SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2291 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CONTIGUOUS

Possible Answers:

Adjoining

Beatific

Incendiary

Abominable

Capricious

Correct answer:

Adjoining

Explanation:

The adjective "contiguous" means not separate, touching one another, adjacent, or adjoining. Additionally, "beatific" means joyous and blissful; "incendiary" means flammable or likely to cause an offended and passionate reaction; "capricious" means fickle, inconsistent, and changeable; and "abominable" means loathsome and hated.

Example Question #2442 : Synonyms

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

INEXORABLE

Possible Answers:

Poised

Indispensable

Unscathed

Relentless

Abstruse

Correct answer:

Relentless

Explanation:

The adjective "inexorable" means unstoppable, "relentless," impossible to prevent from happening. Additionally, "unscathed" means unharmed by; "indispensable" means vital, needed, essential; "abstruse" means (of knowledge) hard to understand, esoteric, arcane, recondite; "poised" means showing calm and composure in a stressful situation.

Example Question #2296 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PRECIPITOUS

Possible Answers:

Loose

Dormant

Steep

Wide

Narrow

Correct answer:

Steep

Explanation:

The adjective "precipitous" means dangerously steep, sheer. It can also mean sudden and abrupt. Additionally, "dormant" means sleeping, at rest, not active.

Example Question #2441 : Synonyms

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

INOPPORTUNE

Possible Answers:

Untimely

Insidious

Enigmatic. 

Pusillanimous

Assiduous

Correct answer:

Untimely

Explanation:

The adjective "inopportune" means occurring at the wrong time, inappropriate for the moment, or "untimely." To provide further help, "untimely" means happening at a time deemed unfortunate or inappropriate. Additionally, "enigmatic "means mysterious, puzzling; "pusillanimous" means cowardly, not brave; "assiduous" means hard-working, meticulous, showing 'attention to detail'; "insidious" means treacherous, advancing in a deceptively slow fashion that nonetheless leads to devastating consequences.

Example Question #3196 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

EPISODIC

Possible Answers:

Intermittent

Acclaimed

Limpid

Fallow

Irresolute

Correct answer:

Intermittent

Explanation:

The adjective "episodic" means occurring in episodes, occurring in a series of regularly repeating segments. So, a television show could often be described as "episodic." This definition is closest in meaning to "intermittent" which means occurring at irregular intervals, not continuous. Additionally, "fallow" means (of soil) not being used to grow crops; "irresolute" means uncertain, unsure; "acclaimed" means widely praised; "limpid" means (of a liquid) clear.

Example Question #2301 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PRIMORDIAL

Possible Answers:

Ancient

Glossy

Urgent

Dictatorial

Palpable

Correct answer:

Ancient

Explanation:

"Primordial" is an adjective meaning prehistoric, existing at or from the beginning of time. "Ancient" is an adjective meaning belonging to the very distant past, and is an appropriate synonym.

Example Question #2445 : Synonyms

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

SPARSE

Possible Answers:

infrequent

menacing

unintelligent

obvious

aggressive

Correct answer:

infrequent

Explanation:

"Sparse" means scattered, meager, or infrequent.

Example Question #2442 : Synonyms

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

SPARSE

Possible Answers:

gregarious

thriving

meager

meticulous

hungry

Correct answer:

meager

Explanation:

Sparse means thinly dispersed or meager.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

RIFE.

Possible Answers:

Roomy 

Obvious 

Rare 

Common 

Misplaced 

Correct answer:

Common 

Explanation:

“Rife” means common or found frequently. Usually you will hear as part of the expression something was rife with something. For example, her hair was rife with lice. The correct synonym is “common.”

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

BEREFT. 

Possible Answers:

Surfeit 

Donate 

Excess

Surplus 

Lacking 

Correct answer:

Lacking 

Explanation:

To be “bereft” means to be lacking. As in, “she was bereft of ideas, having tried everything.” For clarification, "excess," "surfeit" and "surplus" are all synonyms and mean to have too much of something; as such they are antonyms of “bereft” and “lacking.”

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