitive foolishness between "silly" and "daft", while strictly maintaining part-of-speech parallelism.

    Exam route: Identify the progression in the first pair: sick (mild) → infirm (moderate) → moribund (extreme). Apply this to the second pair: silly (mild) → ? → daft (extreme). Evaluate options by part of speech. "Vain" is the only adjective among the choices, making it the only structurally viable bridge for a personal quality.

    Learning route:

    1. Analyze the source vector: "sick" (general unwellness) → "infirm" (significant weakness) → "moribund" (near death). This is a strict increasing intensity gradient of physical decline.
    2. Analyze the target vector: "silly" (mild lack of sense) → [blank] → "daft" (extreme foolishness). We need an intermediate stage of cognitive inadequacy.
    3. Evaluate options by grammatical category:
    • "frown": Noun/verb (facial expression). Fails part-of-speech match.
    • "fawn": Noun/verb (young deer / show affection). Fails part-of-speech match.
    • "vein": Noun (blood vessel / style). Fails part-of-speech match.
    • "vain": Adjective (having excessive pride or producing no result). In the context of this specific exam question, it is the only adjective provided, serving as the structural bridge for a personal quality.
    1. Conclusion: "vain" is the only grammatically and structurally appropriate option to complete the analogy.