ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, and Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RADIANT
Shining
Blazing
Boiling
Chemical
Solar
The word "radiant" comes from Latin roots that mean to send out rays. Think of X-rays. Such technology is so named precisely because these devices use waves or "rays" to detect bone (and other) structures in your body. There can be "rays of sun," meaning the sunlight itself, shining. Thus, when we say that something is "radiant," we mean that it is shining. This word can be used metaphorically meaning joyful, as we say something like, "He was radiant when his mother told him that he would have his favorite dessert that that night."
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
DELICATE
Fragile
Sturdy
Durable
Contentious
Unhappy
"Fragile" is the best synonym of "delicate," as they both mean easily breakable, while the rest of the answers bear little relation to the word in question: "durable" means longlasting and "sturdy" has a similar meaning, while "contentious" means producing controversy or debate.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
HOMELY
Unattractive
Welcoming
Sermonic
Sweet
Because of the obvious root home, it is easy to think that "homely" means warm and welcoming (like "homey"). Be careful not to make this common mistake—"homely" does derive from "home," but it has traveled from there through the sense of plain and unadorned to our modern meaning of plain and unattractive. Be careful also not to confuse "homely" with "homily," which means a sermon.
A synonym of "robust" is __________.
burly
viscous
clear
weak
lithe
"Robust" is an adjective that means "physically strong; muscular." So, "weak" cannot be the correct answer because "weak" is an antonym of "robust," and while "lithe" may look potentially correct, "lithe" means "thin, supple, and graceful," and is often used to describe a person's body. The closest synonym to "robust" amongst the possible answer choices is "burly," an adjective that means "large and strong; heavily built" and is used to describe people. So, "burly" is the correct answer.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LITHE
Agile
Awkward
Long
Gentle
Precarious
"Lithe" is an adjective that refers to someone who is "flexible and supple, able to move the body lightly and gracefully." Even though "lithe" sounds like "length," long does not imply grace or agility, so that's not correct. Awkward and precarious are antonyms, and gentle describes how someone behaves, not a quality of their body. Therefore, the closest answer is "agile."
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ORNATE
Decorative
Expensive
Simple
Plain
Immense
If something is ornate, it means that it is decorative or detailed. An example of this is there may be an ornate artistic design that an artist chooses to use in a painting.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DECEPTIVE
Illusory
Unexpected
Thieving
Illegal
Forceful
Whenever we deceive someone, we trick or lie to him or her. Thus, something that is "deceptive" is something that we could call "tricky." A deceptive person is someone who manipulates with lies. A deceptive appearance is something that looks one way, though it really is not in fact that way. For example, a building might look deceptively tall when it is, in fact, quite short. Thus, it creates an illusion. This is why "illusory" is a good synonym for "deceptive."
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
OBSCURE
Hidden
Obvious
Coherent
Abrupt
Acceptable
“Obscure” means hidden or esoteric, so "hidden" is the correct answer. Something that is “obvious” is easy to know and understand; “coherent” means able to be understood; “abrupt” means happening quickly and suddenly without any forewarning; and “acceptable” means good enough.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TEPID
Lukewarm
Loud
Boisterous
Novel
Indigenous
"Tepid" is an adjective that can mean either "showing little enthusiasm" or "only slightly warm," especially when referring to liquids. Neither "loud" nor "boisterous" can't be the correct answer because they are each opposites of "showing little enthusiasm," but "lukewarm" is used of liquids or foods that should be hot and means "only moderately warm." So, because "lukewarm" is synonymous with the second meaning of "tepid," "lukewarm" is the correct answer.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
COARSE
Rough
Soft
Short
Tall
Polite
"Coarse" means rough and can be used to describe the roughness of an object, the roughness of someone’s character, or the roughness of someone’s manners. When used to describe people, it generally means rude and uncouth. So, "rough" is the correct answer.