Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, and Size - ISEE Lower Level: Verbal Reasoning

When something is "becoming scarce," it is decreasing in quantity. Indeed, a "scarce" supply is one that is scanty or small in quantity. If almost all the trees in a forest are cut down, we would say, "The trees have become scarce." Therefore, the word "scarce" at times is used to mean "rare" as well. If there are few trees, it becomes rare to see them. A "rare occurrence" is one that does not happen very frequently—it "scarcely happens."

Whenever something is "enormous," it is very big. This "very" is important. Several options, like "big" and "large," do not express this "very_._" Only "huge" is a word that means very big. Therefore, it is the best option among those provided.

If something is colossal, it means that it is massive or immense. For example, a mistake can be colossal if it is large.

"Immense" is an adjective that means "extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "very big." That means that "puny" can't be the correct answer, because "puny" means "small and weak" or "poor in quality, amount, or size," so "puny" is an antonym of "immense." "Gargantuan," however, is an adjective that means "enormous," so "gargantuan" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "immense."

"Compact" is a word that when used as an adjective can mean "closely and neatly packed together; dense," or "having all the necessary components or features neatly fitted into a small space." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "small." That means that "oversized" can't be the correct answer, because "oversized" can mean "bigger than the usual size," so "oversized" is an antonym of "compact." "Miniature," however, is an adjective that means "of a much smaller size than normal; very small," especially when used of a replica of something, so "miniature" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "compact."

"Ample" is an adjective that means "enough or more than enough; plentiful." So, "meager" cannot be the correct answer, because "meager" means "lacking in quantity or quality" when used to refer to something provided or available," making "meager" an antonym of "ample," not a synonym." "Profuse," however, is an adjective that means "exuberantly plentiful; abundant, especially when used of something offered or discharged." Because "profuse" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "ample," "profuse" is the correct answer.

“Ample” is an adjective that means “plentiful,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “enough” or “plentiful.” That means that “lacking” cannot be the correct answer, because “lacking” means “not available,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “ample.” “Abundant,” however, is an adjective that means “large quantities; plentiful,” and because “abundant” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “ample,” “abundant” is the correct answer.

“Diminutive” is an adjective that means “extremely small,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “very small.” That means that “enormous” cannot be the correct answer, because “enormous” means “very large in size, quantity, or extent,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “diminutive.” “Minute,” however, is a word that means “extremely small” when used as an adjective, and because “minute” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “diminutive,” “minute” is the correct answer.

Something that is monotonous repeats without varying, so another word for "monotonous" is "repetitive." Considering the other choices, "loud" means great in volume, "monochrome" means consisting of one color or different shades of one color, and "same" means alike.

The word "portable" means easy to carry and transport from place to place. The best choice is "lightweight" because it is a characteristic of something that is portable and can be used as a synonym of "portable." Considering the other options, "big" is an antonym of portable because something that is big is not able to be carried easily. "Bag" and "toy" are both examples of things that can be portable.

"Sparse" means scarce or not abundant. "Scant" similarly means scarce or not abundant, so "scant" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, a "concept" is an idea, a "duplicate" is an exact copy and to "duplicate" something means to make an exact copy of it, "thrifty" means using what you have carefully and not wasting anything, and "nonchalant" means calm and unconcerned about something.

Assorted means made up of various types of things. To further help you, a concept is an idea; the wilderness is the wild; metropolitan means a large city area; circumstantial means because of a situation, lucky.

"Solitary" means lone, alone, or by oneself, so "lone" is the correct answer. To help you, "paired" means put together into a group of two, "guardian" means defender, and "luxurious" means fancy and expensive.

Immense means massive, huge, or very significant. To further help you, it is an antonym of the other four answer choices, as it has the opposite meaning to them. Miniscule, petite and lilliputian are all synonyms that mean very small.

Scant means slight or little. To further help you, precious means valuable and important to someone; delicious means tasty; significant means important or noteworthy; elementary means basic.

When something is "unique," it is the only one of its kind, or at the very least extremely special. For example, people often talk about snowflakes as examples of uniqueness, stating that each snowflake is slightly different. "One-of-a-kind" is the correct choice here. "Commonplace" and "regular" refer to ordinary things, so these words are the opposite of our answer. "Young," which means having so far only been alive for a brief period of time or not old, is an unrelated concept.

"Peculiar" is an adjective that means unusual. Therefore, the word "strange" is the correct choice; other synonyms might include odd or abnormal. "Normal" is an antonym of "peculiar," and "intelligent," or smart, is unrelated. "Uninteresting" is also an incorrect choice because a peculiar object is unlikely to be boring.

"Common" is defined as not rare. "Normal" is the best answer choice, because "normal" describes things that are standard, regular, or natural. "Rare" is an antonym of "common."

"Meager" refers to amounts of things and means a very small or too small. "Sparse," which means present only in small amounts or less than is necessary, is the best match.