SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #2251 : Synonyms

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

SOMNOLENT

Possible Answers:

Qualified

Philosophical

Sleepy

Representative

Apathetic

Correct answer:

Sleepy

Explanation:

"Somnolent" means sleepy. The Latin root word, "somnus," means sleep.

Example Question #2252 : Synonyms

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

ATTENUATE

Possible Answers:

Weaken

Delegate

Circle

Condemn

Insert

Correct answer:

Weaken

Explanation:

To "attenuate" is to weaken or make thin. The Latin root word, "tenuis," means thin.

Example Question #2253 : Synonyms

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

IMPEDE

Possible Answers:

Debate

Clarify

Accompish

Block

Inspire

Correct answer:

Block

Explanation:

"Impede" means to block.

Example Question #2254 : Synonyms

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

IMPUGN

Possible Answers:

Rent

Excel

Lurk

Attack

Consider

Correct answer:

Attack

Explanation:

To "impugn" is to attack someone either verbally or physically. It also means to challenge someone's statements as false. The Latin root word, "pugnare," means to fight.

Example Question #2255 : Synonyms

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

AMBIGUOUS

Possible Answers:

Pristine

Undeniable

Indubitable

Unclear

Ambidextrous

Correct answer:

Unclear

Explanation:

If you don't recognize a word, it is almost always a good idea to try to use roots to figure out its meaning. You can break the word ambiguous into its component parts fairly easily ("ambi" + "guous").  "Ambi-" is a pretty common prefix, so you should recognize it even if you don't know what the whole word means. It's even in one of the other answer choices:  "ambidextrous." The prefix "ambi-" has to do with something that goes in two directions at once. "Ambidextrous," for instance, means able to use both hands to do tasks (e.g. to write). "Ambiguous" means unclear, or having an unclear or undecidable meaning—a meaning that is unclear because it is one among multiple possible meanings. The answer choices "pristine," "indubitable," and "undeniable" each have to do with either clearness or certainty, and we already know what ambidextrous means, so "unclear" is the only choice left.

Example Question #2256 : Synonyms

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

ELUCIDATE

Possible Answers:

Lucid

Read

Intelligent

Clarify

Learn

Correct answer:

Clarify

Explanation:

The word "elucidate" means to clarify or to explain. The best answer choice is "clarify," which means to make clear or to explain. The word "lucid", though related to the verb "elucidate", is not itself a verb. It is an adjective which means clear or easily understood.

Example Question #2257 : Synonyms

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

SIMILITUDE

Possible Answers:

Bastion

Pleasantry

Resemblance

Felicity

Ardor

Correct answer:

Resemblance

Explanation:

"Similitude" is a noun derived from the Latin root "similis", meaning similar. "Resemblance" is a noun meaning the state of being alike, so it is a synonym for "similitude."

Example Question #2258 : Synonyms

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

FIDELITY

Possible Answers:

Loyalty

Ministry

Tint

Inadequacy

Ennui

Correct answer:

Loyalty

Explanation:

"Fidelity" is a noun derived from the Latin root fidelis meaning faithfulness. "Loyalty" is a noun meaning a strong feeling of allegiance or faithfulness, and is an appropriate synonym.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Roots From Greek

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

UNORTHODOX

Possible Answers:

Strange

Putrid

Ordinary

Pedestrian

Malevolent

Correct answer:

Strange

Explanation:

"Unorthodox" means unusual or strange or not traditional, so "strange" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2259 : Synonyms

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

SAVANT

Possible Answers:

Accumulation

Mirage

Scholar

Epicure

Irony

Correct answer:

Scholar

Explanation:

A "savant" is a person of extensive learning, so the best choice is the word "scholar." "Savant" is derived from the French word "savoir," which means to know.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors