SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

PRESCIENCE

Possible Answers:

Improvidence

Myopia

Unpredictability

Foreknowledge

Shortsightedness

Correct answer:

Foreknowledge

Explanation:

"Prescience" means foresight or the ability to know about something before it has actually happened. "Shortsightedness" and "myopia" are synonyms, so we can eliminate those. "Improvidence" means poor planning for the future, and "unpredictability" the quality of not being able to be foreseen. "Foreknowledge," which means foresight or knowledge of something before it happens, is the only choice that works.

Example Question #6 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

IMPARTIAL

Possible Answers:

Unbiased 

Demanding 

Controlling 

Bashful 

Harangue

Correct answer:

Unbiased 

Explanation:

"Impartial" information is unbiased and uncorrupted by personal intervention. For clarification, someone who is "bashful" is easily embarrassed; "harangue" means berate or criticize.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Prefixes From Latin

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

UNAWARE

Possible Answers:

Precise

Unknowing

Obvious

Complete

Informed

Correct answer:

Unknowing

Explanation:

"Unaware" means unknowing. "Informed" means knowing, so it cannot be the correct answer, because it is an antonym, not a synonym, of "unaware." None of the other answers are close in meaning to "unaware": "obvious" means overt or palpable; "complete" means lacking nothing necessary; and "precise" means exact

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

UNCERTAIN

Possible Answers:

Conclusive

Idiotic

Unknown

Bright

Frequent

Correct answer:

Unknown

Explanation:

"Uncertain" means not known with certainty, so "unknown," an adjective that means not known, is the correct answer. "Conclusive" is an antonym of "uncertain"; it means definite or indisputable. None of the answer choices have a meaning related to that of "uncertain": "bright" means shining or emiting lots of light; "idiotic" means stupid or foolish; and "frequent" means occuring often or repeated.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

UNCERTAIN

Possible Answers:

Secretive

Complex

Frequent

Unsure

Profitable

Correct answer:

Unsure

Explanation:

"Uncertain" means unknown or unsure, so "unsure" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "uncertain": "complex" means complicated or having many different parts; "frequent" means occurring repeatedly in a relatively short amount of time; "profitable" means lucrative or capable of making a lot of money; and "secretive" means hidden or concealed.

Example Question #2 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

A synonym of “indispensable” is __________.

Possible Answers:

frightening

meticulous

partial

essential

superfluous

Correct answer:

essential

Explanation:

The word “indispensable” consists of the negative prefix “in-,” which means “not,” and the word “dispensable,” so we can infer that it means “not dispensable.” That inference would be correct, as “indispensable” is an adjective that means “absolutely necessary,” so we need to pick out a word that means something like “necessary.” “Superfluous,” then, cannot be the correct answer, because “superfluous” means “unnecessary, especially through being more than enough,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “indispensable.” “Essential,” however, is an adjective that means “absolutely necessary; extremely important,” and because “essential” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “indispensable,” “essential” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1171 : Synonyms

A synonym of “insignificant” is __________.

Possible Answers:

young

noteworthy

unworthy

petty

palpable

Correct answer:

petty

Explanation:

“Insignificant” is an adjective that can mean “too small or unimportant to be worth consideration,” “without power or influence” when used of a person, or “meaningless.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “unimportant,” “without power,” or “meaningless.” That means that “noteworthy” cannot be the correct answer, because “noteworthy” means “interesting, significant, or unusual,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “insignificant.” “Petty,” however, is an adjective that means “ of little importance; trivial,” and because “petty” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “insignificant,” “petty” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1172 : Synonyms

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

INDIFFERENT

Possible Answers:

Aggressive 

Apathetic 

Jocular 

Careless 

Belligerent

Correct answer:

Apathetic 

Explanation:

"Indifferent" means apathetic or not caring, so "apathetic," an adjective that means unconcerned or unemotional, is the correct answer. For clarification, "careless" means negligent, "jocular" means good-humored, joking, or playful, and "aggressive" and "belligerent" are synonyms that each mean hostile and confrontational.

Example Question #1963 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

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

Submerged 

Possible Answers:

Dry

Brief

Underwater

Tedious

Mandatory

Correct answer:

Underwater

Explanation:

"Submerged" means underwater; Dry means without water; Brief means temporary; Mandatory means required; and Tedious means boring.

Example Question #1964 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

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

UBIQUITOUS

Possible Answers:

At once

Everywhere

Scarce

Urbane

Present

Correct answer:

Everywhere

Explanation:

"Ubiquitous" means existing or being everywhere.

Words you may not know: 

  • "Scarce" means not abundant.
  • "Urbane" means having sophistication or elegance, a quality often associated with cities. The root "urb-" (as in urban) means city.
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors