Synonyms: Distinguishing Between Multiple Definitions - ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

Average means to be ordinary, not on the polar end of the spectrum. Something that is typical matches this description. Therefore, typical is the correct answer. A tempting wrong answer is mathematical. While averages are used in math, the two words are not synonyms.

"Majority"means more than 50%, or the group with the most members in a given vote or debate. It is the opposite of "minority,"which therefore cannot be the correct answer. The right answer is "most," because "most" means more than half. Thus, majority and most are synonyms. While "majority"can sometimes be used as a noun, it can also be used as an adjective. ("The majority of the population" is an example of it being used as a noun, while "the majority vote" is an example of it being used as an adjective.)

The word "position" has many meanings. The general idea involved in many of them is being in a given location. It can also be used in a physical sense as well as a metaphorical sense. Think about your position in one of your classes. This really means how well you have scored so far. We use the word "position" also to locate the "place" someone holds in a company for which they work. Thus, a nurse is one position among many others in a hospital. We might ask, "What position did you apply for?" Hence, the best option for this question is "occupation," meaning job. Do not be tricked by "region" and "landmass". Just because they are physical terms, they are not the same as "position."

The word "brilliant" has two main sets of meanings. The word originally comes from roots meaning to shine. Thus, we know of usages like, "The light brilliantly shone on the water." This means that it was shining brightly upon the water. Now, it has also been extended to mean intelligent, as when we say that someone is "bright." In this question, the only possible meaning is "dazzling." The other options may tempt you (especially "mathematical"). However, none of them express a possible meaning for "brilliant."

This question is trying to trick you into avoiding the sense of "light" that is implied by the answer choices. Yes, the word "light" has to do with physical light; however, this is not at all the same as being cloudy or, even, with "summer." (Indeed, many summer days could be quite dark and cloudy.) The word "light" can also mean "not heavy," and in this sense, it can also mean, "easy." This is the answer to this question.

The word "cloudy" is, of course, used to describe the familiar weather condition; however, do not be fooled by this question. It is trying to get you to answer using anything that you might relate to weather. You might even choose "depressing" because many people get depressed during cloudy weather. Do not be tricked! Whenever the air is cloudy, it is not clear. Therefore, the word "cloudy" is sometimes used in an extended sense to mean "not clear" or "uncertain." For example, you could say, "His explanation was somewhat cloudy, so I asked him to be more specific." Also, you could say, "He was a bit cloudy about the details, so he asked several questions to help clarify his knowledge about the event." In both of these cases, the word "cloudy" has to do with a kind of mental uncertainty. The only option that matches this sort of meaning is "uncertain."

The word "villain" is often used in stories. It indicates the "bad guy" or the "antagonist" in the story. Now, this might tempt you to choose something like "monster" or "devil," but the best option is actually "convict." Unless the question gives you "antagonist" for an option, you have to use the secondary meaning of "villain," which indicates, in general, someone who inflicts harm on others.

The word "class" is primarily used to describe a group of people or things. Thus, on a plane, "first class" is the group of passengers who have the most expensive tickets. In school, a "class" is a group of students. Note, however, that "class" is not synonymous with "education" or "scholarship." These options are trying to trick you!

The word "fine" has many meanings. Do not be tempted by "punished". Yes, a "fine" is a punishment; however, that is a noun use, while "punished" is an adjective. The best option, perhaps surprisingly, is "dusty." If you had powder that you would call "fine," this would be very dusty powder. This is the best option among those given.

In general, the word "example" means a particular case or specimen. For example, you can say, "The word 'greet' is an example of a verb, but you can also use the word "example" in the sense of "a model" (to be imitated). For instance, you could say, "Regis' actions were an example for his younger brother to follow." This means that Regis' actions were a model for his younger brother.

Likely, you are thinking of the meaning of "move" as in "to move from one place to another"; however, the word "move" can also be used in several other senses. For this question, the sense is, to inspire, as when we say, "That was a moving discussion." In this example, "moving" means inspiring. Do not be tricked by options like "grab," "take," or "place." All of these have to do with physical locations, but they do not have to do with moving in any immediate sense.

You likely use the word "enhance" to mean to improve. For example, you might say, "The new phone was enhanced by many new features;" however, you could also think of such improvement as being a kind of "enlargening" of the quality of the thing in question. Thus, sometimes, people will speak of something that is "enhanced" by becoming bigger. Thus, the word "magnify" can be used as a synonym. You might use "enhanced" in this way when saying, "The new ingredients enhanced the already excellent flavors," and mean, "The new ingredients made the already excellent flavors even more powerful." This is a kind of "magnification," for you can say, "The new ingredients magnified the flavors."

Although we use the word "grasp" in a physical sense, it also has a metaphorical meaning that is related to this. When we "grasp an idea," we mean that we understand it. Another way of saying that you understand something is to say that you comprehend it. (This actually means that you really understand it.) Do not be fooled by options like "shove" and "force." These do not even match the basic, physical meaning of "grasp."

When someone is "stunned," he or she is unable to move. Therefore, you might be tempted to pick one of the trap options given to this question. Do not be fooled into thinking that "stun" has to do with hurting someone. Therefore, we need to look for another sense to the word. Well, when someone tells someone something surprising, he or she is said to stun the other person if the other person doesn't know how to react. (The person is indeed stopped and unable to move or think!) Thus, we can stun someone with amazing news. The verb "amaze" is a good synonym for this reason. When you "amaze" someone, that person is likely unable to respond at first because of his or her surprise.

We often use the word "intense" to describe something that is very strong. An intense fire is one that is really hot. Someone can have an "intense personality," meaning that he or she is very passionate. That is the sense of the word being used in the one correct option offered here. Do not be tempted by "angry" or even "attentive." These do not indicate the general sense of strength that is indicated by the term "intensity."

The word "stellar" comes from the Latin stella, meaning star. Thus, we can use "stellar" to describe things that pertain to space. Thus, "stellar readings" are observations about the stars. We also use the word informally to mean very excellent. We even see this kind of meaning when we say, "He was a music star," meaning that the person was very highly regarded for music skill. Thus, a good synonym for "stellar" is "outstanding."

The word "original" can have several meanings, though they are related. In one sense, we say that the "original running shoe" was the very first shoe of its kind. To be "original" is to be first—it is to be at the origin or beginning of something. When someone is "creative," he or she makes new things that others have never made before. That is why we can say that an original person is creative. An "original idea" is one that has never been thought of before; therefore, it is likely very creative. This is the only option that expresses some meaning directly related to "original."

Be careful on this question! The word "compact" can have two meanings that are pretty different. It can mean dense. Thus, a compact load of laundry is very densely packed. (The option "heavy" is a trick, trying to make you confuse being dense with being heavy.) The other meaning is "agreement." A "compact" is an agreement between two or more people. (Think of the Mayflower Compact that you have perhaps learned about in history class. This was an agreement among the settlers of the Plymouth colony.)

The word "central" can be used to mean in the middle. It can also mean very important. For example, we might say, "She was the central figure in the whole project." This doesn't mean that she merely was in the middle point of the group. She was the most important person involved. (The idea of being central in this sense does come from the general awareness of something being "in the middle" being important often. It is important to see that this involves some changes in meaning.)