SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #391 : Identifying Synonyms

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

AGHAST

Possible Answers:

Alarmed

Calm

Awry

Prone

Ghastly

Correct answer:

Alarmed

Explanation:

"Aghast" is an adjective that means stunned or horrified, so we need to find another adjective that means something that has to do with feeling shock or fear. While "ghastly" sounds like "aghast," it is an adjective that means terrible or shocking. Since "ghastly" does not mean the same thing as "aghast" ("shocking" doesn't mean the same thing as "shocked"), it can't be the right answer. "Alarmed," on the other hand, means frightened, and since it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "aghast," it is the correct answer.

Example Question #392 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CONTRITE

Possible Answers:

Pennant

Loose

Penitent

Content

Tight

Correct answer:

Penitent

Explanation:

"Contrite" is an adjective that means "feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt," so we need to pick out another adjective that means something like "feeling guilty." While "pennant" and "penitent" sound quite similar to one another, "pennant" is a noun meaning "a long, thin, pointed flag," while "penitent" is an adjective meaning "feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant." Because "penitent" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "contrite," "penitent" is the correct answer.

Example Question #411 : Synonyms

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

CONTENT

Possible Answers:

Important

Extensive

Satisfied

Enormous

Paltry

Correct answer:

Satisfied

Explanation:

"Content" means satisfied or happy; Extensive means thorough; Important means relevant; Paltry means of small amount; and Enormous means huge.

Example Question #17 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

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

LONELY

Possible Answers:

Joyful

Popular

Friendless

Chaotic

Talkative

Correct answer:

Friendless

Explanation:

"Lonely" describes someone who feels alone or is friendless, so "friendless" is the correct answer. "Popular" is an antonym of "lonely"; it describes someone who has many friends. "Talkative" is a synonym of garrulous and describes someone who talks a lot. "Joyful" means very happy. "Chaotic" means involving disorder or confusion.

Example Question #393 : Identifying Synonyms

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

AVID

Possible Answers:

Acidic

Enthusiastic

Pompous

Trivial

Rigorous

Correct answer:

Enthusiastic

Explanation:

"Avid" means enthusiastic, or being very eager and passionate about something.

None of the other words are synonyms of avid:

"Trivial" means not important.

"Rigorous" means intensive, demanding or difficult.

"Pompous" means having an annoying sense of self-importance or something that is excessively pretentious.

"Acidic" means the quality of having acid, or of being sour.

Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

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

DOLEFUL

Possible Answers:

Melancholy

Mediocre

Deer-like

Elated

Indomitable

Correct answer:

Melancholy

Explanation:

"Doleful" means "melancholy," sad, or depressing.

None of the other words are synonymous with doleful:

"Mediocre" means average or ordinary.

"Indomitable" means invincible, stubborn or unyielding.

"Deer-like" means related to a deer, or possessing qualities of a deer. Deer are often described as having doleful eyes.

"Elated" means wildly excited and happy, or euphoric.

Example Question #22 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

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

MELANCHOLY

Possible Answers:

Somber

Anxious

Antsy

Nervous

Excited

Correct answer:

Somber

Explanation:

"Melancholy" is an adjective describing an emotion synonymous with "somber." The rest of the answers are all closely related: "Excited," "Anxious," "Antsy," and "Nervous" are all emotions, but they are not emotions related to sadness in the way "melancholy" and "somber" are.

Example Question #22 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

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

DISTRAUGHT

Possible Answers:

Pleasant

Fraught

Agreeable

Polite

Obliging

Correct answer:

Fraught

Explanation:

"Distraught" and "fraught" are synonyms describing a person's emotional state, a deeply upset and disquieted one. These words are opposite in meaning to the rest of the answer choices, which all describe pleasant states.

Example Question #23 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

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

BASHFUL

Possible Answers:

Demolished

Shy

Broken

Carefree

Blithe

Correct answer:

Shy

Explanation:

"Bashful" means shy, reserved, or inhibited. "Broken" means not functional, and "demolished" means destroyed or ruined. "Carefree" and "blithe" both mean happily untroubled and unworried.

Example Question #24 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

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

SUSPICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Mistrustful

Umber

Dun

Unschooled

Ignorant

Correct answer:

Mistrustful

Explanation:

To be "suspicious" of someone or something is not to trust that person or thing. "Ignorant" and "unschooled" both mean uneducated or lacking knowledge. "Dun" is a gray-brown color, and "umber" is a dark brown color.

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