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 #371 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

HAPHAZARD

Possible Answers:

Chaotic 

Educational 

Structured 

Organized 

Didactic

Correct answer:

Chaotic 

Explanation:

"Haphazard" means chaotic and not organized. For clarification, "didactic" means educational or instructive.

Example Question #372 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

INFERIOR

Possible Answers:

Promising

Competent

Loyal

Superior

Substandard

Correct answer:

Substandard

Explanation:

"Inferior" means of lesser quality or substandard. "Superior" means of greater quality, so it is an antonym, not a synonym, of "inferior." The other answers are not close in meaning to "inferior": "loyal" means obedient or consistently supporting something or someone; "promising" means potentially yielding good results; and "competent" means having the necessary skills to accomplish something.

Example Question #373 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

AKIN

Possible Answers:

Unique 

Inspect 

Different 

Vie 

Similar 

Correct answer:

Similar 

Explanation:

Akin means similar or comparable. For clarification, unique means distinct and original; vie means to compete or struggle.

Example Question #374 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

CONVENTIONAL

Possible Answers:

Traditional 

Cerebral 

Intolerant 

Tolerant 

Unique 

Correct answer:

Traditional 

Explanation:

"Conventional" means well-established, normal, socially accepted, or traditional. For clarification, "unique" means distinct; "cerebral" means intelligent; "tolerant" means patient, and "intolerant" is an antonym of patient.

Example Question #375 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

AKIN

Possible Answers:

Unclear

Frank

Related

Irritated

Authentic

Correct answer:

Related

Explanation:

"Akin" means similar or related; the word was originally formed from a contraction of the phrase "of kin," in which "kin" means family. So, "related" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "akin": "unclear" is a combination of the negative prefix "un-," which means not, and clear, so you might be able to infer that it means not clear, or in other words, shrouded or hard to see or understand; "authentic" means genuine or real; "frank" means honest and straight to the point; and "irritated" means annoyed or upset.

Example Question #376 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

ESTRANGED

Possible Answers:

Exacerbate

Distant

Broken

Different

Weird

Correct answer:

Distant

Explanation:

"Estranged" means alienated. The best answer is "distant" because when you feel estranged, you feel distant from others.

Words you may not know:

  • "Exacerbate" means to make worse or to irritate.

Example Question #377 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

AWRY

Possible Answers:

Potential

Wiry

Ultimate

Amiss

Flagrant

Correct answer:

Amiss

Explanation:

"Awry" can act as an adjective or an adverb and means "away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course," so we need to pick out a word that means something like "away from the expected course." While "wiry" sounds similar to "awry," "wiry" means "resembling wire in form and texture." Since "wiry" does not mean the same thing as "awry," it cannot be the correct answer. "Amiss," however, means "not quite right; inappropriate or out of place" as an adjective and "wrongly or inappropriately" as an adverb. Because "amiss" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "awry," it is the correct answer.

Example Question #378 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Synonyms

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

DIMINUTIVE

Possible Answers:

following

darkening

rebellious

small

insulting

Correct answer:

small

Explanation:

Something that is "diminutive" is small, miniature.

Example Question #379 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

ABOMINABLE

Possible Answers:

Questionable

Desirable

Detestable

Dominant

Systematic

Correct answer:

Detestable

Explanation:

"Abominable" means universally hated. If you "detest" something, you hate it. The key here is the strength of the word, an "abominable" thing is awful, not merely bad, or "questionable."

Example Question #380 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

MUNDANE

Possible Answers:

Celestial

Metaphysical

Stupid

Dull

Precise

Correct answer:

Dull

Explanation:

"Mundane" is an adjective that means "dull," without excitement, or refers to the earthly world instead of a spiritual world. 

"Precise" means exact or definitely correct. "Stupid" means unintelligent or without common sense. "Celestial" means related to the sky, or refers to something amazing. "Metaphysical" means related to the philosophy that deals with abstract concepts (being, origin of the universe) but is not grounded in scientific research.

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