Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits - SSAT Upper Level Verbal

"Spontaneous" is an adjective that means "performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus," so we need to pick out a word that means about the same thing - roughly, "unplanned." While "premeditated" might seem like a good answer because like "spontaneous," it has to do with preparation, "premeditated" actually means "thought out or planned beforehand" and often is used to refer to crimes. So, "premeditated" is an antonym of "spontaneous" and is not the word we're looking for. "Extemporaneous," on the other hand, is an adjective that means "spoken or done without preparation," and since it is closest in meaning to "spontaneous," it is the correct answer.

Since "cantankerous" means "bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative," we're looking for another adjective that means "bad-tempered." While "condescending" may sound like a potentially correct answer, "condescending" actually means "having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority." Since "condescending" doesn't mean "bad-tempered," it can't be the right answer. "Querulous," however, means "complaining in a petulant or whining manner," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "cantankerous," it is the correct answer.

"Belligerent" is an adjective meaning "angry and aggressive; feeling or showing readiness to fight," so we should pick out another word that means "aggressive." While "assertive" and "confrontational" might both look like potentially correct answers, "confrontational" is the better answer. This is because "assertive" means "confident in behavior in style," and is thus not a synonym of "belligerent," while "confrontational" means "tending to deal with situations in an aggressive way; hostile or argumentative," which is synonymous with "belligerent."

While "unfair" and "unbiased" may look like similar answer choices, they are actually antonyms. Since "evenhanded" means impartial when judging, "unbiased" is its closest synonym amongst the answer choices, as it means fair—specifically, showing no preferences or inclinations towards or against something. So, the correct answer is "unbiased."

While both "heartless" and "annoyed" may seem like potential synonyms for "callous," "callous" is an adjective meaning "showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others," so "heartless" is the best answer, because its meaning is closer to "callous" than that of "annoyed" is.

"Haughty" is an adjective that means disdainful, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "disdainful." While "dignified" may seem like a potentially correct answer choice, "dignified" means serious and stately, not disdainful, so "dignified" cannot be the correct answer. "Snobbish," however, is an adjective that means pretentious and disdainful. Because "snobbish" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "haughty," "snobbish" is the correct answer.

"Puerile" is an adjective that means "childishly silly and trivial," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "silly" or "trivial." Since "silly" is one of the possible answer choices and none of the other answer choices mean "silly" or "trivial," "silly" is the best—and correct—answer.

"Feral" means untamed, or "wild."

"Gregarious" is used to describe people who are outgoing, or "sociable."

"Irascible" means easily angered, or "irritable."

Winsome means attractive, appealing, or charming.

"Bellicose" means demonstrating willingness to fight, aggressive.

"Corrupt" means lacking in integrity, or dishonest.

"Docile" means ready to accept control, or obedient.

"Fastidious" means very attentive to detail, or perfectionist.

"Maladroit" means ineffective, bungling, or clumsy.

"Taciturn"means reserved in speech, or untalkative.

"Tranquil" means free from disturbance, or calm.

"Wily" means shrewd and clever, or "cunning."