SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2231 : Synonyms

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

ACQUIT

Possible Answers:

Exonerate

Ignore

Imprision

Judge

Sentence

Correct answer:

Exonerate

Explanation:

When someone is “acquitted” of an action, he or she is “forgiven” or set free from any sort of charges of that action. For instance, someone “acquitted of murder” is judged to be innocent of the crime. The word “exonerate” best matches this usage. It means to remove blame officially. Literally, it is derived from the Latin meaning to lift the burden from someone. The “-onerate” portion of the word means “burden,” while (as you likely know) “ex-” means out of or away from. The word is related to “onerous,” meaning burdensome or difficult.

Example Question #2232 : Synonyms

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

VERBOSE

Possible Answers:

Wordy

Soft-spoken

Conjugated

Literal

Literary

Correct answer:

Wordy

Explanation:

The word “verbose” comes from the Latin for “word.” It is related to words like “verbal” and “verb.” It means using too many words to communicate something. Although the word “wordy” is a bit informal, it means just this—that someone uses too many words.

Example Question #2233 : Synonyms

Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.

MALICE

Possible Answers:

Courage

Benevolence

Presentation

Malevolence

Information

Correct answer:

Malevolence

Explanation:

"Malice" means evil or the quality of desiring to harm others. So, the correct answer is "malevolence," which also means the quality of desiring to harm others. 

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Roots

Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Subterfuge

Possible Answers:

Grain

Evasion

Information

Underground

Onset

Correct answer:

Evasion

Explanation:

"Subterfuge" means a stratagem used to evade a consequence or conceal something. The best answer choice is "evasion." The Latin root word, "subter," means secretly, and the Latin root word, "fugere," means to flee.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Roots

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

BENEVOLENT

Possible Answers:

Perfect

Volatile

Friendly

Regimented 

Captivating

Correct answer:

Friendly

Explanation:

Benevolent means kind, friendly, or charitable.  The root word "bene" means good or well. 

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Roots

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

BENEVOLENT

Possible Answers:

Harmless

Violent

Flexible

Urgent

Kindly

Correct answer:

Kindly

Explanation:

Someone who is benevolent is kindly, helpful, or friendly. The root word is "bene," Latin for "good."

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Roots

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

CIRCUMLOCUTION

Possible Answers:

Evasion

Spin

Wandering

Journey

Incoherence

Correct answer:

Evasion

Explanation:

Circumlocution is the act of talking around the point instead of getting directly to it; it's speaking evasively or indirectly. The roots are "circum", Latin for "around", and "locut-" Latin for "speaking;" "circumlocution" is "around-speaking."

Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Roots

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

COGENT

Possible Answers:

Urgent

Convincing

Machine-like

Deluded

Hidden

Correct answer:

Convincing

Explanation:

Something that is cogent is logical, sensible, and intelligent. It comes from the Latin root "cog-" meaning "think/know", as in "cognition" (the act of thinking or knowing) and "incognito" (unknown, or under cover).

Example Question #16 : Synonyms: Roots

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

CORPULENT

Possible Answers:

Unified

Thoughtful

Rotting

Friendly

Obese

Correct answer:

Obese

Explanation:

Someone who is corpulent is very fat, or obese. This comes from the Latin root "corp-", meaning body, as in "corpse" and "incorporate."

Example Question #17 : Synonyms: Roots

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

CREDULITY

Possible Answers:

Misery

Cruelty

Fidelity

Gullibility

Hilarity

Correct answer:

Gullibility

Explanation:

Credulity is the condition of being eager to believe something, so the synonym is gullibility. The Latin root here is "cred-", which means to believe, as in "credit" (being willing to trust or believe someone or something), and "incredible" (unbelievable).

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