SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1811 : Synonyms

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

WHEEDLE

Possible Answers:

Fulfill

Compel

Disengage

Coax

Mislead

Correct answer:

Coax

Explanation:

"Wheedle" means to coax or persuade using flattery. "Fulfill" means to complete or to satisfy a task. "Disengage" means to separate or detach from something. "Compel" means to force a person to do something. "Mislead" means to deceive or to lie.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ACCENTUATE

Possible Answers:

Amass

Confront

Undermine

Highlight

Frustrate

Correct answer:

Highlight

Explanation:

"Accentuate" means to highlight or emphasize. "Undermine" means to weaken. "Confront" means to come face-to-face with, or to challenge. "Amass" means to accumulate or gather. "Frustrate" to foil or block a plan or some action.

Example Question #1771 : Identifying Synonyms

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

MALIGN

Possible Answers:

Magnify

Lacerate

Inundate

Urge

Slander

Correct answer:

Slander

Explanation:

"Malign" means to slander or to speak in a critical manner of a person's reputation. "Magnify" means to enlarge or make something look bigger. "Lacerate" means to tear or cut. "Inundate" means to flood. "Urge" means to push or persuade a person to do something.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

OSTRACIZE

Possible Answers:

Craft

Exclude

Birdlike

Include

Burn

Correct answer:

Exclude

Explanation:

"Ostracize" means exclude or banish someone from something, so "exclude" is the correct answer. Considering the other answer choices, "include" cannot be the correct answer becuase "include" means accept or welcome into a group, making it an antonym of "ostracize" and "exclude." "Birdlike" means avian, "burn" means set on fire or injure with fire, and "craft," when used as a verb, means make or construct.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

COAX

Possible Answers:

Withdraw

Buffet

Persuade

Diminish

Classify

Correct answer:

Persuade

Explanation:

"Coax" means to convince or to "persuade." "Buffet" means to strike something, such as with a punch. "Classify" means to arrange into classes or groups usually based on similar or shared qualities. "Diminish" means to lessen or to decrease. "Withdraw" means to rescind, to remove, or to retreat.

Example Question #131 : Synonyms

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

BEMOAN

Possible Answers:

Lament

Dispute

Pollute

Bewilder

Devastate

Correct answer:

Lament

Explanation:

"Bemoan" means show sadness about something, so "lament," a word that when used as a verb means grieve or wail, is the correct answer. "Devastate" means destroy or wreck. "Bewilder" means confuse or baffle. "Dispute" means to debate or to argue. "Pollute" means to contaiminate or to poison.

Example Question #1772 : Identifying Synonyms

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

DISSEMBLE

Possible Answers:

Levitate

Undermine

Conceal

Ridicule

Caution

Correct answer:

Conceal

Explanation:

“Dissemble” means to conceal or to fake, so "conceal" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to “dissemble”. “Undermine” means to weaken. “Caution” means to warn. “Ridicule” means to mock or to deride. “Levitate” means to rise up or to float in mid-air.  

Example Question #1773 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ESCHEW

Possible Answers:

Traverse

Beep

Shun

Predict

Fix

Correct answer:

Shun

Explanation:

“Eschew” means to shun or to avoid, so "shun" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to “eschew”. “Predict” means to forecast. "Beep” means to emit a short, high-pitched, electronic sound. “Traverse” means to cross. “Fix” means to repair.

Example Question #1774 : Identifying Synonyms

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

EVINCE

Possible Answers:

Increase

Graft

Happen

Reveal

Hemorrhage

Correct answer:

Reveal

Explanation:

To “evince” is to show clearly or to reveal, so "reveal" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to “evince”. “Increase” means to get bigger. “Graft” means to insert or to transplant. “Hemorrhage” means to bleed, especially profusely. “Happen” means to occur.  

Example Question #1775 : Identifying Synonyms

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

JUSTIFY

Possible Answers:

Borrow

Languish

Pretend

Warrant

Scintillate

Correct answer:

Warrant

Explanation:

"Justify" means be a good reason for something. Similarly, "warrant" means require or deserve something, so "warrant" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "justify": "pretend" means simulate or feign, "languish" means suffer or become weak, scintillate means sparkle or shimmer, and "borrow" means take possession of something temporarily with the intention of returning it to its original owner after one has used it.

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