Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

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ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

Questions 1 - 10
1

Synonyms: Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

CONFUSED

Puzzled

Inconsistent

Contrite

Enabled

Explanation

"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.

2

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

DEPRESSED

Miserable

Angry

Worried

Concerned

Fussy

Explanation

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".

3

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

ERRATIC

Unpredictable

Organized

Lucky

Predictable

Lazy

Explanation

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.

4

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

RELUCTANT

Unwilling

Cantankerous

Enthused

Demonic

Susceptible

Explanation

“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.

5

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

LIVID

Angry

Restful

Intelligent

Quick

Explanation

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.

6

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

FURIOUS

Enraged

Depressed

Miffed

Ecstatic

Explanation

"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.

7

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

DISGRUNTLED

Upset

Wrinkled

Disorderly

Frustrated

Obnoxious

Explanation

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.

8

A synonym of "dissatisfied" is __________.

disgruntled

pleased

erroneous

funny

petulant

Explanation

"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."

9

Select the synonym.

Distraught

Distressed

Calm

Emotional

Tearful

Joyful

Explanation

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.

10

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

ELATED

Ecstatic

Strengthened

Astonished

Associated

Connected

Explanation

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.

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