Synonyms: Nouns for People - ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

"Tyrant" is a noun that means either "a cruel and oppressive ruler" or "a person exercising power or control in a cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary way," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "a cruel ruler." While "king" may seem like a good answer choice because a king is a kind of ruler, a king is not necessarily a cruel ruler like a tyrant is. "Despot," however, means "a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way." Because "despot" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "tyrant," "despot" is the correct answer.

"Kin" is a noun that means "one's family and relations," or an adjective that means "related." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "one's family." While "connected" may look like the correct answer, because people who are "kin" are connected to each other, "connected" does not mean the same thing as "kin," so "connected" cannot be the correct answer. "Relative," however, can not only function as an adjective that means "considered in relation or in proportion to something else," but also as a noun that means "a person connected by blood or marriage." So, because "relative" is the closest synonym to "kin" amongst the listed answer choices, "relative" is the correct answer.

A foe is the opposite of a comrade and is defined as an enemy.

A pacifist is someone who keeps the peace or who is a peacemaker.

The best answer choice is "novice," because another word for a "beginner" is "novice." Considering the other choices, "benevolent" means kind or charitable, and "biased" means expressing a particular prejudice. While the word "new" is related, it is an adjective that describes a beginner and is not a synonym of "beginner."

A "nemesis" is an opponent or rival, a person or group with which you are especially competitive. For example, pretend that your school football team often plays against another team. You and your friends get excited for those games, especially hate when your team loses, and might even talk about the opposing team members as enemies. The opposing team would be your nemesis. Of the other choices, an "acquaintance" is someone that you know, a "relative" is a family member or someone to whom you are related, and a "namesake" is a thing that shares its name with something else, or is directly named after it.

A "traitor" is a person who betrays the trust of another person or organization. A spy who promises to work for one country but secretly sells its secrets to a rival nation could be called a traitor. "Backstabber," similarly, refers to a person who betrayed another. An "ally" is a friend, an "employee" is someone who works for someone else, and a "vehicle" is a moving machine, like a car.

A heroine is a female hero, so hero is the best synonym here.

None of the other answer choices work. Not all females are heroines, so that answer choice does not work. Similarly, heroines can be young or old, so adolescent is incorrect. Someone can also be an adventurer without being a hero. Lastly, anthropologists study humans, which has nothing to do with heroines.

A "guardian" is another name for someone who looks after someone else or a protector. To help you, a "student" is someone who goes to school.

A felon is someone who has committed a crime. To further help you, a politician is someone who is involved in government; a miser is someone who hates spending money and tries to save as much as possible.

A "recluse" is a person who lives apart from society. The best choice is "hermit" because it has the same definition as "recluse."

An "entourage" is a group of attendants. The best choice is "attendants," because it is a part of the definition of "entourage."

A "journalist" is a person who researches and writes news stories, or a "reporter." A "professor" is a person who teaches at a university or college. A "dentist" is a medical professional who cleans and operates on teeth. An "accountant" is a person who states and reviews the financial statements of a person or company. A "principal" is the person in charge at a school.

A "colleague" is a coworker or someone a person works with, so "coworker" is the correct answer. An "autobiography" is a book written by someone about that person's own life. "Assignment" means task or work given to a specific person. An "author" is a person who writes a story, novel, or other book. "Task" means piece of work that needs to be completed.

Your “nemesis” is your enemy, so "enemy" is the correct answer. To provide further help, an “ally” is someone who is on your side or a friend, an “accomplice” is someone who works with you, usually on a risky or nefarious mission, “protagonist” means hero, and “antagonist” means villain. “Nemesis” is an antonym of “ally” and “accomplice.” Likewise, “protagonist” is an antonym of “antagonist.”

A “rascal” is someone prone to bad behavior, a scoundrel. To provide further help, a “contributor” is someone who helps something get done; a “politician” is someone tasked with making laws and governing; a “principle” is a guiding standard of belief or morals; “rakish” means charming and dashing.

A “benefactor” is someone who supports a cause and contributes money to it. To provide further help, a “detractor” criticizes or takes away from a cause; a “narrator” is a storyteller; the “protagonist” is the hero of a story and the “antagonist” is the villain of the story.

A “visionary” is someone who has the vision to see creative solutions to problems, a creative thinker. To provide further help, “uncontrollable” means not able to be controlled; “potent” means powerful; a “portent” is an omen.

"Nemesis" is a noun that refers to a long-standing rival. Of the answer choices, the word with the closest meaning is "enemy," which means rival or nemesis. "Feud" refers to a prolonged dispute; "diagnosis" means the act of classifying a problem or illness; and a "sonnet" is a poem made up of fourteen lines.

A “captive” is someone held somewhere against their will under the control of another person or other people, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "captive" is "prisoner." A “student” is someone who attends school, and a "warden" is someone who is in charge of something, like a "prison warden" or a "park warden." Also, while something "captivating" is fascinating, it doesn't mean that "fascination" and "captive" are synonyms; they are not.