SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Middle Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #321 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of “ingrained” is __________.

Possible Answers:

superb

gregarious

transient

entrenched

pungent

Correct answer:

entrenched

Explanation:

“Ingrained” is an adjective that can mean either “firmly fixed or established; difficult to change” when referring to a habit, belief, or attitude, or “deeply embedded and thus difficult to remove” when referring to dirt or a stain. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “difficult to change” or “deeply embedded.” That means that “transient” cannot be the correct answer, because “transient” means “lasting only for a short time; impermanent,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “ingrained.” “Entrenched,” however, is an adjective that is used of an attitude, habit, or belief and means “firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change; ingrained.” Because “entrenched” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “ingrained,” “entrenched” is the correct answer.

Example Question #322 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of “insidious” is __________.

Possible Answers:

overt

potential

mechanical

pernicious

convenient

Correct answer:

pernicious

Explanation:

“Insidious” is an adjective that can mean either “proceeding subtly, but with harmful effects” or “treacherous and crafty,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “subtly harmful” or “treacherous.” That means that “overt” cannot be the correct answer, because “overt” means “done or shown openly; plainly or readily apparent, not secret or hidden,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “insidious.” “Pernicious,” however, is an adjective that means “having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way,” and because “pernicious” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “insidious,” “pernicious” is the correct answer.

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Contaminated

Possible Answers:

Random

Productive

Clean

Polluted

Drinkable

Correct answer:

Polluted

Explanation:

"Contaminated" means polluted.

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Toxic

Possible Answers:

Friendly

Helpful

Harmful

Important

Corrupted

Correct answer:

Harmful

Explanation:

"Toxic" means harmful or poisonous.

Example Question #323 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Deliberate

Possible Answers:

Accidental

Treacherous

Intentional

Illegal

Harmful

Correct answer:

Intentional

Explanation:

"Deliberate" means intentional; Accidental means unintentional; Harmful means causing harm; Treacherous means dangerous; and Illegal means not lawful.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

Prosperous

Possible Answers:

Opinionted

Prompt

Implied

United

Flourishing

Correct answer:

Flourishing

Explanation:

"Prosperous" means financially successful or flourishing.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

Infectious

Possible Answers:

Repetitious

Helpful

Contagious

Nutritious

Knowledgable

Correct answer:

Contagious

Explanation:

"Infectious" means contagious.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

Booming

Possible Answers:

Sleepy

Quiet

Failing

Primary

Thriving

Correct answer:

Thriving

Explanation:

"Booming" means thriving.

Example Question #324 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

OMINOUS

Possible Answers:

Threatening 

Dormant 

Squander 

Pleasurable 

Wonderful 

Correct answer:

Threatening 

Explanation:

Something that is "ominous" is threatening or menacing. For clarification, "dormant" means inactive or at rest, and "squander" means to waste.

Example Question #325 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

DESTITUTE

Possible Answers:

Comfortable 

Penniless 

Wealthy

Affluent 

Prosperous 

Correct answer:

Penniless 

Explanation:

To be "destitute" is to have nothing, to be penniless. For clarification, the other four answer choices are all synonyms of one another and antonyms of destitute and penniless.

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