Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, and Sensory Imagery - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

Although there is a verb form of "lavish," this question refers to the adjectival form of the word "lavish." Thus, the word "lavish," as used in the phrase "lavish spending," is closest in meaning to the word "extravagant_."_

"Tepid" is an adjective that can mean either "showing little enthusiasm" or "only slightly warm," especially when referring to liquids. Neither "loud" nor "boisterous" can't be the correct answer because they are each opposites of "showing little enthusiasm," but "lukewarm" is used of liquids or foods that should be hot and means "only moderately warm." So, because "lukewarm" is synonymous with the second meaning of "tepid," "lukewarm" is the correct answer.

"Nimble" is an adjective meaning "quick and light in movement or action; agile" or "quick to comprehend" when describing the mind. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is an adjective that means something like "quick and agile" or "quick to comprehend." While "deft" and "daft" look and sound quite similar, "daft" means "silly; foolish" or "infatuated with," while "deft" means "neatly skillful and quick in one's movements" or "demonstrating skill and cleverness." Because "deft" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "nimble," "deft" is the correct answer.

"Arid" is an adjective that means "having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation" when it refers to land or climate, or "lacking in interest, excitement, or meaning" in referring to other things. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like either "dry" or "boring." While "airy" may look like a potentially correct answer choice because it is similar in spelling and pronunciation to "arid," "airy" does not mean "dry" or "boring," so it cannot be the correct answer. "Dry" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "arid," so it is the correct answer.

"Lithe" is an adjective that refers to someone who is "flexible and supple, able to move the body lightly and gracefully." Even though "lithe" sounds like "length," long does not imply grace or agility, so that's not correct. Awkward and precarious are antonyms, and gentle describes how someone behaves, not a quality of their body. Therefore, the closest answer is "agile."

"Robust" is an adjective that means "physically strong; muscular." So, "weak" cannot be the correct answer because "weak" is an antonym of "robust," and while "lithe" may look potentially correct, "lithe" means "thin, supple, and graceful," and is often used to describe a person's body. The closest synonym to "robust" amongst the possible answer choices is "burly," an adjective that means "large and strong; heavily built" and is used to describe people. So, "burly" is the correct answer.

"Hideous" means ugly or unpleasant looking.

"Threadbare" is an adjective that means "becoming thin and tattered with age," when used to describe cloth, clothing, or soft furnishings, "poor or shabby in appearance" when used to describe a person, building, or room, and "used so often that is no longer effective" when used to describe an argument or idea. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "tattered," "shabby," or "overused." That means that "pristine" cannot be the correct answer, because "pristine" is an adjective that can mean "in its original condition; unspoiled" or "clean and fresh as if new; spotless," making the word an antonym, not a synonym, of "threadbare." "Mangy," however, is an adjective that can mean "in poor condition; shabby," and because "mangy" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "threadbare," "mangy" is the correct answer.

Because of the obvious root home, it is easy to think that "homely" means warm and welcoming (like "homey"). Be careful not to make this common mistake—"homely" does derive from "home," but it has traveled from there through the sense of plain and unadorned to our modern meaning of plain and unattractive. Be careful also not to confuse "homely" with "homily," which means a sermon.

"Fragile" is the best synonym of "delicate," as they both mean easily breakable, while the rest of the answers bear little relation to the word in question: "durable" means longlasting and "sturdy" has a similar meaning, while "contentious" means producing controversy or debate.

The word "ravenous" means very hungry or starving, so "starving" is the correct answer.

"Porous" means full of small holes or capable of absorbing liquids, so "holey," which also means full of holes, is the best choice here. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "porous": "passive" means not active; "utter" means absolute when used as an adjective; "elegant" means graceful or sophisticated; and "rakish" means dashing but disreputable.

"Terse" means brief or concise, so "concise" is the correct answer. "Verbose" is an antonym of "terse"; it means very long and wordy. None of the other answer choices are related in meaning to "terse": "parched" means very dry; "shallow" means not very deep; and "passionate" means having a strong feeling or conviction.

"Luminous" means bright and shining . The best choice is "bright" as it is a part of the definition of "luminous."

Something that is "ornate" is excessively showy. The best choice is "lavish," which means excessive. Considering the other options, "orblike" means like an orb, or in other words, spherical, "folksy" means purposely traditional in a affected way , and "secular" means nonreligious.

The word "mellifluous" means sweetly flowing or sounding. The best choice is "dulcet," which also means sweetly sounding. Considering the other choices, "flulike" means resembling symptoms of the flu, "melted" means having become liquid, and "enraged" means angry.

"Disheveled" means very disorderly in appearance, or in a state of disarray. For example, you might say, "Joe's room was very disheveled, as his schoolwork was all over the floor and none of his clothes were put away." So, "disorderly" is the correct answer.

"Combustible" means explosive, while "volatile" means liable to change or explode. Thus, "combustible" is closest in meaning to "volatile."

"Pithy" means brief and to the point. Therefore, "pithy" is closest in meaning to "brief."