SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #101 : Identifying Synonyms

A synonym of “sabotage” is __________.

Possible Answers:

narrow

wreck

renovate

reconsider

supplant

Correct answer:

wreck

Explanation:

“Sabotage” is a word that can be used as a verb or a noun, but because all of the potential answer choices are verbs, we will need to consider it as a noun. When “sabotage” is used as a verb, it means “deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct (something), especially for political or military advantage,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “deliberately destroy.” That means that “renovate” cannot be the correct answer, because “renovate” is a verb that means “restore (something old, especially a building) to a good state of repair,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “sabotage.” “Wreck,” however, is a word that when used as a verb, can mean “destroy or severely damage (a structure or vehicle),” and because “wreck” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “sabotage,” “wreck” is the correct answer.

Example Question #102 : Identifying Synonyms

A synonym of “assembly” is __________.

Possible Answers:

meeting

network

facet

preparation

individual

Correct answer:

meeting

Explanation:

“Assembly” is a noun that can mean “a group of people gathered together in one place for a common purpose,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “a group of people gathered together with a common goal.” That means that “individual” cannot be the correct answer, because “individual,” when used as a noun, means “a single human being as distinct from a group, class, or family,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “assembly.” “Meeting,” however, is a noun that means “an assembly of people, especially the members of a society or committee, for discussion or entertainment,” and because “meeting” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “assembly,” “meeting” is the correct answer.

Example Question #103 : Identifying Synonyms

A synonym of “finesse” is __________.

Possible Answers:

ineptness

delirium

nemesis

tact

hierarchy

Correct answer:

tact

Explanation:

“Finesse” is a word that can be used as a noun or a verb, but because all of the possible answer choices are nouns, we will need to consider “finesse” as a noun. When used as a noun, “finesse” means either “intricate and refined delicacy” or “artful subtlety, typically that needed for tactful handling of a difficulty.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “refined delicacy” or “artful subtlety.” That means that “ineptness” cannot be the correct answer, because “ineptness” means “the quality of having or showing no skill; clumsiness,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “finesse.” “Tact,” however, is a noun that means “adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues,” and because “tact” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “finesse,” “tact” is the correct answer.

Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

CUSTOM

Possible Answers:

trick

convention

correlation

race

craft

Correct answer:

convention

Explanation:

custom is a tradition or convention.

Example Question #104 : Identifying Synonyms

A synonym of “yearning” is __________.

Possible Answers:

desire

avoidance

emotion

conversation

luster

Correct answer:

desire

Explanation:

“Yearning” is a noun that means “a feeling of intense longing for something,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “intense longing.” That means that “avoidance” cannot be the correct answer, because “avoidance” means “the act of keeping away from or stopping oneself,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “yearning.” “Desire,” however, is a noun that can mean “a strong feeling of wishing for something to happen,” and because “desire” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “yearning,” “desire” is the correct answer.

Example Question #17 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

Synonyms: Select the words that are most similar in meaning.

Hiatus

Possible Answers:

Beggar

Surrender

Enrollment

Break

Intellect

Correct answer:

Break

Explanation:

"Hiatus" means a break or interruption.

Example Question #18 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

Synonyms: Select the words that are most similar in meaning.

Brevity

Possible Answers:

Consistency

Preparation

Selection

Duct

Shortness

Correct answer:

Shortness

Explanation:

"Brevity" means a shortness of time or duration. It also means expressing a lot in few words.

Example Question #19 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

Synonyms: Select the words that are most similar in meaning.

Correlation

Possible Answers:

Relationship

Propulsion

Caution

Recognition 

Influence

Correct answer:

Relationship

Explanation:

A "correlation" is a relationship between two or more things.

Example Question #913 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Synonyms: Select the words that are most similar in meaning.

Peril

Possible Answers:

Narrative

Principal

Introversion

Danger

Vertex

Correct answer:

Danger

Explanation:

"Peril" means danger.

Example Question #105 : Identifying Synonyms

A synonym of “quibble” is __________.

Possible Answers:

emotion

complaint

energy

bubble

compliment

Correct answer:

complaint

Explanation:

“Quibble” is a word that can be used as a noun or a verb, but because all of the answer choices can be used as nouns, we will need to consider “quibble” as a noun. When used as a noun, “quibble” means “a slight objection or criticism,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “a slight objection.” That means that “compliment” cannot be the correct answer, because “compliment,” when used as a noun, means “a polite expression of praise or admiration,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “quibble.” “Complaint,” however, is a noun that means “a statement that a situation is unsatisfactory,” and because “complaint” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “quibble,” “complaint” is the correct answer.

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