SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #491 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ZEALOUS

Possible Answers:

Very passionate

Quirky

Ornery

Crazed

Jealous

Correct answer:

Very passionate

Explanation:

"Zealous" is an adjective that refers to a person who is "very passionate" or is fanatical or extremely committed to some cause. 

"Ornery" means bad tempered, grouchy and headstrong. "Quirky" means peculiar or having unusual qualities. "Crazed" means insane or very excited. "Jealous" means being envious of someone because of his or her desirable traits or advantages. 

Example Question #492 : Identifying Synonyms

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

MEEK

Possible Answers:

Attractive

Kind

Garrulous

Belligerent

Submissive

Correct answer:

Submissive

Explanation:

"Meek" is an adjective which means submissive, quiet or the quality of being easily imposed on.

"Garrulous" means excessively chatty. "Attractive" means sensorily pleasing. "Kind" means being benevolent or good. "Belligerent" means being hostile and malicious. 

Example Question #493 : Identifying Synonyms

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

TACTFUL

Possible Answers:

Generous

Polite

Spirited

Reliable

Cruel

Correct answer:

Polite

Explanation:

"Tactful" means polite or diplomatic when dealing with other people.

"Generous" means ready to give more money or time than expected. "Reliable" means dependable or consistently good quality. "Cruel" means intentionally causing suffering and not feeling remorse. "Spirited" means energetic, enthusiastic and vivacious.

Example Question #494 : Identifying Synonyms

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

DIDACTIC

Possible Answers:

Studious

Emboldened

Overly instructive

Dexterous

Boring

Correct answer:

Overly instructive

Explanation:

"Didactic" means overly instructive or prone to teaching and explaining

None of the other words are synonymous with didactic.

'Emboldened' means made brave or made bolder.

"Studious" is the trait of enjoying studying and being an intellectual. While studious is related to the concept of being didactic, they are not synonymous.

"Boring" means not interesting, or something that does not hold your attention.

"Dexterous" means agile or skillful with your hands.

Example Question #495 : Identifying Synonyms

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

INSOLENT

Possible Answers:

Vapid 

Distrustful 

Reverent 

Mild-mannered 

Disrespectful 

Correct answer:

Disrespectful 

Explanation:

Insolence refers to disobedience, and insolent is the corresponding adjective. It can also be described as showing disrespect. A "reverent" attitude would be roughly opposite to an "insolent" one.

Example Question #496 : Identifying Synonyms

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

COMBATIVE

Possible Answers:

Romantic

Excessive

Aggressive

Filthy

Broken

Correct answer:

Aggressive

Explanation:

Combative means aggressive, eager to engage in combat, and ready to fight. Excessive means too much. Filthy means very dirty or grimy. When it's not capitalized, romantic means loving or characterized by love. Broken means not working or functioning.

Example Question #497 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CAPABLE

Possible Answers:

Precious

Specific

Competent

Elegant

Eloquent

Correct answer:

Competent

Explanation:

"Capable" and "competent" both mean able to achieve things efficiently. "Elegant" means tasteful, stylish, or graceful. "Eloquent" means fluent and articulate in speech. "Specific" means precise or particular, and "precious" means valuable.

Example Question #498 : Identifying Synonyms

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

SLY

Possible Answers:

Hungry

Terrestrial

Slender

Limber

Cunning

Correct answer:

Cunning

Explanation:

"Sly" and "cunning" both mean clever. "Terrestrial" is an adjective describing land-based things (the opposite of aquatic), and "slender" means slim or skinny. "Limber" is a word that means flexible and nimble. A good synonym for hungry is famished or ravenous.

Example Question #499 : Identifying Synonyms

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

MISCHIEVOUS

Possible Answers:

Naughty

Harmful

Thieving

Unhealthy

Fragmented

Correct answer:

Naughty

Explanation:

"Mischievous" and "naughty" both indicate a tendency to misbehave and cause trouble. "Thieving" is a synonym for "stealing," "fragmented" means broken up into small pieces, and "unhealthy" is an antonym of "healthy." "Harmful" means damaging or hurtful.

Example Question #500 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CRANKY

Possible Answers:

Grumpy

Ill

Dysfunctional

Uncomfortable

Passive

Correct answer:

Grumpy

Explanation:

"Cranky" and "grumpy" both mean bad-tempered and irritable. "Passive," the opposite of active, means accepting whatever happens without resistance; "ill" means sick. "Uncomfortable" is an antonym of comfortable, and "dysfunctional" is another way to say that something doesn't work or function.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors