SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #3056 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

FAR-FETCHED

Possible Answers:

Improbable

Expected

Operational

Languishing

Proportionate

Correct answer:

Improbable

Explanation:

“Far-fetched” is an adjective that means implausible, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like unlikely. That means that “expected” cannot be the correct answer, because “expected” means thought of as likely to occur, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “far-fetched.” “Improbable,” however, is an adjective that means either not likely to occur or be true, and because “improbable” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “far-fetched,” “improbable” is the correct answer.

Example Question #3057 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

CONFOUNDING

Possible Answers:

Considerate 

Benevolent 

Ponderous

Noteworthy 

Puzzling 

Correct answer:

Puzzling 

Explanation:

“Confounding” means confusing or puzzling, so "puzzling" is the correct answer. For clarification, "ponderous" means very slow or overelaborate; "noteworthy" means significant; "benevolent" means possessing a good or virtuous nature; and "considerate" means thoughtful.

Example Question #2303 : Synonyms

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

CONTENTIOUS

Possible Answers:

renowned

forgiving

ill-timed

remarkable

controversial

Correct answer:

controversial

Explanation:

"Contentious" means likely to cause argument, or controversial.

Example Question #3058 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

VIABLE

Possible Answers:

Influential

Courageous

Tremendous

Manifold

Feasible

Correct answer:

Feasible

Explanation:

"Viable" means realistic and capable of meeting with success, or "feasible."

Example Question #3059 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

SALIENT

Possible Answers:

Elegant 

Significant 

Flavorful

Salty

Corporeal

Correct answer:

Significant 

Explanation:

“Salient” means significant or noticeable. For clarification, "corporeal" means concerning bodily things (especially in contrast to spiritual things) and "elegant" means sophisticated and graceful.

Example Question #3061 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

LIMPID

Possible Answers:

Ornery

Intrepid

Listless 

Lucid 

Laconic

Correct answer:

Lucid 

Explanation:

Something expressed in a “limpid” way is expressed clearly and lucidly and easily understood. So the correct answer is “lucid” which also means clear. For clarification, "listless" means lacking energy; "laconic" means terse or brief; "ornery" means irritable or bad-tempered; "intrepid" means adventurous.

Example Question #3062 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

LUCID

Possible Answers:

Risky

Timid

Intelligible

Insane

Cloudy

Correct answer:

Intelligible

Explanation:

"Lucid" means expressed clearly, or intelligible.

Example Question #3063 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

LUCID

Possible Answers:

Mandatory

Clear

Shameful

Mystified 

Healthy

Correct answer:

Clear

Explanation:

"Lucid" means clear.  

Example Question #3064 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

GLIB

Possible Answers:

Silly

Fortified

Unsure

Weak

Flippant

Correct answer:

Flippant

Explanation:

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

Example Question #3065 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

SPURIOUS

Possible Answers:

Enraged

Fixated

Dissected

False

Underwhelmed

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

"Spurious" means counterfeit or untrue. (Example: "The paper was full of spurious claims, and Francis wasn't surprised that the argument's evidence was lacking, as evidence would have contradicted its claims.") Therefore, "false" is the best synonym.

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