SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ELUCIDATE

Possible Answers:

Undermine

Construct

Douse

Clarify

Strengthen

Correct answer:

Clarify

Explanation:

"Elucidate" means to clarify; to strengthen is to make stronger; to undermine is to weaken; to douse is to drench; and to construct is to build.

Example Question #1843 : Identifying Synonyms

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

BILK

Possible Answers:

Berate

Chastize

Irritate

Defraud

Exercise

Correct answer:

Defraud

Explanation:

"Bilk" is to defraud; to exercise is to perform physical activities; to berate is to scold; to chastize is to criticize; and to irritate is to annoy.

Example Question #1851 : Identifying Synonyms

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

LAUD

Possible Answers:

Trinket

Force

Deity

High

Praise

Correct answer:

Praise

Explanation:

Another word for "laud" is "praise." All of the other words are mostly unrelated. Considering the other answer choices, "high" means located far above the ground, a "trinket" is something small or of little value, a "deity" is a god or goddess, and "force" refers to physical power or strength.

Example Question #1852 : Identifying Synonyms

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

FATHOM

Possible Answers:

Pelt

Satisfy

Bewilder

Irritate

Understand

Correct answer:

Understand

Explanation:

"Fathom" means comprehend or understand, so "understand" is the correct answer. "Bewilder" is an antonym of "fathom"; it means confuse. "Satisfy" means meet a certain condition or meet the expectations of someone. "Pelt" means bombard or attack someone or something with projectiles. "Irritate" means bother or annoy.

Example Question #1853 : Identifying Synonyms

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

DEVELOP

Possible Answers:

Ebb

Blossom

Dwindle

Wilt

Wither

Correct answer:

Blossom

Explanation:

"Develop" and "blossom" are verbs related to the growth or expansion of something. The other words refer to something's deterioration. "Ebb," "dwindle," "wilt," and "whither" are actually so closely related in meaning that they can be considered synonymous with one another.

Example Question #1854 : Identifying Synonyms

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

BROWBEAT

Possible Answers:

Render

Circulate

Allocate

Digress

Intimidate

Correct answer:

Intimidate

Explanation:

The verb "browbeat" means to intimidate. It is something that one person does to another person. Additionally, "circulate" means spread around; "allocate" means assign, give to; "digress" means stray from, move away from the main point; "render" means give, supply.

Example Question #1855 : Identifying Synonyms

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

COGITATE

Possible Answers:

Placate

Admonish

Delineate

Ponder

Accrue

Correct answer:

Ponder

Explanation:

The verb "cogitate" means think deeply about, or "ponder." Additionally, "placate" means comfort, soothe; "accrue" means accumulate, grow; "admonish" means scold, yell at; "delineate" means describe exactly.

Example Question #1856 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CONSOLE

Possible Answers:

Comfort

Enervate

Adhere

Attack

Eradicate

Correct answer:

Comfort

Explanation:

The verb "console" means to comfort someone, to provide comfort and help to someone who needs it. Additionally, "enervate" means weaken; "eradicate" means completely destroy, get rid of; "adhere" means stick to.

Example Question #1857 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ORATE

Possible Answers:

Stupefy

Circulate

Engender

Declaim

Glean

Correct answer:

Declaim

Explanation:

You likely knew that an "orator" is a public speaker, so you could probably have determined that the verb "orate" means to speak in public. From there you simply need to figure out which of these words has the same definition, the correct answer is "declaim." To "declaim" means to speak publicly in a rhetorical fashion. Additionally, "stupefy" means astonish, amaze and confuse; "engender" means cause, create, produce; "circulate" means spread around; "glean" means gather details, compile observations in order to try and determine something.

Example Question #1858 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ABET

Possible Answers:

Reprimand

Mock

Adhere

Help

Stop

Correct answer:

Help

Explanation:

The verb "abet" means to aid, to assist, to provide help. Additionally, "reprimand" means to tell off, to scold and yell at; "mock" means to make fun of; "adhere" means stick to or follow.

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