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 #4 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

FAR-FETCHED

Possible Answers:

Operational

Improbable

Languishing

Expected

Proportionate

Correct answer:

Improbable

Explanation:

“Far-fetched” is an adjective that means implausible, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like unlikely. That means that “expected” cannot be the correct answer, because “expected” means thought of as likely to occur, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “far-fetched.” “Improbable,” however, is an adjective that means either not likely to occur or be true, and because “improbable” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “far-fetched,” “improbable” is the correct answer.

Example Question #2301 : Synonyms

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

CONFOUNDING

Possible Answers:

Considerate 

Benevolent 

Ponderous

Puzzling 

Noteworthy 

Correct answer:

Puzzling 

Explanation:

“Confounding” means confusing or puzzling, so "puzzling" is the correct answer. For clarification, "ponderous" means very slow or overelaborate; "noteworthy" means significant; "benevolent" means possessing a good or virtuous nature; and "considerate" means thoughtful.

Example Question #2303 : Synonyms

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

CONTENTIOUS

Possible Answers:

remarkable

ill-timed

forgiving

controversial

renowned

Correct answer:

controversial

Explanation:

"Contentious" means likely to cause argument, or controversial.

Example Question #2302 : Synonyms

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

VIABLE

Possible Answers:

Feasible

Courageous

Tremendous

Manifold

Influential

Correct answer:

Feasible

Explanation:

"Viable" means realistic and capable of meeting with success, or "feasible."

Example Question #18 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

SALIENT

Possible Answers:

Significant 

Salty

Corporeal

Elegant 

Flavorful

Correct answer:

Significant 

Explanation:

“Salient” means significant or noticeable. For clarification, "corporeal" means concerning bodily things (especially in contrast to spiritual things) and "elegant" means sophisticated and graceful.

Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

LIMPID

Possible Answers:

Laconic

Lucid 

Ornery

Intrepid

Listless 

Correct answer:

Lucid 

Explanation:

Something expressed in a “limpid” way is expressed clearly and lucidly and easily understood. So the correct answer is “lucid” which also means clear. For clarification, "listless" means lacking energy; "laconic" means terse or brief; "ornery" means irritable or bad-tempered; "intrepid" means adventurous.

Example Question #2303 : Synonyms

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

LUCID

Possible Answers:

Intelligible

Risky

Timid

Insane

Cloudy

Correct answer:

Intelligible

Explanation:

"Lucid" means expressed clearly, or intelligible.

Example Question #2304 : Synonyms

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

LUCID

Possible Answers:

Mystified 

Clear

Healthy

Shameful

Mandatory

Correct answer:

Clear

Explanation:

"Lucid" means clear.  

Example Question #991 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

GLIB

Possible Answers:

Silly

Fortified

Flippant

Weak

Unsure

Correct answer:

Flippant

Explanation:

"Glib" means speaking a lot but in an insincere and flippant way, so "flippant," meaning facetious and rude, is the correct answer.

Example Question #24 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

SPURIOUS

Possible Answers:

Fixated

Enraged

False

Dissected

Underwhelmed

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

"Spurious" means counterfeit or untrue. (Example: "The paper was full of spurious claims, and Francis wasn't surprised that the argument's evidence was lacking, as evidence would have contradicted its claims.") Therefore, "false" is the best synonym.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors