SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2385 : Synonyms

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

DISCRETE

Possible Answers:

Malignant

Flowery

Serious

Imaginative

Separate

Correct answer:

Separate

Explanation:

"Discrete" and "separate" are both words to describe things that are distinctive from one another.

Example Question #2386 : Synonyms

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

PERVASIVE

Possible Answers:

Wealthy

Extensive

Underground

Threatening

Hand-crafted

Correct answer:

Extensive

Explanation:

"Pervasive" means widely prevalent, or "extensive." One might talk about the "pervasive influence" of a new idea or invention.

Example Question #2387 : Synonyms

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

RUSTIC

Possible Answers:

Oxidized

Shabby

Rural

Petite

Ordinary

Correct answer:

Rural

Explanation:

"Rustic" means relating to the countryside, or "rural."

Example Question #2388 : Synonyms

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

BUCOLIC

Possible Answers:

Pastoral

Urbane

Futuristic

Lighthearted

Welcoming

Correct answer:

Pastoral

Explanation:

"Bucolic" is an adjective meaning "of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life." While "lighthearted" and "welcoming" might seem like good answers because of the "pleasant" connotation of "bucolic," "pastoral" is the closest synonym of "bucolic" amongst the answer choices because one meaning of "pastoral" is "portraying or evoking country life, typically in a romanticized or idealized form," usually used to refer to works of art. So, the correct answer is "pastoral."

Example Question #2389 : Synonyms

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

LATTER

Possible Answers:

Adorable

Morose

Final

Unstable

Developed

Correct answer:

Final

Explanation:

Latter means occuring towards the end, or the second of two things.

Example Question #2390 : Synonyms

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

DIVERGENT

Possible Answers:

Wayward

Intelligent

Bold

Careful

Sneaky

Correct answer:

Wayward

Explanation:

Something that is "divergent" is something that is going off in its own direction or moving away from the pack, so "wayward" is the synonym you want.

Example Question #2391 : Synonyms

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

MUNICIPAL

Possible Answers:

Civic

Corresponding

Financial

Irate

Preposterous

Correct answer:

Civic

Explanation:

Municipal means relating to a city or town, or civic.

Example Question #2392 : Synonyms

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

ASCENDANT

Possible Answers:

Consistent

Faltering

Qualitative

Sinking

Up-and-coming

Correct answer:

Up-and-coming

Explanation:

“Ascendant” is an adjective that means “rising in power or influence,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “rising.” That means that “sinking” cannot be the correct answer, because “sinking” means “descending or dropping,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “ascendant.” “Up-and-coming,” however, is an adjective that is used of a person beginning a particular activity or occupation and means “making good progress toward success,” and because “up-and-coming” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “ascendant,” “up-and-coming” is the correct answer.

Example Question #2393 : Synonyms

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

TERMINAL

Possible Answers:

Capricious

Final

Mistaken

Crass

Timid

Correct answer:

Final

Explanation:

"Terminal" means at the end of something. Thus, the best choice is the word final. The root word, "termin," means end.

Example Question #2243 : Identifying Synonyms

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

REPLETE

Possible Answers:

Comical

Ruffled

Inflicted

Indecisive

Full

Correct answer:

Full

Explanation:

"Replete" means full or complete.

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