ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2483 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning

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

MORDANT

Possible Answers:

Raucous

Dejected

Hapless

Bestial

Scathing

Correct answer:

Scathing

Explanation:

"Mordant" means having a harsh and critical tone, scathing, caustic. To provide further help, "bestial" means savage, like a beast; "hapless" means unlucky, hopeless, useless; "dejected" means very sad; "raucous" means loud and out of control

Example Question #171 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

PERSPICACIOUS

Possible Answers:

Discerning

Factious

Gauche

Pretentious

Alluring

Correct answer:

Discerning

Explanation:

"Perspicacious" means discerning and astute, able to notice things that others would not. To provide further help, "factious" means causing disagreement; "gauche" means tacky and unrefined, lacking grace; "alluring" means attractive, appealing; "pretentious" means trying to impress others by exaggerating one's characteristics or by being fake and trendy

Example Question #172 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

RETICENT

Possible Answers:

Painstaking

Arduous

Confident

Assiduous

Withdrawn

Correct answer:

Withdrawn

Explanation:

"Reticent" means shy, reserved, withdrawn. To provide further help, "arduous" and "painstaking" both describe a challenging or difficult task; "assiduous" means industrious, hard working

Example Question #171 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

COPIOUS

Possible Answers:

Meager

Plentiful

Derelict

Abrasive

Simplistic

Correct answer:

Plentiful

Explanation:

“Copious” means plentiful or available in excess, so "plentiful" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “derelict” means falling apart, in bad condition; “abrasive” means rude and harsh; “simplistic” means not complicated or simple; and “meager” means of insufficient quantity.

Example Question #172 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

EPHEMERAL

Possible Answers:

Fleeting

Charming

Customized

Fragile

Perpetual

Correct answer:

Fleeting

Explanation:

“Ephemeral” means impermanent, not lasting forever, temporary, or "fleeting." "Perpetual" means never-ending or incessant; "fragile" means easily broken; "customized" means personalized or adjusted to meet a particular need; and "charming" means having a pleasant personality or delightful in appearance.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

ABORTIVE

Possible Answers:

contemptuous

elegant

thwarted

premature

Correct answer:

thwarted

Explanation:

Abortive means failing to produce the intended result, or thwarted.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

LANGUID

Possible Answers:

boundary

lazy

nuisance

speech

hyper

Correct answer:

lazy

Explanation:

"Languid" means slow or sluggish, so the best choice for this is lazy.

Example Question #773 : Synonyms

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

DELETERIOUS

Possible Answers:

appropriate

beneficial

undone

baneful

helpful

Correct answer:

baneful

Explanation:

We are looking for a synonym of "deleterious," which means harmful. Both "helpful" and "beneficial" are the opposite of harmful, and "undone" is unrelated. "Baneful" means harmful.

Example Question #774 : Synonyms

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

HEINOUS

Possible Answers:

diseased

effusive

dogmatic

evil

pure

Correct answer:

evil

Explanation:

"Effusive" means to pour out emotions, and "dogmatic" means firmly holding beliefs. "Heinous" means evil, making "evil" the only possible answer choice.

Example Question #777 : Synonyms

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

CAUSTIC

Possible Answers:

soothing

hapless

fledgling

highfalutin

acerbic

Correct answer:

acerbic

Explanation:

"Caustic" and "acerbic" both mean burning or corrosive. "Soothing" means calming or pacifying. "Highfalutin" means pompous or arrogant. "Fledgling" means apprentice or newcomer. "Hapless" means unfortunate or unlucky.

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