SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1321 : Identifying Synonyms

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

BIZARRE

Possible Answers:

Disparate

Alike

Lucent

Strange

Garrulous

Correct answer:

Strange

Explanation:

Another word for "bizarre" is "strange." All of the other answer choices have meanings unrelated to "bizarre": "garrulous" means excessively talkative; "disparate" means different; "lucent" means shining; and "alike" means similar.

Example Question #1322 : Identifying Synonyms

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

VILE

Possible Answers:

Unpleasant

Viral

Whimsical

Sly

Energetic

Correct answer:

Unpleasant

Explanation:

"Vile" means extremely unpleasant or foul. The correct answer is therefore "unpleasant." The other choices do not have similar definitions: "viral" means spreading quickly, "energetic" means full of energy, "sly" means sneaky, and "whimsical" means delightful and fantastical.

Example Question #1323 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PENURIOUS

Possible Answers:

Worldly 

Mercenary 

Understood 

Destitute 

Loquacious

Correct answer:

Destitute 

Explanation:

“Penurious” means very poor, so the best available synonym is “destitute,” which means to be completely poor and downtrodden. For clarification, "worldly" means knowledgeable and wise; "mercenary" means not loyal, willing to go against your conscience for money; "loquacious" means long-winded or talkative.

Example Question #1324 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PERNICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Detrimental

Beneficial

Private

Public

Ominous

Correct answer:

Detrimental

Explanation:

“Pernicious” is an adjective that means gradually harmful over time, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like harmful. That means that “beneficial” cannot be the correct answer, because “beneficial” means helpful, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “pernicious.” “Detrimental,” however, is an adjective that means harmful, and because “detrimental” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “pernicious,” “detrimental” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1325 : Identifying Synonyms

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

FEY

Possible Answers:

Rational 

Mundane 

Introspective

Extroverted 

Supernatural 

Correct answer:

Supernatural 

Explanation:

“Fey” means relating to magic or supernatural phenomenon. For clarification, "rational" means reasonable and sensible; "mundane" means ordinary or boring; "introspective" means inwardly focused with thoughts and feelings; and "extroverted" means outgoing or sociable.

Example Question #1326 : Identifying Synonyms

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

AFFLUENT

Possible Answers:

Squishy

Grandiose

Wealthy

Forgotten

Torpid

Correct answer:

Wealthy

Explanation:

"Affluent" means having lots of material wealth.

Example Question #1327 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ODIOUS. 

Possible Answers:

Sensory 

Revolting 

Charming 

Wanton 

Adventurous 

Correct answer:

Revolting 

Explanation:

“Odious” means revolting. For clarification, "sensory" means relating to the senses; "wanton" means random or indiscriminate.

Example Question #1328 : Identifying Synonyms

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

OMINOUS. 

Possible Answers:

Rewarding

Foreboding 

Purposeful 

Tricky 

Effortless 

Correct answer:

Foreboding 

Explanation:

“Ominous” means scary or foreboding. You might have noticed it has the same root word as “omen,” which might have clued you in to the correct answer "foreboding."

Example Question #1329 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PRECARIOUS

Possible Answers:

Uncertain

Precious

Inattentive

Risky

Preventative

Correct answer:

Risky

Explanation:

"Precarious" means dangerous, so "risky," which means potentially harmful, is the correct answer.

Example Question #1330 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PEJORATIVE

Possible Answers:

Sneer

Deprecatory

Sensible

Elitist

Lenient

Correct answer:

Deprecatory

Explanation:

"Pejorative" is an adjective that means "expressing contempt or disapproval," so we need to find another word that means about the same thing - roughly, "disapproving." While "sneer" (""a contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone, or to make such an expression or comment") might seem like a good answer because a sneer is often a pejorative gesture, it is not an adjective that means "disapproving," so it can't be the correct answer. "Deprecatory," on the other hand, is an adjective that means "showing a critical or disrespectful attitude," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "pejorative," it is the correct answer.

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