SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of "drastic" is __________.

Possible Answers:

clear

energetic

moderate

tired

extreme

Correct answer:

extreme

Explanation:

"Drastic" is an adjective that means "severe or serious," so we need to pick out another adjective that means "severe or serious." While "moderate" also has to do with degrees of seriousness, "moderate" means "not serious." Because "moderate" means the opposite of "drastic," it can't be the right answer. "Extreme," on the other hand, means "very serious or severe," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "drastic," it is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

A synonym of "complex" is __________.

Possible Answers:

quiet

youthful

simple

intricate

boisterous

Correct answer:

intricate

Explanation:

The word "complex," when used as an adjective, means "having parts that connect or go together in complicated ways," or "not easy to understand or explain: not simple." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "having many connected parts" or "not simple." Since "intricate" means "having many parts" or "very complicated or detailed," "intricate" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "complex," so "intricate" is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

A synonym of "ravenous" is __________.

Possible Answers:

fowl

satiated

raven-like

famished

migratory

Correct answer:

famished

Explanation:

"Ravenous" is an adjective that means "extremely hungry," so we need to pick out an answer choice that also means "extremely hungry." While "raven-like" might look like the correct answer because "ravenous" contains the word "raven," the meaning of "ravenous" doesn't have to do with ravens, so "raven-like" can't be the correct answer. "Famished," however, means "extremely hungry," so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

A synonym of "precise" is __________.

Possible Answers:

prepared

crude

exact

forgetful

early

Correct answer:

exact

Explanation:

"Precise" is an adjective meaning "marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail," or "exact, accurate, and careful about details" when referring to people, or "used to emphasize that one is referring to an exact and particular thing" (such as in "at that precise location"). So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "exact," or is used to indicate particular things. Since "exact" is a synonym of "precise," "exact" is the correct answer.

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of "treacherous" is __________.

Possible Answers:

perceptive

surprising

loud

wonderful

dangerous

Correct answer:

dangerous

Explanation:

"Treacherous" is an adjective with two different meanings: "guilty of or involving betrayal or deception," or "hazardous because of presenting hidden or unpredictable dangers," which is used to describe things like ground, water, or conditions. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "hazardous." Since "dangerous" means the same thing as "hazardous," "dangerous" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "treacherous" and the correct answer.

Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of "extraneous" is __________.

Possible Answers:

accidental

unrelated

bendable

necessary

probable

Correct answer:

unrelated

Explanation:

"Extraneous" is an adjective meaning "irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with," "of external origin," or "separate from the object to which it is attached." Since "unrelated" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "extraneous," "unrelated" is the correct answer.

Example Question #401 : Synonyms

Which word could have a similar meaning to the underlined word in the sentence?

I ate a hearty meal for lunch.  

Possible Answers:

small

satisfying

tiny

bland

None of the above

Correct answer:

satisfying

Explanation:

Satisfying can be plugged into the sentence to maintain the correct meaning. 

Example Question #402 : Synonyms

Which word could have a similar meaning to the underlined word in the sentence?

They were in a minor car accident, and nobody got hurt.  

Possible Answers:

None of the above

small

terrifying

large

dangerous

Correct answer:

small

Explanation:

"Minor" can only be replaced by the word "small," to maintain the meaning of the sentence.

Example Question #403 : Synonyms

A synonym of “fortuitous” is __________.

Possible Answers:

purposeful

sneaky

colorful

lucky

tired

Correct answer:

lucky

Explanation:

“Fortuitous” is an adjective hat means either “happening by accident or chance rather than design” or, informally, “happening by a lucky chance; fortunate,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “happening by accident” or “fortunate.” That means that “purposeful” cannot be the correct answer, because “purposeful” can mean “intentional,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “fortuitous.” “Lucky,” however, is an adjective that means “having, bringing, or resulting from good luck,” and because “lucky” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “fortuitous,” “lucky” is the correct answer.

Example Question #404 : Synonyms

Which word could have a similar meaning to the underlined word?

The elegant bracelet shimmered in the moonlight.

Possible Answers:

None of the above

dull

fancy

ugly

boring

Correct answer:

fancy

Explanation:

"Fancy" could be substituted into the sentence to maintain a similar meaning. 

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