Identifying Synonyms

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SSAT Middle Level Verbal › Identifying Synonyms

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

KEEN

Sharp-witted

Banished

Ill-tempered

Welcomed

Jocular

Explanation

"Keen" means either eager or sharp-witted. So, "sharp-witted" is the correct answer. For clarification, "banished" means sent away, and is an antonym of "welcomed," which means amiably received. "Ill-tempered" means crabby or cranky, and "jocular" means jovial, playful, or funny.

2

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters

TORRID

Stifling

Dispute

Mediocre

Frigid

Whimsical

Explanation

"Torrid" means scorching hot or extremely challenging. In this instance the best synonym for one of those meanings is “stifling” which means uncomfortably hot. For clarification, a dispute is an argument or disagreement; mediocre describes something that is average in a negative way; whimsical means silly and quirky; frigid means very cold, and is an antonym of stifling and torrid.

3

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

MALICE

Spite

Benevolence

Enjoyable

Sharpness

Ignorance

Explanation

"Malice" is a desire to inflict pain, injury, or suffering on another; therefore, "spite," which means ill will or desire to harm, is the best answer choice.

4

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

JEALOUS

Envious

Critical

Wary

Clean

Agitated

Explanation

"Jealous" and "envious" are synonyms; they both refer to the feeling of being upset by the success of someone else. "Critical" means important or serious, and "wary" means cautious or careful. "Clean" and "dirty" are antonyms, as are "agitated" and "calm."

5

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

STRIKING

Astonishing

Unremarkable

Unimportant

Unimpressive

Stalwart

Explanation

"Striking" and "astonishing" are synonyms which can be used to praise someone or something's appearance. The other answer choices do not share this meaning.

6

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

PERILOUSLY

Dangerously

Seductively

Unhappily

Joyfully

Savagely

Explanation

"Peril" means danger, so something done in a perilous manner is done in a dangerous manner. "Seductive" means attractive, and "savage" means wild. "Unhappily" and "joyfully" are antonyms.

7

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

HOSPITABLE

Welcoming

Unfriendly

Permanent

Stalwart

Apathetic

Explanation

"Hospitable" means welcoming or friendly to guests, so "welcoming" is the correct answer. "Unfriendly" is an antonym of "hospitable"; it means not nice or antagonizing others. "Permanent" means lasting forever or unchanged indefinitely. "Stalwart" means devoted and hardworking. "Apathetic" means indifferent or lacking in care.

8

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

ADEPT

Skillful

Useless

Miserly

Zealous

Capricious

Explanation

If someone is "adept" at something, they are talented and skillful at that activity. So, "skillful" is the correct answer. For clarification, "zealous" means passionate, "miserly" means not generous, and "capricious" means impulsive.

9

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

EFFICIENT

Effective

Unreliable

Dull

Wasteful

Arduous

Explanation

"Efficient" means effective without being wasteful, so "effective" is the closest synonym.

10

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

Recent

Latest

Archaic

Dependent

Deliberate

Intentional

Explanation

"Recent" means latest; Archaic means ancient; Dependent means reliance on; and Deliberate and Intentional mean done purposely.

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