SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

ACQUIT

Possible Answers:

Exonerate

Imprision

Ignore

Sentence

Judge

Correct answer:

Exonerate

Explanation:

When someone is “acquitted” of an action, he or she is “forgiven” or set free from any sort of charges of that action. For instance, someone “acquitted of murder” is judged to be innocent of the crime. The word “exonerate” best matches this usage. It means to remove blame officially. Literally, it is derived from the Latin meaning to lift the burden from someone. The “-onerate” portion of the word means “burden,” while (as you likely know) “ex-” means out of or away from. The word is related to “onerous,” meaning burdensome or difficult.

Example Question #9 : Synonyms: Roots From Latin

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

VERBOSE

Possible Answers:

Literal

Soft-spoken

Wordy

Conjugated

Literary

Correct answer:

Wordy

Explanation:

The word “verbose” comes from the Latin for “word.” It is related to words like “verbal” and “verb.” It means using too many words to communicate something. Although the word “wordy” is a bit informal, it means just this—that someone uses too many words.

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Roots From Latin

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

MALICE

Possible Answers:

Presentation

Benevolence

Malevolence

Information

Courage

Correct answer:

Malevolence

Explanation:

"Malice" means evil or the quality of desiring to harm others. So, the correct answer is "malevolence," which also means the quality of desiring to harm others. 

Example Question #2231 : Synonyms

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

Subterfuge

Possible Answers:

Onset

Underground

Grain

Evasion

Information

Correct answer:

Evasion

Explanation:

"Subterfuge" means a stratagem used to evade a consequence or conceal something. The best answer choice is "evasion." The Latin root word, "subter," means secretly, and the Latin root word, "fugere," means to flee.

Example Question #2232 : Synonyms

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

BENEVOLENT

Possible Answers:

Perfect

Captivating

Friendly

Volatile

Regimented 

Correct answer:

Friendly

Explanation:

Benevolent means kind, friendly, or charitable.  The root word "bene" means good or well. 

Example Question #2233 : Synonyms

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

BENEVOLENT

Possible Answers:

Violent

Urgent

Kindly

Flexible

Harmless

Correct answer:

Kindly

Explanation:

Someone who is benevolent is kindly, helpful, or friendly. The root word is "bene," Latin for "good."

Example Question #2234 : Synonyms

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

CIRCUMLOCUTION

Possible Answers:

Wandering

Journey

Evasion

Spin

Incoherence

Correct answer:

Evasion

Explanation:

Circumlocution is the act of talking around the point instead of getting directly to it; it's speaking evasively or indirectly. The roots are "circum", Latin for "around", and "locut-" Latin for "speaking;" "circumlocution" is "around-speaking."

Example Question #2235 : Synonyms

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

COGENT

Possible Answers:

Convincing

Urgent

Machine-like

Deluded

Hidden

Correct answer:

Convincing

Explanation:

Something that is cogent is logical, sensible, and intelligent. It comes from the Latin root "cog-" meaning "think/know", as in "cognition" (the act of thinking or knowing) and "incognito" (unknown, or under cover).

Example Question #2236 : Synonyms

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

CORPULENT

Possible Answers:

Rotting

Friendly

Unified

Obese

Thoughtful

Correct answer:

Obese

Explanation:

Someone who is corpulent is very fat, or obese. This comes from the Latin root "corp-", meaning body, as in "corpse" and "incorporate."

Example Question #2237 : Synonyms

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

CREDULITY

Possible Answers:

Hilarity

Fidelity

Misery

Cruelty

Gullibility

Correct answer:

Gullibility

Explanation:

Credulity is the condition of being eager to believe something, so the synonym is gullibility. The Latin root here is "cred-", which means to believe, as in "credit" (being willing to trust or believe someone or something), and "incredible" (unbelievable).

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