SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #951 : Identifying Synonyms

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

SOLICITOUS

Possible Answers:

Sordid

Ingenuous

Seditious

Innocuous

Concerned

Correct answer:

Concerned

Explanation:

"Solicitous" means concerned and caring. "Ingenuous" means naive and childlike, while "innocuous" means harmless. "Seditious" is a synonym for "treasonous." "Sordid" is a synonym for "filthy."

Example Question #952 : Identifying Synonyms

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

INDULGENT

Possible Answers:

Terrifying

Debilitated

Instructive

Lenient

Opulent

Correct answer:

Lenient

Explanation:

"Indulgent" means "lenient," liberal, permissive. "Instructive" is a synonym for "instructional" or educational. "Terrifying" means very frightening. "Debilitated" means extremely weakened, enervated. "Opulent" means lavish, luxurious, and rich.

Example Question #953 : Identifying Synonyms

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

QUIXOTIC

Possible Answers:

Foreign

Distraught

Immanent

Pessimistic

Idealistic

Correct answer:

Idealistic

Explanation:

"Quixotic," a word taken from the Spanish novel Don Quixote, means "idealistic" (often hopelessly or foolishly so). This is a near antonym for "pessimistic." "Foreign" means strange or exotic. "Distraught" is a synonym for "distressed," and "immanent" is a synonym for "inherent."

Example Question #954 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PANGLOSSIAN

Possible Answers:

Fallacious

Smug

Careless

Optimistic

Despondent

Correct answer:

Optimistic

Explanation:

"Panglossian," taken from a novel by Voltaire, is a synonym for "overly optimistic." "Careless" is a synonym for "inattentive" or even reckless. "Despondent" means despairing, and "fallacious" means fictitious or erroneous. "Smug" means self-satisfied.

Example Question #955 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CHOLERIC

Possible Answers:

Prideful

Musical

Irritable

Ravenous

Frenzied

Correct answer:

Irritable

Explanation:

"Choleric" means "irritable," ill-tempered, or irascible. "Ravenous" means starving, voracious. "Prideful" is a synonym for "proud" or disdainful, depending on the context. "Musical" is, of course, the adjective form of "music" and often describes someone with talent at music. "Frenzied" is a synonym for "hurried," frantic, or frenetic.

Example Question #956 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PRURIENT

Possible Answers:

Speculative

Lustful

Joyful

Ebullient

Ravenous

Correct answer:

Lustful

Explanation:

"Prurient" means "lustful," salacious. "Ravenous" means hungry, voracious. "Speculative" is another word for conjectural. "Ebullient" means joyful or exultant.

Example Question #957 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ADAMANT

Possible Answers:

Insistent

Grim

Doleful

Anxious

Flustered

Correct answer:

Insistent

Explanation:

"Adamant" means inflexible, unwavering, or "insistent." "Flustered" means agitated or unsettled, and "anxious" means nervous. "Grim" means stern, forbidding, or ghastly. "Doleful" is another word for "disconsolate."

Example Question #958 : Identifying Synonyms

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

RUEFUL

Possible Answers:

Wintry

Regretful

Spurious

Stingy

Dubious

Correct answer:

Regretful

Explanation:

"Rue" is regret and contrition, but often with a slightly amusing tinge. "Dubious" means doubtful. "Spurious" means false or fictitious. "Wintry" is the adjective form or "winter" and is usually a synonym for cold and snowy. "Stingy" means miserly, cheap.

Example Question #959 : Identifying Synonyms

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

VOCIFEROUS

Possible Answers:

Imperturbable

Lucid

Effervescent

Clamorous

Gravid

Correct answer:

Clamorous

Explanation:

"Vociferous" means "clamorous," vocal, and vehement. "Imperturbable" is another word for unflappable, unable to be upset. "Lucid" means clear, and "gravid" means pregnant or swollen. "Effervescent" is bubbly.

Example Question #960 : Identifying Synonyms

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

EFFUSIVE

Possible Answers:

Timorous

Fastidious

Debonair

Fulsome

Quiescent

Correct answer:

Fulsome

Explanation:

The adjective "effusive" means unrestrained or excessively enthusiastic in praise of something. This is closest in meaning to "fulsome" which means excessively complimentary. Additionally, "quiescent" means at rest, inactive; "debonair" means charming and sophisticated; "timorous" means easily scared and shy; "fastidious" means hard to please, overly concerned with details, meticulous.

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