Synonyms: Nouns

Help Questions

ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Nouns

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

BENEFACTOR

Supporter

Narrator

Detractor

Antagonist

Protagonist

Explanation

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.

2

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

BENEFACTOR

Supporter

Narrator

Detractor

Antagonist

Protagonist

Explanation

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.

3

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

VISIONARY

Creative thinker

Damaged goods

Uncontrollable desire

Portent

Potent

Explanation

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.

4

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

VISIONARY

Creative thinker

Damaged goods

Uncontrollable desire

Portent

Potent

Explanation

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.

5

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

NEMESIS

Enemy

Ally

Protagonist

Antagonist

Accomplice

Explanation

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.”

6

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

ANTIBIOTIC

Medicine

Nurse

Virus

Doctor

Hospital

Explanation

An “antibiotic” is a substance that kills bacteria and so is used as medicine. The prefix "anti_-_" means against or negating something, and the suffix "-biotic" means having to do with life, in this case, bacteria. Along with “viruses,” “bacteria” are the primary agents by which disease is spread. However, it is worth nothing that there are a great many number of bacteria in our bodies that help us a great deal.

7

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

ONSET

Start

Sample

Discovery

Riot

Setting

Explanation

The "onset" of something is its start or its beginning, so "start" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "onset": a "sample" is a small amount of something having the characteristics of larger amounts or the whole thing; "discovery" is the act of finding out something new; a "riot" is a violent demonstration or protest; and a "setting" can mean the time period and location in which a story takes place.

8

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

NEMESIS

Rival

Acquaintance

Relative

Namesake

Explanation

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.

9

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

GUARDIAN

Protector

Attacker

Student

Teacher

Daughter

Explanation

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.

10

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

FELON

Criminal

Teacher

Partner

Politician

Miser

Explanation

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.

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