SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #471 : Synonyms

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

BLUNT

Possible Answers:

Stubborn

Straightforward 

Sympathetic 

Calculating 

Silent 

Correct answer:

Straightforward 

Explanation:

"Blunt" means expressing things clearly and honestly, which is also the definition of “straightforward.” So, "straightforward" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "blunt": "stubborn" means not changing one's mind or plan even when urged to; "calculating" means cunning; "sympathetic" means thinking about other people’s feelings, and "silent" means making no noise.

Example Question #472 : Synonyms

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

AUTHENTIC

Possible Answers:

Unsuccessful 

Real 

Phony 

Fake 

Lucky 

Correct answer:

Real 

Explanation:

“Authentic” means real or genuine. To provide further help, “phony” means the same thing as “fake," and “unsuccessful” means not completed or failed.

Example Question #473 : Synonyms

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

STRAIGHTFORWARD

Possible Answers:

Furious 

Simple 

Savage 

Comely 

Deceitful

Correct answer:

Simple 

Explanation:

“Straightforward” can mean honest when used to describe a person, or simple and easily accomplished when used to describe a task. To provide further help, “deceitful” means dishonest; “comely” means cute; “savage” means wild and vicious; and “furious” means very angry.

Example Question #474 : Synonyms

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

LEGITIMATE

Possible Answers:

Doubtful

Playful

Valid

Dizzy

Intense

Correct answer:

Valid

Explanation:

“Legitimate” is a word that can be used as an adjective or as a verb, but because all of the answer choices are adjectives, that means that we will need to consider “legitimate” as an adjective. When used as an adjective, “legitimate” can mean “conforming to the law or to rules” or “able to be defended with logic or justification,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “legal,” “logical,” or “justifiable.” That means that “doubtful” cannot be the correct answer, because “doubtful” is an adjective that can mean “not established as genuine or acceptable,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “legitimate.” “Valid,” however, is adjective that can mean “having a sound basis in logic or fact; reasonable or cogent,” when used of an argument or a point, or “legally and officially acceptable.” “Valid” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “legitimate,” so “valid” is the correct answer.

Example Question #475 : Synonyms

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

AIMLESS

Possible Answers:

Meaningful 

Helpless 

Hopeful 

Hopeless 

Pointless 

Correct answer:

Pointless 

Explanation:

Aimless means pointless or without a purpose; you might be able to infer this because the word is a combination of "aim," which can mean purpose or goal, and the suffix "-less," which means without. So, "pointless" is the correct answer becuase it means without a point or purpose. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "aimless": "meaningful "means important; "hopeful" means optimistic, and "helpless" means pitiful or incapable of defending oneself.

Example Question #476 : Synonyms

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

FALSE

Possible Answers:

Inhumane

Authentic

Unfounded

Awful

Terrible

Correct answer:

Unfounded

Explanation:

"False" and "unfounded" are synonyms. "Unfounded" refers to a claim that is not based in truth. The other words do not share this meaning.

Example Question #477 : Synonyms

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

UNREAL

Possible Answers:

Unholy

Unclear

Imaginary

Underground

Useless

Correct answer:

Imaginary

Explanation:

The words "unreal" and "imaginary" are synonymous. They refer to things that do not have a physical reality. The word "unholy" refers to something that does not accord with religious beliefs. "Unclear" refers to something that is confusing; "useless" refers to something that has no use. "Underground" refers to something that is under the ground, like a basement.

Example Question #478 : Synonyms

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

ACCURATE

Possible Answers:

Correct

Developed

Decisive

Similar

Partial

Correct answer:

Correct

Explanation:

The word closest in meaning to ACCURATE is "correct." "Accurate" means correct or exact.

"Decisive" means making decisions quickly.

If you have a "partial" answer or a "partial" payment, you only have part of it. "Partial" means incomplete.

"Developed" means advanced, or elaborated upon.

"Similar" means alike. Words that are synonyms are "similar."

Example Question #479 : Synonyms

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

AMBIGUOUS

Possible Answers:

Unclear

Standardized 

Definitive 

Manageable 

Finite 

Correct answer:

Unclear

Explanation:

"Ambiguous" most nearly means unclear or vague. It can also refer to a word or phrasing that has more than one meaning. "Finite," "definitive," and "standardized" all refer to something that is constant and in its final state and are therefore antonyms. "Manageable" refers to something that can be controlled and is not related to "ambiguous."

Example Question #480 : Synonyms

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

EXOTIC

Possible Answers:

Minimal 

Foreign 

Federal

Correct 

Global 

Correct answer:

Foreign 

Explanation:

“Exotic” means coming from a distant place, so it is most similar in meaning to “foreign,” which means from a different country. To provide further help, “federal” means associated with a country's central government; “minimal” means of the least amount or an extremely small amount; “correct” means true and accurate; and “global” means something that is everywhere in the world.

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