All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
EMBELLISH
Mimic
Terminate
Decorate
Plagiarize
Define
Decorate
"Embellish" means to "decorate" or to add ornaments to something; one might embellish a story by adding details that are not true to an otherwise true account. "Terminate" means to end or to conclude. "Mimic" means to imitate or to copy. "Plagiarize" means to copy another person's work without crediting that person for it. "Define" means to state the definition or qualities of a person or thing.
Example Question #1961 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
THRUST
Force
Dance
Fly
Catapult
Change
Force
"Thrust" means force something upon someone, or shove something forcibly. The correct answer is therefore "force." The other choices do not have similar definitions: "dance" means move your body to music, "catapult" means hurl something using an ancient military device, "change" means make different, and "fly" means propel oneself through the air.
Example Question #1962 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
TWEAK
Damage
Alter
Predict
Hop
Breathe
Alter
"Tweak" means make small changes to something, and "alter" means change, so "alter" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "tweak": "breathe" means to inhale and exhale, "hop" means jump, "predict" means guess what will happen in the future based on information known at the present moment, and "damage" means cause harm to something.
Example Question #1963 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
BURNISH
Wear
Develop
Polish
Fry
Trade
Polish
To "burnish" is to polish or shine, so "polish" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "burnish": “wear” means to display on the body; “trade” means exchange commodities;“fry” means to cook with oil or fat; and “develop” means grow.
Example Question #1964 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TARNISH
Extinguish
Berate
Sully
Attempt
Prepare
Sully
"Tarnish" and "sully" are both words that mean make something dirtier or less valuable.
Example Question #1965 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CONVERGE
Scatter
Meet
Inoculate
Protest
Divulge
Meet
"Converge" is a verb meaning come to the same place (metaphorically or physically) at the same time, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like come together. "Protest" and "scatter" might look like potentially correct answer choices initially, but they are each antonyms of "converge," so neither of them can be the correct answer. Because "meet" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "converge," "meet" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1966 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ERECT
Marginalize
Ignore
Construct
Rattle
Straighten
Construct
"Erect" means raise, build, or construct, so "construct" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1967 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AMALGAMATE
Dissociate
Pinpoint
Bloom
Meld
Hallow
Meld
“Amalgamate” is a verb that means unify multiple things into one, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like combine. That means that “dissociate” cannot be the correct answer, because “dissociate” means separate, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “amalgamate.” “Meld,” however, when used as a verb, means combine, and because “meld” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “amalgamate,” “meld” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1968 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ENERVATE
Weaken
Moderate
Energize
Improve
Strengthen
Weaken
“Enervate” is a transitive verb that means weaken someone physically or mentally, so "weaken" is the correct answer. “Strengthen,” “energize,” and “improve” are all antonyms, and "moderate" is not related in meaning to "enervate."
Example Question #46 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ABRIDGE
climb
transfer
float
shorten
cross
shorten
"Abridge" means to shorten something without losing the main idea.