SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #34 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

HARROW

Possible Answers:

Segment

Distress

Indifference

Emotion

Introduction

Correct answer:

Distress

Explanation:

"Harrow" means distress.

Example Question #35 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

CONFOUND

Possible Answers:

Pacify

Injure

Relieve

Recover

Frustrate

Correct answer:

Frustrate

Explanation:

"Confound" means to frustrate.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

ASSUAGE

Possible Answers:

Decide 

Indicate 

Allay 

Reward

Measure 

Correct answer:

Allay 

Explanation:

To “assuage” means to provide relief from something uncomfortable or distressing. You often hear it used to describe “assuaging guilt,” which means to make someone feel less guilty. The only answer choice that matches this definition is “allay.” Allay means to relieve or calm the severity of something. Both words describe the relieving of an unpleasant sensation.

Example Question #36 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

UNNERVE

Possible Answers:

Stress

Trudge

Reveal

Consume

Relinquish

Correct answer:

Stress

Explanation:

"Unnerve" and "stress" are closest in meaning. These synonyms describe the action of causing something frustration and uneasiness. The other words do not share this meaning. "Consume" means to eat, digest, or exhaust. To "reveal" something is to bring something to light. To "relinquish" something is to give that thing up. To "trudge" is to walk heavily.

Example Question #37 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

ROUSE

Possible Answers:

Inspire

Incense

Deign

Confiscate

Parry

Correct answer:

Inspire

Explanation:

The verb "rouse" means to cause excitement, to inspire and motivate. Additionally, "incense" means to anger, to make furious; "deign" means condescend, to allow oneself to talk to people one views as inferior; "confiscate" means seize, take from; "parry" means (of something thrown at one) to deflect, to cause to move in another direction.

Example Question #38 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

FLUSTERED

Possible Answers:

Supreme

Recondite

Composed

Unsettled

Poised

Correct answer:

Unsettled

Explanation:

The verb "flustered" means unsettled, made nervous by something. Additionally, "composed" means calm and under control; "poised" means showing calm and composure in a stressful situation; "supreme" means best, superior, greatest; "recondite" means (of knowledge) obscure and arcane, known by only a few.

Example Question #39 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

ENTRANCE

Possible Answers:

Captivate

Resign

Join

Dismay

Convince

Correct answer:

Captivate

Explanation:

This is a little tough because the word "entrance" can be a noun that means a way into something. But "entrance" also means to put into a trance or to charm.

I was entranced by the beautiful music coming from the tower.

There is no answer choice that could serve as a synonym of the noun form of entrance, so it must be the verb form, and the word "captivate," meaning to hold or capture the interest of, is a synonym.

Example Question #41 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

MOLLIFY

Possible Answers:

Frighten

Lessen

Support

Secure

Engage

Correct answer:

Lessen

Explanation:

"Mollify" means to soften or make less intense in feeling or temper.

I hope that giving the family an upgrade to first class will  mollify them after the airline lost their luggage.

So to "lessen" is the best choice.

Example Question #341 : Synonyms: Verbs

Practice using word roots, prefixes, and suffixes to predict the meaning of a word. Choose the answer that reflects what the underlined part of the word means.

Centipede

Possible Answers:

hundred

twist

light

foot

animal

Correct answer:

foot

Explanation:

"Ped" usually means foot. Another example is "pedestrian."

Example Question #342 : Synonyms: Verbs

Practice using word roots, prefixes, and suffixes to predict the meaning of a word. Choose the answer that reflects what the underlined part of the word means.

Dictum

Possible Answers:

under

many

words

death

belief

Correct answer:

words

Explanation:

"Dict" has to do with words, or saying. Another example is "dictionary."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors