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 #684 : Synonyms

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

ENVIABLE

Possible Answers:

Cogent

Miserable

Wanton

Listless

Desirable

Correct answer:

Desirable

Explanation:

The adjective "enviable" means desirable, likely to be envied or wanted by others. Additionally, "cogent" means (of an argument) reasonable and convincing; "listless" means lacking energy and enthusiasm; "miserable" means very sad; "wanton" means random and destructive.

Example Question #685 : Synonyms

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

BENIGN

Possible Answers:

Cruel

Greasy

Mild

Devious

Malignant

Correct answer:

Mild

Explanation:

"Benign" means "mild," kindly, or not cancerous when describing a medical condition.

"Devious" means sly, sneaky, deceitful.

"Greasy" means slippery, oily, or fatty.

"Malignant" means diseased, deadly, fatal or cancerous when describing a medical condition.

"Cruel" means intentionally unkind and taking please from that unkindness; callousness towards causing others pain.

Example Question #686 : Synonyms

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

NEFARIOUS

Possible Answers:

Amphibious

Horrible

Periodic

Ambiguous

Defiant

Correct answer:

Horrible

Explanation:

"Nefarious" means "horrible," sinful or bad.

"Ambiguous" means unclear, having more than one meaning, enigmatic.

"Defiant" means resistant, disobedient, aggressive.

"Periodic" means occurring periodically or after a certain period of time, occurring at fixed intervals.

"Amphibious" means occurring in water, aquatic. For example, amphibious creatures are creatures that live in water.

Example Question #687 : Synonyms

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

AKIN

Possible Answers:

Violent 

Related 

Persistent 

Uncertain 

Smooth

Correct answer:

Related 

Explanation:

The correct answer is "related."

"Akin" is an adjective that simply means related by blood or of similar character.

Example Question #688 : Synonyms

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

OVERT 

Possible Answers:

Undisguised 

Noisy 

Private 

Hidden 

Animated 

Correct answer:

Undisguised 

Explanation:

The correct answer is "undisguised."

"Overt" is an adjective that means done or shown openly, making undisguised the correct answer choice

Example Question #689 : Synonyms

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

DEJECTED 

Possible Answers:

Misled

Elated

Dispirited

Joyful

Isolated

Correct answer:

Dispirited

Explanation:

The correct answer is "dispirited." 

"Dejected" is an adjective that means sad and depressed. "Dispirited" is a synonym of "dejected."

Example Question #690 : Synonyms

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

NOXIOUS

Possible Answers:

Advantageous

Arid

Biting

Harmful

Beneficial

Correct answer:

Harmful

Explanation:

The correct answer is "harmful."

"Noxious" is an adjective that is defined as harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.

Example Question #691 : Synonyms

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

PORTENTOUS

Possible Answers:

Repugnant 

Inviting

Juvenile

Foreboding

Boring

Correct answer:

Foreboding

Explanation:

"Portentous" means foreboding or ominous.

"Juvenile" means immature or childish.

"Repugnant" means repulsive or detestable.

"Inviting" means desirable, appealing or attractive.

"Boring" means uninteresting or droll.

Example Question #692 : Synonyms

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

PEDANTIC

Possible Answers:

Dull 

Transient

Voluble 

Temporary 

Unkind 

Correct answer:

Dull 

Explanation:

"Pedantic" means dull or focused on the mundane, so "dull" is the correct answer. For clarification, "temporary" means not expected to last long, "transient" means fleeting or passing, and "voluble" means talking fluently.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adverbs

A synonym of "plumb" is . . .

Possible Answers:

bilk

horizontal

vex

fruit

utterly

Correct answer:

utterly

Explanation:

"Plumb" is an adverb that means "exactly" when used informally, we need to pick out a word which means something like "exactly." While "fruit" may look like an appealing answer because "plumb" is pronounced in exactly the same way as "plum," a kind of fruit, "plumb" and "plum" mean completely different things, so "fruit" cannot be the correct answer. Since "utterly" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "plumb," "utterly" is the correct answer.

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