ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #447 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

COVERT

Possible Answers:

Illegal 

Federal 

Hidden 

Distasteful 

Thematic

Correct answer:

Hidden 

Explanation:

Something that is "covert" is hidden, or more specifically, hidden from the general public. For example, some police officers will walk around public places in a covert manner so that they can more easily find unsuspecting criminals without being identified as police officers. So, "hidden" is the correct answer.

Example Question #448 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

SALIENT

Possible Answers:

Significant 

Circumstantial

Exquisite 

Irrelevant 

Unstable 

Correct answer:

Significant 

Explanation:

"Salient" means significant or noteworthy. To help you, "irrelevant" means not important and is an antonym of "salient." To further help you, "unstable" means not balancedmentally unbalanced, prone to experiencing problems of a psychiatric nature, or volatile; circumstantial means accidental or owed to circumstance; and "exquisite" means perfect, divine, or gorgeous.

Example Question #1001 : Identifying Synonyms

Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.

 DUBIOUS
Possible Answers:

fragile

doubtful
 

certain

superfluous
abrupt
 
Correct answer:
doubtful
 
Explanation:
If you are not too sure about something, you might be "dubious" about it, as "dubious" means expressing doubt or hesitation. Considering the potential answer choices, "abrupt" means stark or sudden, "certain" means absolutely sure, "superfluous" means extraneous, and "fragile" means breakable. So, none of these answer choices can be correct because none of them are close in meaning to "dubious." "Doubtful," however, is an adjective that means uncertain, and because "doubtful" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "dubious," "doubtful" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1002 : Identifying Synonyms

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

AMBIGUOUS

Possible Answers:

Vague

Unusual

Alien

Frustrating

Unsure

Correct answer:

Vague

Explanation:

"Ambiguous" means "vague," or indefinite and undefined.

Example Question #451 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

AMBIGUOUS

Possible Answers:

Amorphous

Vague

Elegant

Gaunt

Droll

Correct answer:

Vague

Explanation:

"Ambiguous" is an adjective that means unclear, open to interpretation, or vague. For example, one might say, "By avoiding specific details, she kept her story rather ambiguous."

Example Question #2491 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

A synonym of "incontrovertible" is __________.

Possible Answers:

belated

inconstant

irrefutable

unbelievable

possessive

Correct answer:

irrefutable

Explanation:

"Incontrovertible" is an adjective that means "not able to be denied or disputed," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "undeniable." "Unbelievable," while beginning with a negative prefix like both "incontrovertible" ("in-") and "undeniable" ("un-") do, actually means "not able to be believed; unlikely to be true," so it is an antonym of "incontrovertible" and "undeniable." "Irrefutable," however, is an adjective that means "impossible to deny or disprove," and because "irrefutable" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "incontrovertible," "irrefutable" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2492 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

EQUIVOCAL

Possible Answers:

Equal

Ambiguous

Audible

Original

Correct answer:

Ambiguous

Explanation:

The word "equivocal" means unclear in meaning due to being able to be interpreted in multiple ways. The best choice is "ambiguous," which means having more than one meaning. Something that is ambiguous is unclear because it can have multiple meanings, as is an equivocal statement. Considering the other choices, "equal" means having the same value, "audible" means able to be heard, and "original" means new or the initial one of its kind.

Example Question #2493 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

SCURRILOUS

Possible Answers:

Scamper

Offensive

Clever

Gloomy

Correct answer:

Offensive

Explanation:

The word "scurrilous" means offensive. The best choice is "offensive," as it is a part of the definition of "scurrilous." Considering the other choices, "scamper" means run about playfully, "gloomy" means saddened, and "clever" means quick-witted.

Example Question #2494 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

VITUPERATIVE

Possible Answers:

Criticized

Neglected

Abusive

Disorganized

Correct answer:

Abusive

Explanation:

The word "vituperative" means abusive. So "abusive," a word that means characterized by treating someone badly, is the correct answer. Considering the other choices, "neglected" means not having received a suitable amount of attention, "criticized" means judged harshly by another when describing something, and "disorganized" means careless.

Example Question #2495 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.

PALTRY

Possible Answers:

Sickly

Fragile

Odorous

Birdlike

Insignificant

Correct answer:

Insignificant

Explanation:

"Paltry" means having little meaning, importance, or worth or very small or meager. "Insignificant" is the only choice that has a definition similar to that of "paltry."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors