SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1161 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PARAMOUNT

Possible Answers:

Mediocre 

Inferior 

Supreme 

Outlawed 

Penitent

Correct answer:

Supreme 

Explanation:

"Paramount" means upmost or supreme, as in the commonly heard phrase, “of paramount importance.” For clarification, "mediocre" means average in a negative way; "penitent" means feeling regret for sinful behavior; "outlawed" means banned or criminalized.

Example Question #1162 : Identifying Synonyms

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

RELEVANT

Possible Answers:

Pertinent

Bloated

Bothersome

Long-winded

Fallible

Correct answer:

Pertinent

Explanation:

"Relevant" means appropriate, or "pertinent."

Example Question #1163 : Identifying Synonyms

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

OBLIGATORY

Possible Answers:

Frosty

Warranted

Confused

Mandatory

Voluntary

Correct answer:

Mandatory

Explanation:

“Obligatory” is an adjective that means “required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “compulsory.” That means that “voluntary” cannot be the correct answer, because “voluntary” means “acting of one’s own free will,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “obligatory.” “Mandatory,” however, is an adjective that means “required by law or rules; compulsory,” and because “mandatory” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “obligatory,” “mandatory” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1164 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PRIME

Possible Answers:

Average

Main

Unimportant

Secondary

Last

Correct answer:

Main

Explanation:

"Prime" means main, so "main" is the correct answer. "Secondary" means less important or crucial than something else. "Last" means final. "Unimportant" means not important, as one can infer from the word being a combination of the negative prefix "un-," which means not, and "important." "Average" means common or ordinary.

Example Question #1165 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ERRONEOUS

Possible Answers:

Wrong

Correct

Formulaic

Opaque

Excessive

Correct answer:

Wrong

Explanation:

"Erroneous" means wrong, or refers to something that contains an error.

None of the other words are synonymous with erroneous.

"Opaque" means not clear, blurry, or cloudy.

"Formulaic" means created based on a formula, or standardized.

"Excessive" means too much, or more than is necessary and normal.

"Correct" means right or without error. It is the opposite of erroneous.

Example Question #1166 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CANDID

Possible Answers:

Cynical

Deceitful

Clear

Honest

Convoluted.

Correct answer:

Honest

Explanation:

"Candid" means honest or frank, and often refers to the manner in which someone is speaking.

None of the other words mean candid:

"Cynical" means thinking the worst about people or events.

"Clear" means apparent or translucent

"Convoluted" means confusing or excessively complex to the point of decreasing clarity.

"Deceitful" means dishonest or false.

Example Question #1167 : Identifying Synonyms

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

SINGULAR

Possible Answers:

Plural

Strange

Oddity

Unique

Abnormal

Correct answer:

Unique

Explanation:

"Singular" can be synonymous with "unique." The prefix uni- means one single unit, and both these words refer something that is unique or notable in its singular nature. "Plural" is an antonym to "singular." The rest of the words describe things notable for their oddness, while singular or unique things can be odd, this is not always or necessarily the case.

Example Question #1168 : Identifying Synonyms

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

SIMPLE

Possible Answers:

Quaint

Complex

Busy

Demanding

Taxing

Correct answer:

Quaint

Explanation:

The words "simple" and "quaint" have related meanings describing things or locations that are old-fashioned or charmingly humble. None of the other answer choices have meanings similar to that of " simple." "Complex" describes complicated issues, events, procedures, or ideas. "Taxing" and "demanding" are synonyms describing stressful things.

Example Question #1169 : Identifying Synonyms

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

STELLAR

Possible Answers:

Ill

Gross

Manipulative

Wrong

Fantastic

Correct answer:

Fantastic

Explanation:

The words "stellar" and "fantastic" are both positively charged expressions meaning wonderful! The other answer choices do not have the same meaning. The other options all have distinctly negative connotations.

Example Question #1170 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CREDIBLE

Possible Answers:

Authorized

Fortunate

Believable

Impartial

Corny

Correct answer:

Believable

Explanation:

"Credible" means "believable," plausible or rational.

"Authorized" means approved, certified or lawful.

"Corny" means old fashioned, contrived or stupid.

"Fortunate" means having good luck, affluent or prosperous.

"Impartial" means fair and unprejudiced.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors