SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #321 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of “ingrained” is __________.

Possible Answers:

gregarious

superb

entrenched

transient

pungent

Correct answer:

entrenched

Explanation:

“Ingrained” is an adjective that can mean either “firmly fixed or established; difficult to change” when referring to a habit, belief, or attitude, or “deeply embedded and thus difficult to remove” when referring to dirt or a stain. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “difficult to change” or “deeply embedded.” That means that “transient” cannot be the correct answer, because “transient” means “lasting only for a short time; impermanent,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “ingrained.” “Entrenched,” however, is an adjective that is used of an attitude, habit, or belief and means “firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change; ingrained.” Because “entrenched” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “ingrained,” “entrenched” is the correct answer.

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

A synonym of “insidious” is __________.

Possible Answers:

mechanical

convenient

pernicious

overt

potential

Correct answer:

pernicious

Explanation:

“Insidious” is an adjective that can mean either “proceeding subtly, but with harmful effects” or “treacherous and crafty,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “subtly harmful” or “treacherous.” That means that “overt” cannot be the correct answer, because “overt” means “done or shown openly; plainly or readily apparent, not secret or hidden,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “insidious.” “Pernicious,” however, is an adjective that means “having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way,” and because “pernicious” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “insidious,” “pernicious” is the correct answer.

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

Contaminated

Possible Answers:

Random

Clean

Productive

Drinkable

Polluted

Correct answer:

Polluted

Explanation:

"Contaminated" means polluted.

Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

Toxic

Possible Answers:

Helpful

Important

Harmful

Friendly

Corrupted

Correct answer:

Harmful

Explanation:

"Toxic" means harmful or poisonous.

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

Deliberate

Possible Answers:

Harmful

Illegal

Accidental

Intentional

Treacherous

Correct answer:

Intentional

Explanation:

"Deliberate" means intentional; Accidental means unintentional; Harmful means causing harm; Treacherous means dangerous; and Illegal means not lawful.

Example Question #601 : Identifying Synonyms

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

Prosperous

Possible Answers:

Implied

Opinionted

United

Flourishing

Prompt

Correct answer:

Flourishing

Explanation:

"Prosperous" means financially successful or flourishing.

Example Question #602 : Identifying Synonyms

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

Infectious

Possible Answers:

Contagious

Knowledgable

Repetitious

Helpful

Nutritious

Correct answer:

Contagious

Explanation:

"Infectious" means contagious.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

Booming

Possible Answers:

Sleepy

Failing

Primary

Quiet

Thriving

Correct answer:

Thriving

Explanation:

"Booming" means thriving.

Example Question #322 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Synonyms: Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

OMINOUS

Possible Answers:

Wonderful 

Dormant 

Threatening 

Pleasurable 

Squander 

Correct answer:

Threatening 

Explanation:

Something that is "ominous" is threatening or menacing. For clarification, "dormant" means inactive or at rest, and "squander" means to waste.

Example Question #323 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

DESTITUTE

Possible Answers:

Prosperous 

Affluent 

Comfortable 

Penniless 

Wealthy

Correct answer:

Penniless 

Explanation:

To be "destitute" is to have nothing, to be penniless. For clarification, the other four answer choices are all synonyms of one another and antonyms of destitute and penniless.

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