SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #47 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

BIDE. 

Possible Answers:

Disagree

Uncommon 

Hit 

Wait 

Scream 

Correct answer:

Wait 

Explanation:

To “bide” means to wait as in “to bide one’s time.”

Example Question #21 : Synonyms

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

SUBSIST.

Possible Answers:

Acrid 

Defeat

Prudent 

Convalesce

Exist 

Correct answer:

Exist 

Explanation:

“Subsist” means to manage to live, or exist. For clarification, to be "prudent" means to be wise and judicial; "acrid" describes thick smoke; "convalesce" means to recover or recuperate.

Example Question #22 : Synonyms

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

CAJOLE. 

Possible Answers:

Canon 

Judge 

Recuperate 

Encourage 

Laud 

Correct answer:

Encourage 

Explanation:

To “cajole” someone means to forcibly encourage. For clarification, "recuperate" means to recover or convalesce; "laud" means to praise; "canon" is a type of general rule or religious custom.

Example Question #23 : Synonyms

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

WINSOME. 

Possible Answers:

Venerable

Charming 

Disgusting 

Humble 

Sagacious 

Correct answer:

Charming 

Explanation:

A “winsome” person is someone who is charming, particularly because of an appealing naiveté. For clarification, "venerable" means worthy of respect, old; "humble" means modest; "sagacious" means very wise.  

Example Question #24 : Synonyms

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

ABROGATE.

Possible Answers:

Goad

Envelop 

Praise 

Encourage 

Abolish 

Correct answer:

Abolish 

Explanation:

“Abrogate” means to do away with something, so the correct answer is “abolish” which has the same meaning. For clarification, "goad" means to provoke; "envelop" means surround

Example Question #25 : Synonyms

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

STRENUOUS.

Possible Answers:

Strict 

Staunch 

Harmonious 

Lilliputian 

Arduous 

Correct answer:

Arduous 

Explanation:

Something that is “strenuous” is hard-work and stressful. This is very similar in meaning to “arduous” which describes a task that is difficult and exhausting to accomplish. For clarification, "staunch" means loyal, sturdy or ardent; "harmonious" means peaceful and co-operative; "lilliputian" means very short.

Example Question #26 : Synonyms

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

TRAVESTY.

Possible Answers:

Compromise 

Temerity 

Inheritance

Justice 

Imitation 

Correct answer:

Imitation 

Explanation:

A “travesty” is a grotesque or insulting representation or imitation of something, so the correct answer is “imitation.” For clarification imitation means simulation, copy or representation; inheritance describes ownership or succession by heredity (meaning things that are passed down from the previous generation to the next such as in a will or through a heirloom); compromise is an agreement in which both parties make some sacrifice for the good of the agreement; temerity means shyness.

Example Question #27 : Synonyms

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

POISED. 

Possible Answers:

Judicial 

Balanced 

Lanky 

Porous 

Outraged 

Correct answer:

Balanced 

Explanation:

To be “poised” means you are centered, balanced and calm. For clarification, "porous" means easily permeable or breachable; "lanky" means tall and skinny; "judicial" means fair and wise; "outraged" means angered.

Example Question #28 : Synonyms

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

SURMISE. 

Possible Answers:

Banal 

Infer 

Creative 

Misunderstood 

Cancel 

Correct answer:

Infer 

Explanation:

To “surmise” means to make an educated conclusion based on inference or intuition. So the correct answer is “infer.” For clarification, "banal" means commonplace, ordinary or boring.

Example Question #29 : Synonyms

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

PRESAGE. 

Possible Answers:

Candor 

Prefix 

Describe 

Incite 

Omen 

Correct answer:

Omen 

Explanation:

A “presage” is an omen or warning of a future event. The prefix pre- would have provided you with a clue that the word “presage” described something that occurs before something else such as in “preview” or “preorder.” For clarification, "candor" means frankness or openness; "incite" means to start or encourage something.

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