Find the word that does not belong.
One precise rule per question. No mind-reading required.
Ten questions, with the answers explained. Try them in your head, then open each answer when you're ready.
Play this quiz →QUESTION 1 / 10
Which word is not an anagram of LISTEN?
- SILENT
- ENLIST
- TINSEL
- SILENTLY
Show answer & explanation+
SILENTLY
SILENTLY has eight letters, including Y and an extra L. The other three use exactly the letters in LISTEN.
QUESTION 2 / 10
Which word is not a palindrome?
- RIVER
- LEVEL
- RADAR
- CIVIC
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RIVER
RIVER becomes REVIR. The other words read the same in both directions.
QUESTION 3 / 10
Which word does not contain a silent first letter in standard pronunciation?
- WRIST
- GARDEN
- GNOME
- KNIFE
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GARDEN
The G in GARDEN is pronounced. GNOME, KNIFE, and WRIST begin with silent letters.
QUESTION 4 / 10
Which word has a different number of syllables from the others?
- DOG
- FISH
- BANANA
- CAT
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BANANA
BANANA normally has three syllables; CAT, DOG, and FISH each have one.
QUESTION 5 / 10
Which word is not a compound of two complete English words?
- SUNFLOWER
- TOOTHBRUSH
- RAINCOAT
- BASKET
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BASKET
SUN + FLOWER, TOOTH + BRUSH, and RAIN + COAT are transparent compounds. BASKET is not formed that way.
QUESTION 6 / 10
Which word does not use all five vowels A, E, I, O, U?
- ELEPHANT
- EDUCATION
- EQUATION
- SEQUOIA
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ELEPHANT
ELEPHANT contains E and A, but not I, O, or U. The others contain all five.
QUESTION 7 / 10
Which word does not become another common word when you remove its first letter?
- STONE
- ZEBRA
- PLATE
- CHAIR
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ZEBRA
PLATE gives LATE, CHAIR gives HAIR, and STONE gives TONE. ZEBRA gives EBRA.
QUESTION 8 / 10
Which word is not the name of a chess piece?
- QUEEN
- ROOK
- PRINCE
- KING
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PRINCE
Standard chess has kings, queens, rooks, bishops, knights, and pawns. No princes.
QUESTION 9 / 10
Which word is not a standard musical tempo instruction?
- ADAGIO
- ALLEGRO
- PRESTO
- BANANA
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BANANA
ADAGIO, ALLEGRO, and PRESTO indicate tempo. BANANA is not a standard tempo marking.
QUESTION 10 / 10
Which word is not made entirely of letters from the top row of a standard QWERTY keyboard?
- APPLE
- TYPE
- QUIET
- POWER
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APPLE
A and L sit on the home row, so APPLE does not qualify. TYPE, QUIET, and POWER use the top row.