SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1311 : Identifying Synonyms

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

AIMLESS

Possible Answers:

Impious

Dejected

Chronic

Purposeless

Aloof

Correct answer:

Purposeless

Explanation:

"Aimless" means purposeless or without goals or purpose. "Aloof" means detached or unconcered. "Chronic" means permanent or lasting a long time. "Dejected" means sad and depressed. "Impious" means disrespectful towards religion.

Example Question #1312 : Identifying Synonyms

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

DREARY

Possible Answers:

Exciting

Conventional

Pious

Plentiful

Dull

Correct answer:

Dull

Explanation:

"Dreary" means dull or lifeless. "Exciting" is the antonym; it means lively and interesting. "Pious" means very religious. "Plentiful" means abundant or a lot. "Conventional" means normal or customary.

Example Question #1361 : Synonyms

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

BIZARRE

Possible Answers:

Disparate

Lucent

Garrulous

Strange

Alike

Correct answer:

Strange

Explanation:

Another word for "bizarre" is "strange." All of the other answer choices have meanings unrelated to "bizarre": "garrulous" means excessively talkative; "disparate" means different; "lucent" means shining; and "alike" means similar.

Example Question #1362 : Synonyms

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

VILE

Possible Answers:

Energetic

Sly

Unpleasant

Whimsical

Viral

Correct answer:

Unpleasant

Explanation:

"Vile" means extremely unpleasant or foul. The correct answer is therefore "unpleasant." The other choices do not have similar definitions: "viral" means spreading quickly, "energetic" means full of energy, "sly" means sneaky, and "whimsical" means delightful and fantastical.

Example Question #1363 : Synonyms

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

PENURIOUS

Possible Answers:

Mercenary 

Worldly 

Understood 

Destitute 

Loquacious

Correct answer:

Destitute 

Explanation:

“Penurious” means very poor, so the best available synonym is “destitute,” which means to be completely poor and downtrodden. For clarification, "worldly" means knowledgeable and wise; "mercenary" means not loyal, willing to go against your conscience for money; "loquacious" means long-winded or talkative.

Example Question #1364 : Synonyms

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

PERNICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Ominous

Private

Beneficial

Public

Detrimental

Correct answer:

Detrimental

Explanation:

“Pernicious” is an adjective that means gradually harmful over time, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like harmful. That means that “beneficial” cannot be the correct answer, because “beneficial” means helpful, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “pernicious.” “Detrimental,” however, is an adjective that means harmful, and because “detrimental” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “pernicious,” “detrimental” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1365 : Synonyms

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

FEY

Possible Answers:

Extroverted 

Mundane 

Introspective

Supernatural 

Rational 

Correct answer:

Supernatural 

Explanation:

“Fey” means relating to magic or supernatural phenomenon. For clarification, "rational" means reasonable and sensible; "mundane" means ordinary or boring; "introspective" means inwardly focused with thoughts and feelings; and "extroverted" means outgoing or sociable.

Example Question #1366 : Synonyms

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

AFFLUENT

Possible Answers:

Torpid

Grandiose

Squishy

Wealthy

Forgotten

Correct answer:

Wealthy

Explanation:

"Affluent" means having lots of material wealth.

Example Question #1367 : Synonyms

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

ODIOUS. 

Possible Answers:

Charming 

Sensory 

Revolting 

Adventurous 

Wanton 

Correct answer:

Revolting 

Explanation:

“Odious” means revolting. For clarification, "sensory" means relating to the senses; "wanton" means random or indiscriminate.

Example Question #1368 : Synonyms

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

OMINOUS. 

Possible Answers:

Purposeful 

Effortless 

Tricky 

Rewarding

Foreboding 

Correct answer:

Foreboding 

Explanation:

“Ominous” means scary or foreboding. You might have noticed it has the same root word as “omen,” which might have clued you in to the correct answer "foreboding."

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