SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #981 : Identifying Synonyms

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

THWART

Possible Answers:

Protect 

Preside 

Pretend 

Provoke 

Prevent 

Correct answer:

Prevent 

Explanation:

To "thwart" most nearly means to prevent someone from undertaking an attempted action or to foil a plan.

Example Question #982 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PALPITATE

Possible Answers:

Bawl

Percolate

Oust

Throb

Straggle

Correct answer:

Throb

Explanation:

"Palpitate" means to throb or to pulse.

"Bawl" means to cry or to sob loudly.

"Percolate" means filtering liquid through something

"Straggle" means to walk slowly or to wander in an irregular manner.

"Oust" means to expel someone or to kick someone out.

Example Question #1001 : Synonyms

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

SEAR

Possible Answers:

Freeze

Sever

Muddle

Warm

Char

Correct answer:

Char

Explanation:

"Sear" means to "char" something or to burn with intense heat.

"Muddle" means to put into a confused state, or "muddle" means to mix.

"Sever" means to cut apart, to disconnect or to split.

"Warm" means to increase the heat of something

"Freeze" means to lower the temperature of something until liquid turns into solid.

Example Question #1002 : Synonyms

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

WRITHE

Possible Answers:

Gesture

Forge

Squirm

Emerge

Leap

Correct answer:

Squirm

Explanation:

"Writhe" means to "squirm" or to contort oneself back and forth.

"Forge" means to make something from scratch, or it means to create a false copy or a counterfeit of something.

"Emerge" means to come out, to arrive or to appear.

"Leap" means to jump, or it can mean to rapidly increase.

"Gesture" means to make a motion that signifies something, or to move as a form of communication.

Example Question #1003 : Synonyms

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

ELEVATE

Possible Answers:

Levitate

Descend

Sink

Descent

Sync

Correct answer:

Levitate

Explanation:

To "elevate" something is to raise that thing further away from the ground. To "levitate" is to lift something into the air off the ground, so these two words are synonymous. "Sink" and "descend are antonyms to "elevate."

Example Question #1004 : Synonyms

Each of the following questions consists of one word followed by five words or phrases. You are to select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters. 

TRUDGE

Possible Answers:

Train

Track

Tramp

Trip

Triangulate

Correct answer:

Tramp

Explanation:

"Trudge" and "tramp" are verbs used to describe the way a person might walk, with heavy steps. The other verbs do not have meanings synonymous with "trudge."

Example Question #201 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

STRUT

Possible Answers:

Dash

Crawl

Wiggle

Skip

Walk boldly

Correct answer:

Walk boldly

Explanation:

"Strut" means "walk boldly" or pompously.

"Wiggle" means to move back and forth or to shake.

"Skip" means to jump over, or bounce or spring up and down

"Dash" means to run very quickly, to sprint.

"Crawl" means to move on one's hand and knees or to move very slowly.

Example Question #202 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

CATALYZE

Possible Answers:

Conclude

Mobilize

Expand

Stabilize

Halt

Correct answer:

Mobilize

Explanation:

"Catalyze" means "mobilize," to begin a process (often chemical), to activate something.

"Expand" means to grow larger or wider.

"Conclude" means to bring to a conclusion, to end something.

"Halt" means to stop something, to pause.

"Stabilize" means to make something stable, to make something resistant to change.

Example Question #1005 : Synonyms

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

MOLT

Possible Answers:

Shed feathers

Redirect

Mine

Drain

Form into a shape

Correct answer:

Shed feathers

Explanation:

"Molt" means "to shed feathers" or skin, and then to replace with a fresh layer of feathers or skin.

"Redirect" means to alter something's course or to change its direction.

"Mine" means to extract raw materials such as iron or coal from the Earth.

To "drain" is to remove liquid, to empty, to use up the supply.

"Form into a shape" means to mold or to sculpt. This answer is meant to trick you if you thought that "molt" means mold.

Example Question #1006 : Synonyms

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

CAREEN

Possible Answers:

Compensate

Move wildly

Exhume

Meander

Infuse

Correct answer:

Move wildly

Explanation:

"Careen" means to "move wildly," to go along a path in an uncontrolled manner.

"Meander" means to drift, wander or zigzag.

"Infuse" means to soak, to transfer a property such as taste or smell.

"Exhume" means to dig up, to unbury something.

"Compensate" means to pay, to settle debts.

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