SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #391 : Synonyms

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

DONATE

Possible Answers:

Sell

Finish 

Take 

Buy 

Give 

Correct answer:

Give 

Explanation:

"Donate” means to give something to someone for free, usually someone who needs that thing more than you do, so "give" is the correct answer. While "sell" may look like a potentially correct answer, you receive money for a thing when you sell it, whereas you do not receive any money when you donate something.

Example Question #392 : Synonyms

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

SCARCE

Possible Answers:

Generous 

Rare

Inconsiderate

Thoughtful 

Common 

Correct answer:

Rare

Explanation:

“Scarce” means rare or only existing in small numbers or quantities. To provide further help, “common” is the opposite of “scarce” and means abundant and often encountered; “thoughtful” describes someone who thinks about other people’s feelings; and “inconsiderate” is the opposite of “thoughtful."

Example Question #393 : Synonyms

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

RETAIN

Possible Answers:

Squander

Attack

Abandon

Keep

Fret

Correct answer:

Keep

Explanation:

"Retain" means continue to own after a situation which might have taken something away from you, so "keep" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "retain" and the correct answer.

Example Question #394 : Synonyms

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

OBSERVE

Possible Answers:

Conceal

Watch

Frequent

Reside

Concur

Correct answer:

Watch

Explanation:

“Observe” means to watch carefully. To provide further help, “conceal” means hide; “reside” means live in a specified location; “concur” means agree with; and “frequent,” when used as a verb, means visit a location regularly.

Example Question #395 : Synonyms

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

ABOLISH

Possible Answers:

Commence

Begin

Start

Terminate

Aerate

Correct answer:

Terminate

Explanation:

"Abolish" and "terminate" both refer to ending something and are closest in meaning. The other answer choices are not synonymous with "abolish." "Aerate," for example, means to give something air.

Example Question #396 : Synonyms

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

ASSIST

Possible Answers:

Ignore

Develop

Protect

Enlist

Help

Correct answer:

Help

Explanation:

"Assist" means to help someone, making "help" the best synonym of "assist."

Incorrect Answers:

"Ignore" means to intentionally disregard, and is an antonym of "assist."

"Develop" means to grow and become more advanced.

"Protect" means to keep safe from harm.

"Enlist" means to enroll in the armed forces.

Example Question #397 : Synonyms

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

GRUESOME

Possible Answers:

Pleasant 

Horrific 

Mysterious

Unruly 

Controlling

Correct answer:

Horrific 

Explanation:

“Gruesome” means unpleasant, horrific, or disgusting, so "horrific," which means horrifying and shocking, is the correct answerTo provide further help, "pleasant" means friendly or enjoyable; "mysterious" means not fully understood and difficult to understand; "controlling" means attempting to take charge of situations one has not been put in charge of; and "unruly" means badly behaved and not following rules or directions.

Example Question #398 : Synonyms

A synonym of "plain" is . . .

Possible Answers:

ornate

unadorned

delicious

suave

stubborn

Correct answer:

unadorned

Explanation:

"Plain" is an adjective that means "not decorated or elaborate; simple or ordinary in character." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "simple" or "ordinary." "Ornate," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "ornate" means "made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "plain." "Unadorned," however, is an adjective that means "not adorned; plain," and because "unadorned" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "plain," "unadorned" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Synonyms: select the word that most closely matches.

Gentle

Possible Answers:

Sleepy

Soft

Violent

Unkind

Healthy

Correct answer:

Soft

Explanation:

Gentle and soft both relate to ones having a mild or kind nature.  They also can relate to being careful with ones touch. 

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Synonyms: select the word that most closely matches.

Active

Possible Answers:

Quiet

Still

Lazy

Focused

Moving

Correct answer:

Moving

Explanation:

Active and moving both relate to being in motion. 

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