ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Synonyms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Lower Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #651 : Synonyms

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

CONTRARY

Possible Answers:

Opposite

Cooperative

Stubborn

Wary

Similar

Correct answer:

Opposite

Explanation:

"Contrary" means opposite or willfully refusing to agree, so "opposite" is the correct answer. You can also figure this out by thinking of the phrase "on the contrary," which is used to introduce information that considers the topic of conversation from an opposing viewpoint. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "contrary": "cooperative" means working together toward a common goal; "stubborn" means refusing to change one's mind even when given good evidence or reasons to do so; and "wary" means cautious or careful.

Example Question #652 : Synonyms

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

OMINOUS

Possible Answers:

Menacing 

Sorrowful

Auspicious

Obnoxious 

Correct answer:

Menacing 

Explanation:

The word "ominous" means threatening or suggesting that something bad is going to happen; therefore, "menacing," which also means threatening, is the word that most closely matches the definition of "ominous." "Auspicious," which means favorable or promising, is the opposite of "ominous," and therefore incorrect. "Sorrowful," which means feeling or showing sadness, and "obnoxious" are unrelated to the definition of "ominous" and therefore also incorrect.  

Example Question #653 : Synonyms

A synonym of "contrary" is . . .

Possible Answers:

purposeful

judicious

similar

surprising

opposite

Correct answer:

opposite

Explanation:

"Contrary" is an adjective that means "opposite in nature, direction, or meaning," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "opposite." "Similar" cannot be the correct answer because "similar" is an antonym of "opposite," but because "opposite" is one of the answer choices, and the answer choice closest in meaning to "contrary," "opposite" is the correct answer.

Example Question #654 : Synonyms

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

DEFICIENT

Possible Answers:

Obsolete

Negative 

Positive

Courteous

Lacking 

Correct answer:

Lacking 

Explanation:

Deficient means lacking or missing something. To further help you, courteous means polite; obsolete means no longer useful or out of date; negative means bad; positive means good.

Example Question #655 : Synonyms

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

SUBLIME

Possible Answers:

Subsidiary

Subordinate

Magnificent

Last

Secondary

Correct answer:

Magnificent

Explanation:

"Sublime" means awe-inspiring or overwhelmingly magnificent. "Magnificent" is the best match because it means impressive or spectacular.

Example Question #656 : Synonyms

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

CONTRARY

Possible Answers:

Opposing 

Diabolical 

Manipulating

Encouraging 

Supporting 

Correct answer:

Opposing 

Explanation:

“Contrary” is similar in meaning to "opposing." It is commonly heard in the expression, “on the contrary,” meaning in opposition to what someone is saying. To provide further help, “encouraging” means offering support; “manipulating” means controlling or tricking; “diabolical” means evil. You could say that someone who is always trying to “manipulate” others is very “diabolical.”

Example Question #657 : Synonyms

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

EQUIVALENT

Possible Answers:

Identical

Judged

Mathematical

Resembling

Related

Correct answer:

Identical

Explanation:

The word "equivalent" has a base that is certainly quite familiar to you: "equ-" as used in "equal," "equally," and so forth. When two things are "equivalent," they are the same, like 2 and 1 + 1.  Equivalence indicates a greater degree of correspondence than mere similarity. Two people might be similar in appearance, but equivalence is strict equality. Therefore, the best option among those given is "identical," which indicates such strict equivalence.

Example Question #658 : Synonyms

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

BIZARRE

Possible Answers:

unusual

familiar

crowded

common

Correct answer:

unusual

Explanation:

"Bizarre" means strange or unusual. This word is often used to describe appearances. "Common" and "familiar," which mean usual or encountered often, refer to things that you see often or have seen before, and are opposites of the answer we want. Finally, "crowded" might be used to describe an event packed with lots of people.

Example Question #658 : Synonyms

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

DETRIMENTAL

Possible Answers:

Damaging

Liberating

Seldom

Possessively

Correct answer:

Damaging

Explanation:

"Detrimental" means likely to cause injury or damage; therefore, "damaging" is the word that most closely matches the definition of "detrimental." "Liberating," which means freeing, and "seldom," which means rarely, are unrelated to the definition, as is "possessively."

Example Question #321 : Synonyms: Adjectives

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

DESPICABLE

Possible Answers:

Terrible

Ugly

Dark

Bubbly

Serious

Correct answer:

Terrible

Explanation:

"Despicable" means to be loathsome, or deserving of hate. The word that most closely takes on this meaning is "terrible," which is something that is very bad. While both "ugly" (repulsive-looking) and "terrible" are negative terms, something that is "ugly" is not necessarily "despicable." Similarly, something that is "dark" or "serious" would also not be "despicable."

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