Synonyms

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SSAT Upper Level: Verbal › Synonyms

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

ACUTE

Sharp

Small

Winding

Mysterious

Passive

Explanation

Acute means sharp or crucial.

2

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

ANTIQUATED

Outdated

Unmanageable

Ghastly

Troubled

Despised

Explanation

If something is "antiquated," it is old-fashioned or out of date.

The 200 year old house’s antiquated heating system still used coal as its fuel source.

So "outdated" is the best answer.

3

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

DISARMING

Beguiling

Unwitting

Hazardous

Imminent

Aggressive

Explanation

"Disarming" can mean charming, persuasive, or beguiling and often describes someone's smile or demeanor. "Unwitting," on the other hand, means unaware. Don't confuse "disarming" with weapons and choose "aggressive" or "hazardous." "Imminent" means forthcoming or impending.

4

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

ECUMENICAL

catholic

Tyrannical

Exuberant

Irrelevant

Germane

Explanation

"Ecumenical" and "catholic" both mean all-encompassing, universal. (Don't confuse catholic with "Catholic," a specific religious denomination.) "Germane" is an antonym for "irrelevant." "Exuberant" means overjoyed, while "tyrannical" means authoritarian and cruel.

5

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

ABOMINABLE

Loathsome

Venerable

Wizened

Quixotic

Undeserving

Explanation

The adjective "abominable" means horrible, gruesome, detestable and "loathsome." Additionally, "wizened" means weakened and wrinkled with age; "quixotic" means unrealistic, extremely impractical, based on romantic notions; "venerable" means deeply respected due to age and experience.

6

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

ESOTERIC

Arcane

Torpid

Ingenuous

Pervasive

Truculent

Explanation

The adjective "esoteric" means understood by only a small number of people, arcane and privileged knowledge. The correct answer is therefore "arcane." Additionally, "ingenuous" means naive, easily misled by others; "truculent" means aggressive, quick to anger, eager to fight; "torpid" means inactive, sluggish, lacking energy; "pervasive" means spread throughout.

7

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

SUSTAINED

ongoing

threatening

succesional

regal

jovial

Explanation

Sustained means continuous or ongoing.

8

Synonyms: choose the answer closest in meaning to the word in question.

ABSURD

Ridiculous

Amiable

Shocked

Detached

Vague

Explanation

"Absurd" means unreasonable or ridiculous. "Amiable" means friendly. "Shocked" means to be surprised. "Detached" means not connected or unconcerned. "Vague" means not clear or hard to understand.

9

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

COGNIZANT

Aware

Desperate

Inward

Ominous

Deleterious

Explanation

The adjective "cognizant" means aware of. Additionally, "ominous" means suggesting something bad will happen, portentous, threatening; "deleterious" means causing harm, injurious.

10

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

GLIB

Flippant

Silly

Unsure

Weak

Fortified

Explanation

"Glib"means speaking a lot but in an insincere and flippant way, so "flippant," meaning facetious and rude, is the correct answer.

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