ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Verbal

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #115 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

AVARICE

Possible Answers:

Pride

Fortune

Greed

Envy

Love

Correct answer:

Greed

Explanation:

"Avarice" means greed. Someone who is "avaricious" is greedy. "Fortune" is related to "avarice," they are not synonyms, not all avaricious people possess a fortune, and not all fortunate people are avaricious (note also that fortune refers to wealth and luck, not just wealth). "Love" is an emotion unrelated to "avarice." "Envy" is closer in meaning to jealousy than it is to "avarice."

Example Question #116 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

LASSITUDE

Possible Answers:

Sinecure

Prophecy

Venal

Lethargy

Pantheon

Correct answer:

Lethargy

Explanation:

"Lassitude" is a state of physical or mental exhaustion, lethargy. To provide further help, a "prophecy" is a prediction; a "pantheon" is a group of Gods within a religion; a "sinecure" is an easy job; "venal" means corrupt

Example Question #117 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

EXPLETIVE

Possible Answers:

Profanity

Enmity

Calamity

Infamy

Amnesty

Correct answer:

Profanity

Explanation:

An "expletive" is a swear word, a curse word. So the closest correct answer is "profanity." To provide further help, "infamy" is the quality of being famous for the wrong reasons; a "calamity" is a disaster, a farce; "enmity" means hostility; an "amnesty" is a pardon for an offense

Example Question #161 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

TREPIDATION

Possible Answers:

Envy

Remorse

Suspicion

Dread

Honesty

Correct answer:

Dread

Explanation:

"Trepidation" means dread, a feeling of great unease and anxiety that something bad will happen. "Remorse" is a similarly negative feeling, but it is reserved for sadness about events that have already transpired.

Example Question #162 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

AUSTERITY

Possible Answers:

Excellency

Luminary

Travesty

Severity

Trajectory

Correct answer:

Severity

Explanation:

"Austerity" means severity or sternness. To provide further help, a "trajectory" is the expected path of something that is moving; a "travesty" is a mockery, an injustice; "luminary" means notable, important in a certain area

Example Question #163 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

VOGUE

Possible Answers:

Economics

Recreation

Culture

Politics

Fashion

Correct answer:

Fashion

Explanation:

"Vogue," when used as a noun, means fashion, style, rage, trend. It can also be used as an adjective in which case it's meaning is very similar, it means fashionable or cool. "Culture" refers to any kind of culture (arts, fashion, shared experiences, media), fashionable or otherwise.

Example Question #164 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PARSIMONY

Possible Answers:

Thoughtfulness

Selfishness

Cheapness

Selflessness

Generosity

Correct answer:

Cheapness

Explanation:

"Parsimony" means not inclined towards spending money, cheapness. "Generosity" is a rough antonym to parsimony. It is almost impossible to be generous, free with one's goods or money; willing to give to others, if you are "parsimonious." Selfishness" is similar in spirit to "parsimony," but parsimony has a specific meaning related to money, which is not true of "selfishness."

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs

Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

HONOR

Possible Answers:

solace

portend

accept

revere

repudiate

Correct answer:

revere

Explanation:

Repudiate means to reject, solace is peace, and portend means to predict. The word that is a synonym of honor is revere. 

Example Question #165 : Identifying Synonyms

Answer the following sample question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

CAPITULATE

Possible Answers:

occlude

waver

fawn

concede

emulate

Correct answer:

concede

Explanation:

"Capitulate" means to concede or surrender. "Emulate" means to copy the actions of someone or something. "Fawn" means to serve or ingratiate oneself to another. "Occlude" means to block or prevent. "Waver" means to shift back and forth or be indecisive

Example Question #166 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

CHIDE

Possible Answers:

scold

endure

censor

entangle

Correct answer:

scold

Explanation:

To "chide" someone is to express disapproval or to scold. Chiding is a relatively-mild form of correction; harsher criticism might warrant a stronger verb like "rebuke," "castigate," or "upbraid."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors