One Word Substitutions form an essential part of vocabulary. As the name suggests, questions based on this concept ask you to replace a given sentence with an appropriate word. Such questions frequently feature in the verbal section of many competitive exams.
In this series of articles, you will be acquainted with the concept of one word substitutions. You are presented with the list of most commonly asked one word substitutions. Each list contains 15-40 words/terms of a particular category. Learn the essential words and enhance your vocabulary.
List of One Word Substitutions – 1
Words for various fields of study
| Phrase |
One Word |
| Printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface |
Lithography |
| Mapping of earth and its formation |
Geography |
| Art related to ornate, good handwriting |
Calligraphy |
| Scientific study of bodily diseases |
Pathology |
| Study of birds |
Ornithology |
| Study of celestial bodies |
Astronomy |
| Study of collection of coins, tokens, paper money etc. |
Numismatics |
| Study of earth and rocks |
Geology |
| Study of election trends |
Psephology |
| Study of flying aero planes |
Aviation |
| Study of handwriting |
Graphology |
| Study of hereditary, genes and variation in living organisms |
Genetics |
| Study of human development |
Anthropology |
| Study of languages |
Philology |
| Study of living things |
Biology |
| Study of religion |
Theology |
| Study of science of insects |
Entomology |
| Study of sound and sound waves |
Acoustics |
| Study of the influence of planets and stars on human events |
Astrology |
| Study of the law of the flow of water and other liquids |
Hydraulics |
| Study of the relation between the organism and their environment |
Ecology |
| Study of various aspects of aging |
Gerontology |
| The science of time order |
Chronology |
| Study of religion |
Theology |
| The science of human development |
Anthropology |
List of One Word Substitutions – 2
Words used for experts and people with various qualities, habits and abilities.
| Phrase |
One Word |
| One with unlimited power |
Autocrat |
| One who walks on ropes |
Funambulist |
| An expert in writing by hand |
Chirographer |
| The doctor who attends to child delivery |
Obstetrician |
| The doctor who attends to corns in the feet and hands |
Chiropodist |
| The doctor who deals with the female reproductive system |
Gynecologist |
| The doctor who specializes in root canal and nerve treatment |
Endodontist |
| The doctor who straightens teeth |
Orthodontist |
| The doctor who treats bone problems |
Orthopedician |
| The doctor who treats eye diseases |
Ophthalmologist |
| The doctor who treats gums |
Peridontist |
| The doctor who treats heart problems |
Cardiologist |
| The doctor who treats skin diseases |
Dermatologist |
| One who is all powerful |
Omnipotent |
| One who is all knowing |
Omniscient |
| One who is present all over |
Omnipresent |
| One who can throw his voice |
Ventriloquist |
| One who talks while sleeping |
Somniloquist |
| One who takes part in dialogue or conversation |
Interlocutor |
| One who walks in sleep |
Somnambulist |
| One who walks at night |
Noctambulist |
| One who is violently against established beliefs and traditions |
Iconoclast |
| One who turns his thoughts inwards |
Introvert |
| One who turns his thoughts outwards |
Extrovert |
| One who is both inwards and outwards at times |
Ambivert |
| One who demands strict conformity to rules |
Martinet |
| One who believes in ruthless self-aggrandizement |
Egoist |
| One who doesn't consume alcohol |
Teetotaler |
| One who exhibits courage or fearlessness |
Intrepid |
| One who easily believes others |
Credulous |
| One who is capable of using both hands |
Ambidextrous |
| One who knows a lot about good food and wine |
Connoisseur |
| One who is beyond reform |
Incorrigible |
| Well known for bad qualities |
Notorious |
| Perfectly, highly skilled reached the zenith of art |
Consummate |
| A shrewish loud-mouthed female |
Virago |
| One who is extravagantly romantic, chivalrous and impractical |
Quixotic |
List of One Word Substitutions – 3
Words used for various likes and dislikes.
| Phrase |
One Word |
| One who is a boot licker, flatterer |
Sycophant |
| One who has keen interest in food and drinks |
Gourmet |
| Love for mankind |
Philanthropy |
| Someone who loves collecting books |
Bibliophile |
| One who loves and admires the British |
Anglophile |
| One who loves without seriousness |
Philanderer |
| Fondness towards women |
Philogyny |
| One who loves men |
Androphile |
| One who loves wisdom (hence pursues it) |
Philosopher |
| One who hates men |
Misandrist |
| Madness or obsession with males |
Andromania |
| One who hates women |
Misogynist |
| One who hates mankind |
Misanthropist |
| One who loves his country |
Patriot |
| Excessive love for one's country |
Super patriotism |
| One who hates marriage |
Misogamist |
| One who loves to speak |
Loquacious |
| Strong, deep dislike |
Antipathy |
| Simultaneously affected by similar feelings |
Sympathy |
| Mentally identifying oneself with other person or a thing |
Empathy |
| Something or someone makes you feel deep sadness or pity |
Pathetic |
List of One Word Substitutions – 4
Words used for practices & beliefs related to religion, marriage and family.
| Phrase |
One Word |
| Related to marriage |
Matrimony |
| One who believes in the presence of God |
Theist |
| One who doesn't believe in the presence of God |
Atheist |
| One who believes in the theory of only one God |
Monotheist |
| One who believes in many Gods |
Polytheist |
| One who believes that God is union of all forces of the universe |
Pantheist |
| Religious madness |
Theomania |
| Battle among the Gods |
Theomachy |
| Practicing only one marriage (having only one wife) |
Monogamy |
| Practicing two marriages (having two wives) |
Bigamy |
| Practice of several marriages (having many wives) |
Polygamy |
| Self-fertilization especially in plants |
Autogamy |
| Marriage within one's own tribe |
Endogamy |
| Marriage outside one's tribe |
Exogamy |
| Having several husbands |
Polyandry |
| People who have both male and female sexual organs |
Hermaphrodite |
| An inheritance from father |
Patrimony |
| A name framed after father's name |
Patronymic |
| Fatherhood |
Paternity |
| A father-like figure |
Patriarch |
List of One Word Substitutions – 5
Words used for various systems of governance.
| Phrase |
One Word |
| Government by one person (royal) |
Monarchy |
| Government by two agencies |
Diarchy |
| Government by a few powerful people |
Oligarchy |
| Government by military class |
Stratocracy |
| Government by divine guidance |
Theocracy |
| Government by departments of state |
Bureaucracy |
| Government by nobility |
Aristocracy |
| Government by wealthy |
Plutocracy |
| Government by the people |
Democracy |
| A system of governing a country suggesting a father-child relation |
Paternalism |
| Government by one absolutely |
Autocracy |
| Absence of government |
Anarchy |
| A system ruled or controlled by men |
Patriarchy |
| The rule or control of mother |
Matriarchy |
| Self-rule or control |
Autonomy |
List of One Word Substitutions – 6
Words used for various kinds of killings and manias.
| Phrase |
One Word |
| The killing of one's husband |
Mariticide |
| The killing of parents |
Parricide |
| The killing of a whole race |
Genocide |
| The killing of a new born child |
Infanticide |
| The killing of a king |
Regicide |
| The killing of a human being |
Homicide |
| The killing of oneself |
Suicide |
| The killing of a father |
Patricide |
| The killing of a mother |
Matricide |
| The killing of one's brother |
Fratricide |
| The killing of one's sister |
Sororicide |
| The killing of one's wife |
Uxoricide |
| Morbid compulsion to keep on consuming alcohol |
Dipsomania |
| Morbid compulsion to steal |
Kleptomania |
| Morbid compulsion to steal books |
Bibliokleptomania |
| Morbid compulsion to start a fire |
Pyromania |
| Morbid delusion of power, importance or godliness |
Megalomania |
| Morbid, uncontrollable desire on the part of a woman |
Nymphomania |
| Morbid, uncontrollable desire on the part of a man |
Satyromania |
| Person with one-track mind |
Monomania |
| Compulsion to tell lies |
Mythomania |
| Madness with obsession with something |
Mania |
List of One Word Substitutions – 7
Words related to speech and written works.
| Phrase |
One Word |
| Book containing all the published work of an author |
Omnibus |
| A written message from far off place |
Telegraph |
| Informal, less grammatically rigid language |
Colloquial |
| Talking around, a method of talking indirectly |
Circumlocution |
| Generous, forgiving talk |
Magniloquent |
| Expressive in the use of words |
Eloquent |
| High sounding pompous speech or writing |
Grandiloquent |
| A signature of a celebrity (signature of oneself) |
Autograph |
| Walk before hand or an introductory statement |
Preamble |
| Writing of one's life story |
Biography |
| Writing of one's own life story |
Autobiography |
| Written by light |
Photograph |
| Few words packed with meaning, concise |
Laconic |
| A speech to oneself, alone |
Soliloquy |
List of One Word Substitutions – 8
Words related to specific type of things, events and places.
| Phrase |
One Word |
| A place for sun to enter where one can sunbath |
Solarium |
| A glass container in which fish and other water animals can be kept |
Aquarium |
| A place for feet or speaker's platform |
Podium |
| The part of a theatre where people who are watching and listening sit |
Auditorium |
| An optical device for projecting various celestial images and effects |
Planetarium |
| An establishment for the treatment of the chronically ill |
Sanatorium |
| A place where objects are exhibited |
Museum |
| Trees whose leaves fall every autumn |
Deciduous |
| That which falls upon, befalls, happens |
Incident |
| That which falls to someone or something |
Accident |
| That which falls on the western countries |
Occidental |
| The school or college one attends |
Alma Mater |
| A self-moving vehicle |
Automobile |
| A machine that functions by itself |
Automatic |
| A baby carriage |
Perambulator |
| A carriage for sick people |
Ambulance |
List of One Word Substitutions – 9
Words used for various kinds of food eaters and eating habits.
| Phrase |
One Word |
| Living on all |
Omnivorous |
| Living on fruits |
Frugivorous |
| One who eat only fruits |
Fruitarian |
| One who eats no animal flesh |
Vegetarian |
| One who feeds on human flesh |
Cannibal |
| One who enjoys food with a sensual pleasure |
Gourmand |
| One whose eating habit is repulsive |
Glutton |
| Living on flesh |
Carnivorous |
| Living on grass |
Herbivorous |
| Living on fish |
Piscivorous |
| One who eats all kinds of food |
Omnivorous |
List of One Word Substitutions – 10
Words related to certain actions, time and direction.
| Phrase |
One Word |
| A backward look or a view into the past |
Retrospect |
| A forward look or a view into future |
Prospect |
| Examine one's motives or look inwards |
Introspect |
| To examine carefully |
Inspect |
| A doubtful look or examination of one's motives |
Suspect |
| Careful, cautious watch on surroundings |
Circumspect |
| To walk aimlessly |
Amble |
| When two things befall together |
Coincident |
| A thing occurring again and again for a long time |
Chronic |
| Someone or something out of time |
Anachronism |
| To send out of one's native country |
Expatriate |
| To walk around a place especially in a ritual fashion |
Circumambulate |
| A highly accurate timepiece |
Chronometer |
| Make to happen at the same time |
Synchronize |
| An instrument which records short intervals of time |
Chronograph |
| Capable of moving in all directions |
Omnidirectional |
Vocabulary Preparation Series
