SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #231 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

DEBONAIR

Possible Answers:

Urbane

Assiduous

Indolent

Potent

Potable

Correct answer:

Urbane

Explanation:

"Debonair" means "urbane," suave, or sophisticated. "Assiduous" means hardworking, which is an antonym for "indolent," or lazy. "Potable" means safe to drink, and "potent" means powerful.

Example Question #231 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

UNCTUOUS

Possible Answers:

Saccharine

Smarmy

Imaginative

Magnanimous

Impartial

Correct answer:

Smarmy

Explanation:

"Unctuous" is a synonym for "smarmy," insincerely ingratiating. "Impartial" means unbiased, and "saccharine" means overly sweet. "Imaginative" is a synonym for creative, and "magnanimous" is a synonym for "generous."

Example Question #1211 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PEDANTIC

Possible Answers:

Fortuitous

Meticulous

Addled

Paramount

Lackluster

Correct answer:

Meticulous

Explanation:

The adjective "pedantic" is used to describe someone who pays too close attention to details, someone who is obsessive about something in an irritating manner. The closest answer choice to this definition is "meticulous" which means precise, trying to do something perfectly. Additionally, "paramount" means of particular importance, very significant; "fortuitous" means lucky; "addled" means confused and mentally weak (usually from drug use or old age); "lackluster" means uninspiring, underwhelming.

Example Question #233 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

ECCENTRIC

Possible Answers:

Simple

Odd

Normal

Ancient

Youthful

Correct answer:

Odd

Explanation:

The adjective "eccentric" is usually used to describe certain people and means odd, unusual, prone to weird behavior.

Example Question #234 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PERSPICACIOUS

Possible Answers:

Illuminating

Discerning

Loathsome

Salient

Corpulent

Correct answer:

Discerning

Explanation:

The adjective "perspicacious" is used to describe someone who is very discerning, able to notice and understand things very well. Additionally, "loathsome" means detestable, hated; "illuminating" means revealing, 'shining a light on'; "corpulent" means overweight, fat; "salient" means most important, very significant.

Example Question #235 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

SUPERCILIOUS

Possible Answers:

Drastic

Raucous

Meek

Fruitful

Conceited

Correct answer:

Conceited

Explanation:

The adjective "supercilious" means arrogant, haughty, thinking one knows better than everyone else, or "conceited." Additionally, "meek" means shy, reserved, weak; "fruitful" means productive; "drastic" means extreme and desperate; "raucous" means rowdy, disorderly and grating.

Example Question #1212 : Identifying Synonyms

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

INSUFFERABLE

Possible Answers:

Provocative

Cagey

Inveterate

Besmirched

Unbearable

Correct answer:

Unbearable

Explanation:

The adjective "insufferable," which can be used to describe people or circumstances, means so annoying as to be impossible to put up with, too intense to cope with. This is closest in definition to "unbearable" which means intolerable, unendurable. Additionally, "provocative" means likely to cause offense, incendiary, causing a strong reaction; "cagey" means cautious and noncommittal, wary and guarded; "inveterate" means (of a habit) deeply ingrained and long established; "besmirched" means sullied, tarnished, ruined, (of a reputation) damaged.

Example Question #237 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

OFFICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Ostentatious

Noisome

Insolvent

Corpulent

Meddlesome

Correct answer:

Meddlesome

Explanation:

The adjective "officious" means (of an authority figure) prone to interfering and meddling unnecessarily, meddlesome and irritating. Additionally, "insolvent" means bankrupt, run out of money; "corpulent" means overweight, fat; "ostentatious" means extravagant and showy; "noisome" means smelling very bad, having an offensive smell.

Example Question #238 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PERFIDIOUS

Possible Answers:

Acclaimed

Jovial

Disloyal

Adulterated

Demonstrative

Correct answer:

Disloyal

Explanation:

The adjective "perfidious" means treacherous, not trustworthy, duplicitous and likely to betray, disloyal. Additionally, "jovial" means good-natured or in a good-mood; "adulterated" means edited and made impure; "acclaimed" means widely celebrated and praised; "demonstrative" means extremely showy of one's thoughts and feelings, expressive.

Example Question #239 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

SOLIPSISTIC

Possible Answers:

Self-centered

Self-assured

Lurid

Self-possessed

Deleterious

Correct answer:

Self-centered

Explanation:

"Solipsistic" means egotistical or focused on the self. "Confident" means self-assured, as does "self-possessed." "Lurid" is a synonym for bright, colorful, sensational, or overly dramatic. "Deleterious" means harmful.

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