Synonyms: Nouns for Abstract Concepts - SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

Since "delight" is a noun that means "joy," we need to find another noun that also means "joy." While "joyful" might look like a good answer, "joyful" is an adjective, not a noun, so it can't be the answer. (A person can be joyful, but delight is a thing. We're looking for another thing, not a word that describes things.) Since "happiness" also means "joy," "happiness" is the correct answer.

Since "habitat" is a noun that means "a plant or animal's natural home," we need to pick out another word that means "a plant or animal's natural home." While "sea floor" could be the natural home of certain types of animals and plants, "sea floor" does not mean "a plant or animal's natural home," so it can't be the correct answer. "Natural environment," on the other hand, means "a plant or animal's natural home," so it is the correct answer.

"Authority" is a noun meaning "the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience," or a person who has such power. While "rule" might look like the correct answer because someone who has authority can usually make rules, "rule" does not mean the same thing as "authority," so it can't be the correct answer. "Power," however, is the answer choice closest in meaning to "authority," so it is the correct answer.

"Concept" is a noun meaning "an idea of what something is or how it works," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "idea." While "confident" might sound like the correct answer because both "concept" and "confident" start with the syllable "con-," "confident" means "feeling or showing confidence in oneself; self-assured," or "feeling or showing certainty about something." Because "confident" does not mean the same thing as "concept," it can't be the correct answer. Since "idea" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "concept," "idea" is the correct answer.

The words horror and terror allow the sentence to maintain a similar meaning.

The word need can be substituted into the original sentence to maintain its meaning.

"Esteem" is a word that as a noun, means "respect and admiration, typically for a person," and as a verb, "respect and admire." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "respect," as a noun or a verb. "Team" might seem like a potentially correct answer because "esteem" contains the syllable "teem," which sounds the same as"team;" however, "team" does not mean the same thing as "esteem," so it cannot be the correct answer. Since "deference" means "humble submission and respect," "deference" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "respect," and thus the correct answer.

"Mimicry" is a noun that means "the action or art of imitating someone or something, typically in order to entertain or ridicule," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "the action or art of imitating someone or something." "Individuality," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "individuality" means "the quality or character of a particular person or thing that distinguishes them from others of the same kind, especially when strongly marked." That means that "individuality" is closer to being an antonym of "mimicry" than a synonym. "Impersonation," however, is a noun that means "an act of pretending to be another person for the purpose of entertainment or fraud," and because "impersonation" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "mimicry," "impersonation" is the correct answer.

“Fusion” is a noun that means “joining two or more things together,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “blending” or “joining.” That means that “separation” cannot be the correct answer, because “separation” means “the division of something,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “fusion.” “Combination,” however, is a noun that can mean “a joining of different parts,” and because “combination” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “fusion,” “combination” is the correct answer.

“Glimmer” is a word that can be used as a verb or a noun, but because all of the answer choirs can be used as verbs, we will need to consider “glimmer” as a verb. When used as a verb, “glimmer” means gleam, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like gleam. That means that “beam” cannot be the correct answer, because “beam” can mean shine in a bright way, and because “glimmer” specifically refers to a more faint kind of shining, “beam” cannot be the correct answer. “Twinkle,” however, is a word that when used as a verb means glimmer, and because “twinkle” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “glimmer,” “twinkle” is the correct answer.

“Symptom” is a noun that means “a physical or mental feature that indicates a disease” or “a sign of the existence of something.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “an indication of something.” That means that “treatment” cannot be the correct answer, because “treatment” can mean “medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury,” a meaning which is very far from that of “symptom.” “Sign,” however, is a word that when used as a noun means “ an object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else,” and because “sign” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “symptom,” “sign” is the correct answer.

“Suggestion” is a noun that means “something put forward for consideration,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “idea.” That means that “demand” cannot be the correct answer, because “demand,” when used as a noun, means “an insistent request,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “suggestion.” “Idea,” however, is a noun that means “a thought or suggestion,” and because “idea” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “suggestion,” “idea” is the correct answer.

“Dilemma” is a noun that means “a difficult situation or problem,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “problem.” That means that “decision” cannot be the correct answer, because “decision” means “a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration,” a definition quite far in meaning from “dilemma.” “Difficulty,” however, is a noun that can mean “a thing that is hard to accomplish, deal with, or understand” or “a situation that is difficult or dangerous,” and because “difficulty” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “dilemma,” “difficulty” is the correct answer.

A "tradition" is a custom, so "custom" is the correct answer. A "collection" is a group of things; a "voyage" is a trip by sea; the "military" is the armed services; and "astronomy" is the study of space and celestial objects.

A "sequence" is a particular order; a machine produces items; an ingredient is something used in a mixture; a factory is a building that creates items; and a schedule is a plan.

"Resistance" means opposition; expedition means journey; summary means a statement of the main points; a symbol represents something; and a budget is a financial plan.

"Distance" means the full length of something; opponent is your competitor or rival; tunnel is usually an underground path in which cars pass through; a car is vehicle used for travel on land; and pounds is the unit for weight.

"Emergency" means a crisis; a hospital is a place where sick people go for treatment; an ambulance is a vehicle that is used to transport patients; surgery is a medical operation; and a doctor is someone who treats patients.

"Conflict" is a disagreement; Agreement is a consensus; Profession is a job; Transaction is an exchange; and Champion is a winner.