Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity

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SSAT Middle Level Verbal › Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity

Questions 1 - 10
1

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Undulating is to wavy as fatigued is to ___________.

tired

night

awake

starved

breakfast

Explanation

If something is “undulating,” it is wavy. If someone is “fatigued,” they are tired. To clarify, “starved” means very hungry.

2

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

AKIN

Similar

Different

Unique

Vie

Inspect

Explanation

Akin means similar or comparable. For clarification, unique means distinct and original; vie means to compete or struggle.

3

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

HORRID

Dreadful

Inappropriate

Horticultural

Honest

Homely

Explanation

The words "horrid" and "dreadful" are synonymous. They refer to something that inspires fear. The other answer choices do not have this meaning. Words like "homely," "honest," and "horticultural" may seem to have similar prefixes, but they have completely unrelated meanings.

4

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

BEGUILE

Entice

Deride

Allow

Quell

Suggest

Explanation

“Beguile” means to charm or entice someone, so the correct answer is “entice," which means to tempt someone. For clarification, "deride" means to mock, and "quell" means to suppress or subdue.

5

Synonyms: choose the word with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Miserable

Unhappy

Ecstatic

Cheap

Old

Meager

Explanation

"Miserable" means sad and unhappy.

6

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

LUSH

Verdant

Profane

Explicit

Objective

Subjective

Explanation

"Lush" means abundant or luxuriant and often refers to plants or foliage, so it is most similar in meaning to "verdant," which means either_of the color of grass_ or covered in green vegetation. For clarification, "profane" means rude and disrespectful or having to do with worldly things instead of spiritual things, "explicit" means clear and unambiguous, "subjective" means biased or based on personal opinion, and "objective" means not subject to personal opinion.

7

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

ELABORATELY

Complexly

Daringly

Quantitatively

Numerically

Algebraically

Explanation

Something "elaborate" is complex or complicated. "Daringly" means boldly. "Algebraically," "numerically," and "quantitatively" are all math terms.

8

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

CONSTRICTIVE

restrictive

liberating

hazardous

mean-spirited

snake-like

Explanation

Constrictive means something is restrictive.

9

Complete this analogy.

Impartial is to __________ as assertive is to meek.

biased

hospitable

voluminous

ambivalent

noisome

Explanation

"Assertive" means confident, demonstrating confidence in one's own opinions. "Meek" means lacking confidence, shy. These two words are antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answers has the opposite meaning to "impartial." "Impartial" means objective, not biased, fair. The correct answer is therefore "biased," which means predisposed to preferring one thing over another, subjective. Additionally, "hospitable" means welcoming, able to be lived in; "voluminous" means large; "ambivalent" means not feeling strongly one way or another; "noisome" means possessing an unpleasant smell, smelling very badly.

10

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

SPUN

Revolved

Handcrafted

Sardonic

Sarcastic

Narrative

Explanation

Something that "revolves" spins around. "Handcrafted" means made by hand, and "narrative" is the adjective form of narration (storytelling). "Sarcastic" and "sardonic" are synonyms, and both indicate the use of irony in order to mock.

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