SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 18 September 2025, Shift 2 · English Comprehension · Question 1 of 100

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 11 September 2026.

Where this paper and its answers come from

SSC does not publish CGL question papers or a public answer key. From 2025 the candidate response sheet prints every question and option as a picture, so the text here is transcribed from those pictures for this shift and checked against them independently; where the layout carries meaning, the picture is shown as well. Each answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. SSC released a tentative key for challenge and later its final one, both only to candidates behind a login, and the sheet does not say which of the two it carries. The solutions are written by UnlockIAS.

Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word: INVECTIVE

(a)Eulogy
(b)Compliment
(c)Praise
(d)Tirade

Answer

Why

Correct — D. Invective is harsh, abusive language that rails against someone.

A tirade is a long, angry or violent speech. Both name an attack in words, so the synonym is Tirade → option (d).

The root is a useful check. Invective shares its Latin verb, invehere, with inveigh, to rail against someone.

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Eulogy — Eulogy is high praise of someone, usually someone who has died. Praise stands at the opposite pole from abusive language, so this is an antonym, not a synonym.
(b)
Compliment — Compliment is a polite expression of praise or admiration. It sits at the approving end, the reverse of an attack in words.
(c)
Praise — Praise is the expression of approval or admiration. It is the plain opposite of invective and would suit an antonym item on this word, not a synonym item.

Concept

A synonym item is decided by the word's core sense. Invective has one: hostile, abusive words aimed at someone.

The options split three to one. Eulogy, Compliment and Praise all express approval, so they stand at the opposite pole. Tirade is the lone option on the attack side.

A tirade adds length and anger, but the shared ground, an attack in words, is all the synonym needs.

Invective can name abusive language in bulk, as in a stream of invective, while a tirade is a single speech full of it. The two differ in form, not in sense, so the key stands.

Key facts

Invective means harsh, abusive or highly critical language aimed at someone.
A tirade is a long, angry or violent speech.
Invective and inveigh both come from Latin invehere, which could mean 'to assail'.
Eulogy, compliment and praise all express approval, the opposite of invective.

Study next

Words for verbal attack, such as diatribe, harangue and vituperationWords for formal praise, such as eulogy, encomium and panegyricVerbs of verbal attack, such as inveigh, rail and berate

Common traps

Losing the instruction under time pressure: Eulogy, Compliment and Praise would all suit an antonym item on invective, not a synonym item
Rejecting Tirade because it names a long speech, when the item needs only the shared sense of an angry verbal attack

EULOGY is the given word at 17 Sep 2025, 16:00, English Q.2, keyed Tribute. Here it returns as a wrong option, praise set against attack.

The praise family appears as an antonym at 12 Sep 2025, 16:00, English Q.4, where Encomium is keyed Castigation.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Topic: Synonyms — all 112 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.