ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #381 : Synonyms

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

AVARICE

Possible Answers:

Envy

Greed

Love

Pride

Fortune

Correct answer:

Greed

Explanation:

"Avarice" means greed. Someone who is "avaricious" is greedy. "Fortune" is related to "avarice," they are not synonyms, not all avaricious people possess a fortune, and not all fortunate people are avaricious (note also that fortune refers to wealth and luck, not just wealth). "Love" is an emotion unrelated to "avarice." "Envy" is closer in meaning to jealousy than it is to "avarice."

Example Question #382 : Synonyms

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

LASSITUDE

Possible Answers:

Venal

Sinecure

Lethargy

Pantheon

Prophecy

Correct answer:

Lethargy

Explanation:

"Lassitude" is a state of physical or mental exhaustion, lethargy. To provide further help, a "prophecy" is a prediction; a "pantheon" is a group of Gods within a religion; a "sinecure" is an easy job; "venal" means corrupt

Example Question #383 : Synonyms

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

EXPLETIVE

Possible Answers:

Amnesty

Infamy

Profanity

Calamity

Enmity

Correct answer:

Profanity

Explanation:

An "expletive" is a swear word, a curse word. So the closest correct answer is "profanity." To provide further help, "infamy" is the quality of being famous for the wrong reasons; a "calamity" is a disaster, a farce; "enmity" means hostility; an "amnesty" is a pardon for an offense

Example Question #384 : Synonyms

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

TREPIDATION

Possible Answers:

Honesty

Dread

Envy

Suspicion

Remorse

Correct answer:

Dread

Explanation:

"Trepidation" means dread, a feeling of great unease and anxiety that something bad will happen. "Remorse" is a similarly negative feeling, but it is reserved for sadness about events that have already transpired.

Example Question #385 : Synonyms

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

AUSTERITY

Possible Answers:

Trajectory

Luminary

Excellency

Severity

Travesty

Correct answer:

Severity

Explanation:

"Austerity" means severity or sternness. To provide further help, a "trajectory" is the expected path of something that is moving; a "travesty" is a mockery, an injustice; "luminary" means notable, important in a certain area

Example Question #386 : Synonyms

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

VOGUE

Possible Answers:

Politics

Economics

Recreation

Culture

Fashion

Correct answer:

Fashion

Explanation:

"Vogue," when used as a noun, means fashion, style, rage, trend. It can also be used as an adjective in which case it's meaning is very similar, it means fashionable or cool. "Culture" refers to any kind of culture (arts, fashion, shared experiences, media), fashionable or otherwise.

Example Question #387 : Synonyms

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

PARSIMONY

Possible Answers:

Generosity

Selflessness

Selfishness

Thoughtfulness

Cheapness

Correct answer:

Cheapness

Explanation:

"Parsimony" means not inclined towards spending money, cheapness. "Generosity" is a rough antonym to parsimony. It is almost impossible to be generous, free with one's goods or money; willing to give to others, if you are "parsimonious." Selfishness" is similar in spirit to "parsimony," but parsimony has a specific meaning related to money, which is not true of "selfishness."

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs

Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

HONOR

Possible Answers:

revere

repudiate

solace

accept

portend

Correct answer:

revere

Explanation:

Repudiate means to reject, solace is peace, and portend means to predict. The word that is a synonym of honor is revere. 

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs

Answer the following sample question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

CAPITULATE

Possible Answers:

concede

emulate

waver

fawn

occlude

Correct answer:

concede

Explanation:

"Capitulate" means to concede or surrender. "Emulate" means to copy the actions of someone or something. "Fawn" means to serve or ingratiate oneself to another. "Occlude" means to block or prevent. "Waver" means to shift back and forth or be indecisive

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

CHIDE

Possible Answers:

censor

endure

scold

entangle

Correct answer:

scold

Explanation:

To "chide" someone is to express disapproval or to scold. Chiding is a relatively-mild form of correction; harsher criticism might warrant a stronger verb like "rebuke," "castigate," or "upbraid."

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