SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #231 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

DEBONAIR

Possible Answers:

Indolent

Urbane

Assiduous

Potent

Potable

Correct answer:

Urbane

Explanation:

"Debonair" means "urbane," suave, or sophisticated. "Assiduous" means hardworking, which is an antonym for "indolent," or lazy. "Potable" means safe to drink, and "potent" means powerful.

Example Question #232 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

UNCTUOUS

Possible Answers:

Magnanimous

Imaginative

Impartial

Saccharine

Smarmy

Correct answer:

Smarmy

Explanation:

"Unctuous" is a synonym for "smarmy," insincerely ingratiating. "Impartial" means unbiased, and "saccharine" means overly sweet. "Imaginative" is a synonym for creative, and "magnanimous" is a synonym for "generous."

Example Question #233 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PEDANTIC

Possible Answers:

Addled

Lackluster

Paramount

Fortuitous

Meticulous

Correct answer:

Meticulous

Explanation:

The adjective "pedantic" is used to describe someone who pays too close attention to details, someone who is obsessive about something in an irritating manner. The closest answer choice to this definition is "meticulous" which means precise, trying to do something perfectly. Additionally, "paramount" means of particular importance, very significant; "fortuitous" means lucky; "addled" means confused and mentally weak (usually from drug use or old age); "lackluster" means uninspiring, underwhelming.

Example Question #234 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

ECCENTRIC

Possible Answers:

Ancient

Odd

Youthful

Normal

Simple

Correct answer:

Odd

Explanation:

The adjective "eccentric" is usually used to describe certain people and means odd, unusual, prone to weird behavior.

Example Question #235 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PERSPICACIOUS

Possible Answers:

Illuminating

Corpulent

Salient

Loathsome

Discerning

Correct answer:

Discerning

Explanation:

The adjective "perspicacious" is used to describe someone who is very discerning, able to notice and understand things very well. Additionally, "loathsome" means detestable, hated; "illuminating" means revealing, 'shining a light on'; "corpulent" means overweight, fat; "salient" means most important, very significant.

Example Question #236 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

SUPERCILIOUS

Possible Answers:

Drastic

Raucous

Meek

Fruitful

Conceited

Correct answer:

Conceited

Explanation:

The adjective "supercilious" means arrogant, haughty, thinking one knows better than everyone else, or "conceited." Additionally, "meek" means shy, reserved, weak; "fruitful" means productive; "drastic" means extreme and desperate; "raucous" means rowdy, disorderly and grating.

Example Question #237 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

INSUFFERABLE

Possible Answers:

Provocative

Inveterate

Cagey

Unbearable

Besmirched

Correct answer:

Unbearable

Explanation:

The adjective "insufferable," which can be used to describe people or circumstances, means so annoying as to be impossible to put up with, too intense to cope with. This is closest in definition to "unbearable" which means intolerable, unendurable. Additionally, "provocative" means likely to cause offense, incendiary, causing a strong reaction; "cagey" means cautious and noncommittal, wary and guarded; "inveterate" means (of a habit) deeply ingrained and long established; "besmirched" means sullied, tarnished, ruined, (of a reputation) damaged.

Example Question #238 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

OFFICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Corpulent

Ostentatious

Insolvent

Meddlesome

Noisome

Correct answer:

Meddlesome

Explanation:

The adjective "officious" means (of an authority figure) prone to interfering and meddling unnecessarily, meddlesome and irritating. Additionally, "insolvent" means bankrupt, run out of money; "corpulent" means overweight, fat; "ostentatious" means extravagant and showy; "noisome" means smelling very bad, having an offensive smell.

Example Question #239 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PERFIDIOUS

Possible Answers:

Disloyal

Jovial

Adulterated

Demonstrative

Acclaimed

Correct answer:

Disloyal

Explanation:

The adjective "perfidious" means treacherous, not trustworthy, duplicitous and likely to betray, disloyal. Additionally, "jovial" means good-natured or in a good-mood; "adulterated" means edited and made impure; "acclaimed" means widely celebrated and praised; "demonstrative" means extremely showy of one's thoughts and feelings, expressive.

Example Question #240 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

SOLIPSISTIC

Possible Answers:

Self-possessed

Lurid

Self-centered

Deleterious

Self-assured

Correct answer:

Self-centered

Explanation:

"Solipsistic" means egotistical or focused on the self. "Confident" means self-assured, as does "self-possessed." "Lurid" is a synonym for bright, colorful, sensational, or overly dramatic. "Deleterious" means harmful.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors