Synonyms: Nouns for People

Help Questions

ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Nouns for People

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

FIEND

Villain

Ally

Communicator

Interrogator

Reviewer

Explanation

The word "fiend" comes originally from the word for a demon or a devil. We generally use it, however, to describe any kind of villain. It is in this sense that it is being used in this question. Such a villain need not be a wicked person in a story. We sometimes use the word also when we describe someone who abuses his or her fellow human beings, as when we say, "Thomas was nothing more than a fiend, given how he stole from all of the elderly in his neighborhood."

2

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

NOMAD

Wanderer

Educator

Artist

Sailor

Moderator

Explanation

A “nomad” is a person who does not have a permanent home and who wanders from place to place, so "wanderer" is the best answer choice. As for the other answer choices, an “educator” is someone who educates ora teacher, and a "moderator" is someone who acts as a third party in an argument or debate to help each side express itself.

3

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

FACTION

Camp

Assembly

Meeting

Ability

Purpose

Explanation

A "faction" is a group that gets together to achieve some particular person. Usually, a "faction" is a small group, often excluding others from the group. Now, the words "meeting" and "assembly" might be tempting. They are not really the best options. Instead, the little word "camp" is the best. A "camp" is a small group, often with the negative overtones that we also express in "faction." Yes, a "camp" is a place that you can go to stay in the woods. A "camp" can also be a small group that is very factional.

4

A synonym of "tyrant" is __________.

despot

king

peasant

prince

herald

Explanation

"Tyrant" is a noun that means either "a cruel and oppressive ruler" or "a person exercising power or control in a cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary way," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "a cruel ruler." While "king" may seem like a good answer choice because a king is a kind of ruler, a king is not necessarily a cruel ruler like a tyrant is. "Despot," however, means "a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way." Because "despot" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "tyrant," "despot" is the correct answer.

5

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

ENTOURAGE

Escort

Debut

Corruption

Vacation

Tour

Explanation

An “entourage” is a group of people who accompany one person, or an “escort.” A “debut” is the act of doing something, often publicly, for the first time; and “corruption” means dishonesty.

6

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

PATRON

Customer

Critic

Cacophony

Establish

Portray

Explanation

A “patron” is a customer, someone who visits a business. To provide further help, a “critic” is someone who judges things, usually art, and often harshly; a “cacophony” is a loud and unpleasant pairing of noises; “establish” means set up; “portray” means depict or show.

7

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

DESPOT

Tyrant

Store

List

Depot

Explanation

A "despot" is a tyrant. The best choice is "tyrant," which means an oppressive or unjust ruler. Considering the other choices, a "store" is a place where people go to make purchases, "list" means a group of things that are written down, and a "depot" is a warehouse.

8

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

POSTERITY

Lineage

Harm

Charm

Swollen

Explanation

"Posterity" refers to future generations of something. The best choice is "lineage," as it means the descendants or future generations of a particular thing or person.

9

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

MENTOR

Advisor

Lawyer

Assistant

Fighter

Partner

Explanation

A "mentor" is a teacher, an advisor, someone who provides guidance and advice to someone else with less experience. An "assistant" is someone who works for someone else and/or someone who helps someone else. "Partner" is not synonymous as it denotes an equal relationship, not one in which one party is more experienced or skilled than the other.

10

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

PUPIL

Student

Expert

Parent

Worker

Teacher

Explanation

"Pupil" is a noun that can mean apprentice or novice, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "pupil" is "student," a noun meaning a person who is going to school . Considering the other answer choices, "expert" is a noun meaning a specialist or a skilled person, "parent" is a noun meaning a mother or father of a child, and "worker" is a noun meaning someone who does work.

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