Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Timing, Speed, Movement, and Age - ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

"Inconvenient" is an adjective consisting of the negative prefix "in-" and "convenient," so we can infer that it means something like "not convenient"; it actually means "causing trouble, difficulties, or discomfort." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "not convenient" or "causing trouble." "Timely," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "timely" is an adjective that means "done or occurring at a favorable or useful time; opportune," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "inconvenient." "Inopportune," however, is an adjective that consists of the negative prefix "in-" and "opportune," so it means "not opportune," or more specifically, "occurring at an inconvenient or inappropriate time." Because "inopportune" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "inconvenient," "inopportune" is the correct answer.

"Tardy" means late.

The correct answer is "speedy," or in a quick manner, as "swift" means occurring or moving very quickly. "Slow" is an opposite of "swift" and "dance" is not related in meaning to "swift" at all. While to "run" does mean to move quickly, "run" is a verb and "swift" is an adjective, so their meanings are very different.

Something that is "chronic" continues for a long time. "Continual" is a synonym of "chronic." "Time" is not as good a choice because it refers to the general concept of time and not any length of time. "Old" also does not work here because it means great in age and does not refer to an ongoing process like the words "chronic" and "continual" do.

"Intermediate" means in the middle or in-between, so _t_he best choice is "in-between" which also means in the middle . Don't confuse the word "meddle," which means to interfere, with the word "middle."

The word "sluggish" means slow or lazy. "Slow" is the best choice, as it is a part of the definition of "sluggish." Considering the other choices, "stiff" means rigid . While it may seem related, the word "sluggish" describes some sort of motion, though very little, while "stiff" does not. "Active" is an antonym of the word "sluggish." "Slug" is only related because sluggish means slug-like, as in as slow as a slug.

"Frequent" means happening again and again with little time in between events. Anorther word for "frequent" is often, so "often" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, "jealous" means envious or wanting what someone else has, "usually" means under normal circumstances, a "burrow" is a hole in the ground that certain animals dig and live in, and to "burrow" means to dig a hole in the ground, and "modest" means not taking as much credit as one should for one's achievements or talent.

Primitive means having to do with the early history of the world or of humanity, or simple and relatively undeveloped. "Ancient" means extremely old, so "ancient" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "primitive."

Seldom means rarely or not often happening, so "rarely" is the correct answer. To help you, "impressive" means demanding notice, striking, or great.

In this question, the word "novel" is being used as an adjective, meaning new or inventive. The only word with a similar meaning is "innovative_,"_ which means original or new. "Celebrated" means renowned, while "literary"means having to do with literature or reading, and was meant to throw you off if you had only seen the stem word as a noun (meaning a book-length work of fiction) rather than as an adjective. "Puzzling" means confusing or perplexing .

"Regular" is an adjective that means occurring at even intervals, frequent, or usual. So, the answer choice closest in meaning to "regular" is "usual," an adjective that means typically occurring . None of the other answers are close in meaning to "regular": "atypical" is an antonym of "regular" and means not typical ; "regulated" means controlled; and "trite" means unoriginal.

The prefix "ultra-" means super or excessively, so “ultramodern” means extremely modern. Of the five answer choices, this is closest in meaning to “innovative,” which means original, modern, genius, offbeat. To provide further help, an “allusion” is an indirect reference to something; an “aqueduct” is a pipe that brings water from a natural source to a community; “assimilation” is the process of becoming part of a new culture after you move there; “apolitical” means not political, uninterested in politics.

“Consecutive” means occurring in order, one after the other. This is closest in meaning to “successive.” To provide further help, “incoherent” means not able to be understood; “comparable” means able to be compared, similar; “consensus” means agreement; “proclivity” means tendency of doing something.

The prefix "ir-" is a negation prefix, so “irreversible” has the opposite meaning of “reversible.” Since “reversible” means able to be reversed, able to be changed back, then “irreversible” means not able to be changed, or “permanent.” To provide further help, “temporary” is an antonym of “permanent;” “mercurial” means enigmatic, hard to predict; “enigmatic” means mysterious; “lackadaisical” means lazy or careless.

"Urgent" means pressing or immediate, so "pressing" is the correct answer. "Urgent" has a meaning different from that of "repetitive," which means tedious due to repetition,"steady," which means unvarying or consistent; and "unending," which means not having an end or lasting for a very long time.

Someone who is "sluggish" is lazy and slow, so "lazy" is the correct answer.None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "sluggish": "debilitated" means_weakened_ or hindered; "depressed" means feeling sad over a period of time or having the condition depression; and "dull" means boring or blunt.

Something "permanent" will remain a certain way for a long time. The other answer choices have meanings as follows: "partial" means _only a part of something; "_delayed" means late; and "occasional" means occurring infrequently.

The word "mature" or "maturity" are used to describe the character traits that come to something as it ages. In some ways, we talk about "mature" people, but in others, we can talk about "mature" fruits or cheese—cheese or fruits that have "come of age" and are now usesful. A number of the options try to trick you into choosing an answer based merely on age. Remember, though, maturity does not necessarily come with age. For example, you might know someone who is twenty years older than you but who never does any work and always relies upon other people. We would be quite wrong to call such a person mature.

Certainly, we can talk about "emotional maturity," which is a type of maturity. Someone who always gets angry or moody is probably not very emotionally mature. However, another general meaning for "mature" is "dependable." A mature person is someone who accepts responsibilities and can be depended upon to follow through on promises. This is the best option among those options given.

Something that happens “frequently” happens often, so "frequent" means "often." The word “pesky” means troublesome, like “a pesky wasp”; and “frantic” means hurried or rushed due to being very worried about something.

"Annual" comes from the Latin word for year, so it makes sense that "annual" means happening yearly. This means that "yearly" is the correct answer. Something that happens “biweekly” happens every two weeks, as the prefix "bi-" means two, and "timely" means well-timed and convenient.