Synonyms - SSAT Middle Level Verbal

Since "bilk" is a word that means "defraud," we need to pick out a word that means the same thing as "genteel." While "tame" may look like a good answer because "genteel" sounds like "gentle" and "gentle" is similar in meaning to "tame," "genteel" does not mean the same thing as "gentle," so "tame" cannot be the correct answer. Because "genteel" means refined, often in an affected manner, "refined" is closest in meaning to "genteel," so "refined" is the correct answer.

"Fetter" is a word that as a verb means bind and as a noun means shackles used on the the feet or more broadly, a restraint. Since "fetter" as a verb means the same thing as "restrain," we need to pick out an answer that consists of a pair of synonyms. While "link is to chain" may look like a good option because "fetter" as a noun means shackles used on the feet and could involve chains, "metal" and "chain" are not synonyms, so "metal is to chain" cannot be the correct answer. "Run" and "dash" are synonyms, however, so the correct answer is "run is to dash."

"Belittle" is a verb that means "to describe someone or something as little or unimportant," and "disparage" is a verb that means "to describe someone or something as unimportant, weak, or bad," so the two words are synonyms, and we need to pick out a word that means the same thing as "retrieve." While "refrain" and "reward" also each begin with "re-," neither are synonymous with "retrieve," so neither are the correct answer. One meaning of "recover," however, is "find or regain possession of something stolen or lost," so "recover" is the correct answer because it is a synonym of "retrieve."

"Docile," means "ready to accept control or instruction; submissive," and "tractable" means "easy to control or influence" when used of people or animals and "easy to deal with" when referring to a situation or problem. Since "docile" and "tractable" are synonyms, we need to pick out an answer choice that means the same thing as "obdurate," a word that means "stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action." While "durable" might look like a good answer choice because both "obdurate" and "durable" involve the syllable "dur," "durable" means "able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing." Since "durable" doesn't mean the same thing as "obdurate," it can't be the right answer. "Stubborn," however, is synonymous with "obdurate," so "stubborn" is the correct answer.

Since "brevity" means succinctness, it is synonymous with "concision," which means using few words to convey a lot of information. We need to pick out an answer choice that is synonymous with bravery. Since "valor" means courage, especially courage in battle, "valor" is a synonym of "bravery" and is thus the correct answer.

"Conceited" is an adjective that means full of oneself, so it is a synonym of "vain," an adjective that can mean holding an excessively high opinion of oneself in comparison to others. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is a synonym of "amiable," an adjective that means friendly. "Friendly" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "amiable," so it is the correct answer, because just as "conceited" and "vain" are synonyms, so are "amiable" and "friendly."

"Vindictive" is an adjective that means "having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge," and "vengeful" is an adjective that means "seeking to harm someone in return for a perceived injury." So, "vindictive" and "vengeful" are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of synonyms. Of the possible answer choices, "free is to captive," "limited is to abundant," and "predictable is to surprising" cannot be the correct answer because each of those answer choices consists of a pair of antonyms. "Unfriendly is to hostile," however, is the correct answer choice, because just as "vindictive" is a synonym of "vengeful," "unfriendly" is a synonym of "hostile," which means "unfriendly; antagonistic."

"Hue" is a noun that means "a color or shade," so "hue" and "color" are synonyms. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of nouns that are synonyms. While "hue is to paint" and "speed is to rapidity" may each look like potentially correct answers, "hue is to paint" cannot be the correct answer because while paint has a certain hue, "hue" is not a synonym of "paint." However, "speed" and "rapidity" are synonyms, just like "hue" and "color," so "speed is to rapidity" is the correct answer.

“Liege” is a noun that means a sovereign in the feudal system or the person governed in a feudal system, so that means that “liege” is a synonym of “ruler,” and we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two nouns that are synonyms. “Crab is to shell” cannot be the correct answer because while crabs have shells, “crab” and “shell” do not mean the same thing, and “process” and “product” are two different terms as well. A building may be destroyed, but “building” does not mean “destruction,” and “quiver” is a place where arrows are stored, not a synonym of “arrow.” “Poke,” however, can be used as a noun that can mean the action of poking someone or something, while “prod” can be used as a noun that can mean a poke. So, “poke” and “prod” are synonyms, just like “liege” and “ruler” are synonyms, making “poke is to prod” the correct answer.

“Nautical” is an adjective that means having to do with sailors and sailing, and “maritime” is an adjective that can mean having to do with the sea or seafaring or located near the sea. So, “nautical” and “maritime” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. “Lucky is to unfortunate” and “deliberate is to accidental” are both pairs of antonyms, not synonyms, so neither can be the correct answer. “Complicate is to intricate” might look like a potentially correct answer, but “complicate” is a verb, not an adjective. So, while one might complicate something to make it intricate, “complicate” is not a synonym of “intricate.” “Obscure” is an adjective that means cryptic, uncertain , or_unclear_, and “indeterminate” is an adjective that means undetermined or indefinite , so just as “nautical” and “maritime” are synonyms, so are “obscure” and “indeterminate” synonyms, making “obscure is to indeterminate” the correct answer.

“Erratic” is an adjective that means “not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable,” while “variable” is an adjective that means “not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to change.” So, “erratic” and “variable” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “arid is to damp” and “frenetic is to hectic” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “arid” is an adjective that means “having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation” when being used to describe a land or climate, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “damp.” “Frenetic,” however, is an adjective that means “fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way,” while “hectic” is an adjective that means “full of incessant or frantic activity,” and because “frenetic” and “hectic” are synonyms, just as “erratic” and “variable” are synonyms, “frenetic is to hectic” is the correct answer.

“Mundane” is an adjective that means “lacking interest or excitement; dull” or “of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one,” while “humdrum” is a word that when used as an adjective means “lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous.” So, “mundane” and “humdrum” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “wizened is to young” and “unfamiliar is to alien” might both look like potentially correct answers, “wizened” is an adjective that means “shriveled or wrinkled with age,” so it is an antonym, not a synonym, of “young,” and “wizened is to young” cannot be the correct answer. “Unfamiliar” is an adjective that means “not known or recognized,” and “alien” is a word that when used as an adjective can mean “unfamiliar and disturbing or distasteful.” So, because “unfamiliar” is a synonym of “alien” just as “mundane” is a synonym of “humdrum,” “unfamiliar is to alien” is the correct answer.

“Edifice” is a noun that can mean “a building, especially a large, imposing one” or “a complex system of beliefs,” while “dwelling,” when used as a noun, means “a house, apartment, or other place of residence.” So, “edifice” and “dwelling” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “garbage is to dump” and “column is to pillar” might each seem like a potentially correct answer, “trash can” is a place where one puts garbage, but is not a synonym of “garbage,” so “garbage is to trash can” cannot be the correct answer. “Column,” however, is a noun that means “an upright pillar," while “pillar” means “a tall vertical structure used as a support.” So, because “column” is a synonym of “pillar” just as “edifice” is a synonym of “dwelling,” “column is to pillar” is the correct answer.

“Encounter,” when used as a verb, means either “unexpectedly experience or be faced with (something difficult or hostile)” or “meet (someone) unexpectedly,” while “meet,” when used as a verb, can mean “come into the presence or company of someone.” So, “encounter” and “meet” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “sprint is to creep” and “demolish is to raze” may each look like a potentially correct answer, “sprint,” when used as a verb, means “run at full speed over a short distance,” while “creep,” when used as a verb, means “move slowly and carefully, especially in order to avoid being heard or noticed.” So, “sprint” and “creep” are antonyms, not synonyms, and “sprint is to creep” cannot be the correct answer. “Demolish,” however, is a verb that means “pull or knock down (a building),” while “raze” means “completely destroy (a building, town, etc.).” So, because “demolish” is a synonym of “raze” just like “encounter” is a synonym of “meet,” “demolish is to raze” is the correct answer.

“Vessel” is a noun that can mean “a ship or large boat” or “a hollow container,” or chiefly in or alluding to biblical use, “a person having a particular quality.” So, “vessel” and “ship” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “report is to account” and “fascination is to ennui” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “ennui” means “a feeling of dissatisfaction arising from a lack of excitement,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “fascination.” So, “fascination is to ennui” cannot be the correct answer. “Report,” however, when used as a noun, can mean “an account given of a particular matter, especially in the form of an official document, after thorough investigation or consideration by an appointed person or body.” So, because “report” and “account” are synonyms, just as “vessel” and “ship” are synonyms, “report is to account” is the correct answer.

“Botch” is a verb that means “to do something badly or carelessly,” while “bungle,” when used as a verb, means “to do something clumsily or incompetently.” So, “botch” and “bungle” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of synonyms. While both “attempt is to try” and “decide is to waver” might look like potentially correct answer choices, “decide” is a verb that means “come to a resolution in the mind as a result of consideration,” while “waver” is a verb that means “undecided; irresolute.” So, because “decide” is an antonym of “waver,” “decide is to waver” cannot be the correct answer. “Attempt,” however, when used as a verb, means “make an effort to achieve or complete (something, typically a difficult task or action,” while “try,” when used as a verb, means “to make an attempt.” So, because “attempt” and “try” are synonyms just as “botch” and “bungle” are synonyms, “attempt is to try” is the correct answer.

"Pact" and "accord" are synonyms that both mean an agreement. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best synonym of "fission." The correct answer is “splitting up,” because "fission" means the process of breaking up at the atomic level, or just splitting up. The process that is its opposite is called fusion.

"Ambiguous" is a synonym of "unclear," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best available synonym for "counsel." To "counsel" someone means to advise someone, so the correct answer is “advise.” For clarification, "comprehension" means understanding, and "litigation" means to engage in legal action.

"Writhe" is a synonym of "twist," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available synonym for "egress." "Egress" is a noun that means exit, so "exit" is the correct answer. For clarification, "absolve" means to forgive, and "mourning" is an expression of sorrow following someone’s death or the loss of something precious.

"Remote" and "distant" are synonyms that both describe something that is far-away, or removed from all other places. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available synonym for "prolific." "Prolific" means highly productive, so "productive" is the correct answer. For clarification, the other four answer choices are all synonyms that mean lazy, or not energetic.