ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States
Synonyms: Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
CONFUSED
Puzzled
Inconsistent
Contrite
Enabled
"Confused" is defined as unable to think clearly; bewildered. Since "puzzled" is defined as to feel confused due to a lack of understanding, "puzzled" is the best answer choice.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DEPRESSED
Miserable
Angry
Worried
Concerned
Fussy
The word "depressed" is used to describe someone who is very unhappy. When a person is "miserable," he or she is not happy or is very negative about life. Among the options given, this is the only one that closely matches "depressed".
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ERRATIC
Unpredictable
Organized
Lucky
Predictable
Lazy
When someone behaves "erratically" they are acting in a way that is not expected, usual, nor even predictable. Therefore, "unpredictable" would be the word closest to this meaning and is a synonym for erratic.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
RELUCTANT
Unwilling
Cantankerous
Enthused
Demonic
Susceptible
“Reluctant” means not willing, so "unwilling" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "reluctant": “cantankerous” means grumpy; “enthused” means excited; “demonic” means marked by qualities of the devil or of demons; “susceptible” means vulnerable or in danger from something specific.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
LIVID
Angry
Restful
Intelligent
Quick
When someone is "livid," they are extremely angry. Other words with the same meaning are "furious" and "enraged." "Restful," a word that means calm and quiet, and "intelligent," or smart, are adjectives that do not imply any anger at all. "Quick" and "livid" have nothing to do with each other.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
FURIOUS
Enraged
Depressed
Miffed
Ecstatic
"Furious" means full of rage. The best answer choice is "enraged" because it shares the same definition. "Furious" and "enraged" are synonyms. Considering the other choices, "depressed" means sad and gloomy, "miffed" means annoyed, and "ecstatic" means incredibly overjoyed.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DISGRUNTLED
Upset
Wrinkled
Disorderly
Frustrated
Obnoxious
To be "disgruntled"means to be dissatisfied and unhappy. To be "upset"means to be in a state of dismay. Given how similar in meaning "disgruntled"and "upset"are, "upset" is the correct answer.
A synonym of "dissatisfied" is __________.
disgruntled
pleased
erroneous
funny
petulant
"Dissatisfied" is an adjective that means "not content or happy with something." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "not happy with something." So, "pleased" cannot be the correct answer, because "pleased" is an antonym of "dissatisfied," not a synonym. "Disgruntled," however, is an adjective that means "angry or dissatisfied," so "disgruntled" is the correct answer because it is closest in meaning to "dissatisfied."
Select the synonym.
Distraught
Distressed
Calm
Emotional
Tearful
Joyful
When somone is distraught, they are upset and deeply agitated, which can also describe someone who is distressed.
If someone is distraught, they can also be emotional, but distressed is a better answer choice. Emotional describes both positive and negative feelings, whereas distraught and distressed have negative connotations.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ELATED
Ecstatic
Strengthened
Astonished
Associated
Connected
Two of the wrong options attempt to have you confuse "elated" with "related." (These wrong options are "connected" and "associated".) To be "elated", however, is to be very happy. The word "ecstatic" means just this as well. It actually comes from root words meaning standing outside. Have you ever heard someone say, "She was beside herself with joy!" This means the person was almost "outside" herself because of her strong feelings. To be "ecstatic" is to be very happy in this way.