SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #601 : Synonyms

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

STEALTHY

Possible Answers:

Handsome

Bold

Swift

Daring

Slick

Correct answer:

Swift

Explanation:

The words "stealthy" and "swift" are synonyms describing something that is fast. The other words do not share this meaning. 

Example Question #602 : Synonyms

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

SWIFT

Possible Answers:

Booming

Slow

Loud

Sluggish

Stealthy

Correct answer:

Stealthy

Explanation:

The words "stealthy" and "swift" are synonymous. They both refer to something that is quick. The words "slow" and "sluggish" mean the same thing; they refer to something that is not fast. "Loud" and "booming" are synonymous; they refer to something very loud. Identifying this relationship between the answer choices will help you arrive at the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

A synonym of "solitary" is . . .

Possible Answers:

escorted

unaccompanied

friendly

athletic

mean

Correct answer:

unaccompanied

Explanation:

"Solitary" is an adjective that means "done or existing alone," or when describing a place, "secluded or isolated." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "done alone" or "secluded." "Escorted" may look like a good answer, but "escorted" means "accompanied somewhere, especially for protection or security, or as a mark of rank." Because "escorted" means the opposite of "solitary," it cannot be the correct answer. "Unaccompanied," however, means "having no companion or escort." Because "unaccompanied" is closest in meaning to "solitary," "unaccompanied" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

Which is a synonym for the word vast?

The vast prairie was full of flowers and wildlife.

Possible Answers:

small

enormous

tiny

finite

None of the other answer choices

Correct answer:

enormous

Explanation:

Enormous can be substituted in for vast to maintain a similar meaning.  

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

A synonym of "meager" is __________.

Possible Answers:

grand

sufficient

jumbled

much

paltry

Correct answer:

paltry

Explanation:

"Meager" is an adjective that means "lacking in quantity or quality," and used to refer to something provided or available. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "lacking." While "sufficient" might look like a potentially correct answer, "sufficient" means "enough" or "adequate," "sufficient" is an opposite of "lacking," so it can't be the correct answer. "Paltry," however, is an adjective that means "small or meager" and is used to describe amounts. Since "paltry" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "meager," "paltry" is the correct answer.

Example Question #601 : Synonyms

A synonym of “uniform” is __________.

Possible Answers:

varying

gargantuan

potential

demonstrated

consistent

Correct answer:

consistent

Explanation:

“Uniform,” when used as an adjective, means “not changing in form or character; remaining the same,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “not changing” or “similar to others.” That means that “varying” cannot be the correct answer, because when used as an adjective, “varying” means “differing in size, amount, degree, or nature from something else of the same general class,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “uniform.” “Consistent,” however, is an adjective that refers to a person, behavior, or process, and means “unchanging over a period of time,” and because “consistent” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “uniform,” “consistent” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

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

The girl piled a substantial amount of potatoes onto her plate.

Possible Answers:

tiny

None of the above

small

medium

large

Correct answer:

large

Explanation:

"Large" could replace "substantial" to maintain the meaning of the sentence. 

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

Which word has a similar meaning to the underlined word?

I cannot believe he ate the entire pizza!

Possible Answers:

sausage

whole

portion

None of the other answers

part

Correct answer:

whole

Explanation:

"Whole" and "entire" have the same meaning. 

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Enormous

Possible Answers:

Smooth

Medium

Large

Famous

Tiny

Correct answer:

Large

Explanation:

"Enormous" means extremely large.

Example Question #1252 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal

Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Several

Possible Answers:

None

Couple

A few

Too much

One

Correct answer:

A few

Explanation:

"Several" means a number of, but more than a couple.

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