Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

ELITIST

Snobbish

Apprehensive

Desirable

Nonplussed

Petrified

Explanation

Someone who is "elitist" is arrogant and thinks they are better than other people. The closer answer choice to this definition is "snobbish." To provide further help, "petrified" means very scared; "apprehensive" means cautious and worried; "desirable" means wanted; "nonplussed" means confused.

2

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

IRASCIBLE

Cantankerous

Tenacious

Wary

Opaque

Mirthful

Explanation

"Irascible" means cantankerous or crabby. "Tenacious" means strong-willed or determined. "Wary" means careful or cautious . "Opaque" means clouded, muddy, or hard to understand. "Mirthful" means merry or playful.

3

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

AFFABLE

genial

untrue

comical

wealthy

Explanation

Someone who is "affable" is easy to talk with and pleasant to be around. "Genial" best conveys this sense (a likable pageant contestant might be named "Miss Congeniality"—a related word).

4

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

VULNERABLE

susceptible

veteran

painstaking

morose

Explanation

Vulnerable means susceptible to physical or emotional harm.

5

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

CAPRICIOUS

Fickle

Dreary

Ephemeral

Insolent

Reverent

Explanation

"Capricious" means changing one's mood in a fickle, unpredictable manner, so the answer choice that is its best synonym is "fickle," or changing frequently.

6

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

INTRACTABLE

Umanageable

Complex

Indefatigable

Magnanimous

Strenuous

Explanation

"Intractable" means difficult or burdensome; therefore, "unmanageable" is the best answer.

7

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

RESOLUTE

Steadfast

Voted

Agreed

Tacit

Difficult

Explanation

The word "resolute" comes from similar roots as "resolve" and "resolution." These words mean in general to come to a determined decision. The particular adjective "resolute" describes someone who has decided in a fixed and unchanging manner. Thus, the best answer is "steadfast," which describes someone in a similar manner.

8

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

DILIGENT

Industrious

Devoted

Regular

Fixated

Delightful

Explanation

When someone is "diligent," he or she is devoted to his or her work. Now, while this would likely make you think that "devoted" would be the best option, actually "industrious" is slightly better. When someone is "industrious," he or she is works with great care and devotion. This expresses the role of work in the devotion better than the simple word "devoted."

9

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

LAX

Negligent

Odious

Prolific

Remorseless

Tedious

Explanation

“Lax” means negligent, not giving enough attention to something, or not taking something seriously enough, so "negligent" is the best synonym amongst the answer choices. As for the other answer choices, “odious” means unpleasant, revolting, or disgusting; “prolific” means able to produce a large quantity of something quickly; “tedious” means dull and boring; and “remorseless” means not feeling guilty about one's actions.

10

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

HAUGHTY

Conceited

Overstated

Wealthy

Affluent

Prosperous

Explanation

While one might think that “haughty” is related to someone being wealthy, what it generally means is that someone has a “high opinion” of himself or herself. Such a person would judge others as being “beneath” him or her. An adequate description of such a “haughty person” would be “conceited,” which means “being very proud, judging one’s abilities to be great.”

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