Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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SSAT Elementary Level Verbal › Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

GULLIBLE

Trusting

Angry

Faithful

Dishonest

Ignorant

Explanation

Someone who is “gullible” trusts other people too much and believes everything that is said to be true. It is similar to “faithful,” which means to have faith in things, but more similar to “trusting” because that means to trust everyone. To provide further help, “ignorant” means not educated or not aware of something, and “dishonest” means not honest, as you may be able to tell by the word's use of the negative prefix "dis."

2

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

NAÏVE

Innocent

Sore

Menacing

Kind

Massive

Explanation

"Naïve" means innocent and easily tricked, so "innocent" is the correct answer. To help you, "sore" means sensitive or in pain, "menacing" means scary, and "massive" means very big.

3

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

AMBITIOUS

Determined

Excellent

Immaculate

Stubborn

Aimless

Explanation

Someone who is "ambitious" is determined and sets difficult goals for themselves to achieve. So, "determined" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "ambitious": "excellent" means very good; "immaculate" means very clean; and "aimless" means without direction or focus.

4

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

VOCAL

Loud

Silent

Visible

Invisible

Untimely

Explanation

"Vocal" means loud and liking to speak one's mind, so "loud" is the correct answer. To help you, "visible" means able to be seen, and "untimely" means occurring at a bad time.

5

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

BOLD

Brave

Timid

Reserved

Youthful

Ancient

Explanation

Someone who is “bold” is brave and adventurous. To provide further help, “timid” and “reserved” both mean shy and quiet, “youthful” means young, and “ancient” means very old.

6

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

METICULOUS

Precise

Uncoordinated

Synchronized

Severed

Disastrous

Explanation

“Meticulous” means careful or paying attention to detail, which is the same as if someone is “precise,” which means paying attention to detail. So, "precise" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "meticulous": “uncoordinated” means not organized or clumsy; “synchronized” means in or on time with something; “severed” means cut off; and “disastrous” means unfortunate or terrible.

7

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

DIABOLICAL

Evil

Good

Absolve

Humorous

Kind

Explanation

"Diabolical" means evil, so "evil" is the correct answer. To help you, "absolve" means free someone from blame or guilt, and "humorous" means very funny.

8

Loyal

Faithful

Disloyal

Large

Annual

Weak

Explanation

Loyal means faithful.

9

Each of the following questions consists of one word followed by five words or phrases. You are to select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

PERSNICKETY

fussy

sneaky

messy

personal

rickets

Explanation

"Persnickety" means fussy or a desire to have things precisely as you wish.

10

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

ACTIVE

Lively

Fragile

Lonely

Jealous

Dreary

Explanation

The word “active” means lively and full of energy, so "lively" is the correct answer. To provide further help, “fragile” means easily broken; “lonely” means feeling sad about being alone; “jealous” means wanting what someone else has, and "dreary" means dull and causing one to feel sad.

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