SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Verbal
All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ACQUIT
Exonerate
Sentence
Judge
Imprision
Ignore
Exonerate
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 #2 : Synonyms: Roots From Latin
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VERBOSE
Literal
Literary
Soft-spoken
Wordy
Conjugated
Wordy
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 #4 : Synonyms: Roots
Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.
MALICE
Presentation
Courage
Malevolence
Benevolence
Information
Malevolence
"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 #11 : Synonyms: Roots
Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.
Subterfuge
Underground
Onset
Grain
Information
Evasion
Evasion
"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 #12 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BENEVOLENT
Captivating
Perfect
Volatile
Friendly
Regimented
Friendly
Benevolent means kind, friendly, or charitable. The root word "bene" means good or well.
Example Question #53 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BENEVOLENT
Flexible
Violent
Urgent
Kindly
Harmless
Kindly
Someone who is benevolent is kindly, helpful, or friendly. The root word is "bene," Latin for "good."
Example Question #54 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CIRCUMLOCUTION
Journey
Wandering
Incoherence
Spin
Evasion
Evasion
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 #13 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
COGENT
Urgent
Machine-like
Convincing
Deluded
Hidden
Convincing
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 #56 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CORPULENT
Obese
Thoughtful
Rotting
Unified
Friendly
Obese
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 #57 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CREDULITY
Hilarity
Gullibility
Cruelty
Fidelity
Misery
Gullibility
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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All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
