SSAT Middle Level Verbal › Identifying Synonyms
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
"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.
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters
TORRID
Stifling
Dispute
Mediocre
Frigid
Whimsical
"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.
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
MALICE
Spite
Benevolence
Enjoyable
Sharpness
Ignorance
"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.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
JEALOUS
Envious
Critical
Wary
Clean
Agitated
"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."
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
STRIKING
Astonishing
Unremarkable
Unimportant
Unimpressive
Stalwart
"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.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PERILOUSLY
Dangerously
Seductively
Unhappily
Joyfully
Savagely
"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.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
HOSPITABLE
Welcoming
Unfriendly
Permanent
Stalwart
Apathetic
"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.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
ADEPT
Skillful
Useless
Miserly
Zealous
Capricious
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.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EFFICIENT
Effective
Unreliable
Dull
Wasteful
Arduous
"Efficient" means effective without being wasteful, so "effective" is the closest synonym.
Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.
Recent
Latest
Archaic
Dependent
Deliberate
Intentional
"Recent" means latest; Archaic means ancient; Dependent means reliance on; and Deliberate and Intentional mean done purposely.