Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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SSAT Upper 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.

CAPRICIOUS

Fickle

Avid

Dulcet

Irascible

Petulant

Explanation

"Capricious" means unpredictable or "fickle." "Petulant" and "irascible" both mean irritable, peevish. "Dulcet" is used to describe sweet, pleasant sounds. "Avid" means keen and eager.

2

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

UNCOUTH

Rude

Avaricious

Captious

Ebullient

Holy

Explanation

"Uncouth" means "rude," uncivilized, or unrefined. "Avaricious" means greedy, and "captious" means prone to nitpick or quibble over even the tiniest detail. Another word for "holy" is sacrosanct. Another word for "ebullient" is overjoyed.

3

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

DISCURSIVE

Rambling

Harmful

Exhaustive

Patterned

Modest

Explanation

“Discursive” means rambling or lacking order, so "rambling" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to “discursive”. “Harmful” means damaging. “Exhaustive” means thorough. “Patterned” means decorated with a recurring design. “Modest” means unpretentious or humble.

4

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

PETULANT

Peevish

Clever

Dangerous

Maniacal

Challenging

Explanation

"Petulant" means bad-tempered, childish, or peevish, so "peevish," which means sullen or crabby, is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "petulant" and "peevish": "clever" means shrewd or smart; "dangerous" means potentially causing harm; "maniacal" means insane; and "challenging" means difficult.

5

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

FEISTY

Lively

Depressed

Radiant

Bad-tempered

Fertile

Explanation

"Fiesty" means lively or spunky, so "lively," which means full of energy, is the correct answer. "Depressed" means sad and gloomy. "Radiant" means bright or very shiny. "Bad-tempered" means easily irritated or upset. "Fertile" means fruitful, able to produce a lot of crops, or capable of conceiving.

6

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

INTRANSIGENT

Stubborn

Ludicrous

Enervated

Invigorated

Amicable

Explanation

"Intransigent" is another word for "stubborn" or recalcitrant. "Amicable" means amiable or friendly. "Ludicrous" means absurd, ridiculous, and laughable. "Invigorated," or strong, is an antonym for "enervated," or weak.

7

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

DISCREET

Inconspicuous

Separate

Monstrous

Hideous

Reckless

Explanation

Someone who is "discreet" is cautious or inconspicuous. This is an antonym of "reckless." "Hideous" means very ugly, and "monstrous" means monster-like. "Discrete," a different word from "discreet," can be used to mean separate and distinct from something else.

8

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

SEDULOUS

Hardworking

Aggressive

Infuriating

Lazy

Indolent

Explanation

"Sedulous," like diligent, is a word that means "hardworking." "Indolent" is an antonym that means lazy. "Aggressive" and "antagonistic" are synonyms. "Infuriating" means maddening.

9

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

SOLIPSISTIC

Self-centered

Self-assured

Lurid

Self-possessed

Deleterious

Explanation

"Solipsistic" means egotistical or focused on the self. "Confident" means self-assured, as does "self-possessed." "Lurid" is a synonym for bright, colorful, sensational, or overly dramatic. "Deleterious" means harmful.

10

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

IMPERTINENT

Insolent

Saccharine

Impartial

Prophetic

Depraved

Explanation

"Impertinent" and "insolent" are synonyms. "Saccharine" means overly sweet or sentimental. "Depraved" means corrupt or morally degenerate. "Impartial" and "unbiased" are synonyms, as are "prophetic" and "farsighted."

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