Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

"Eloquent" is an adjective that means "fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing" or "clearly expressing or indicating something," so we need to pick out another adjective that means something like "fluent in speech or writing." "Glib" might look like a close synonym of "eloquent," as "glib" means "fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow," and is used to describe words or the person speaking them; however, "articulate" is the better answer, because "articulate" also describes a person or their words and means "having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently." Because articulate does not include any negative connotations like "glib" does (in meaning "insincere and shallow"), "articulate" is the closer synonym to "eloquent" and the correct answer.

"Jovial" is an adjective that means "cheerful and friendly," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "cheerful" or "friendly." While both "excited" and "affable" might look like potentially correct answers, "excited" doesn't mean "cheerful and friendly," so it can't be the correct answer. "Affable," however, means "friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to." Because "affable" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "jovial," "affable" is the correct answer.

"Taciturn" is an adjective that refers to people and means " reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "saying little." "Loquacious" might look like a potentially correct answer because it has to do with speech; one can recognize this by noticing the prefix "loq-", which is a root meaning "talk." However, "loquacious" means "tending to talk a great deal; talkative," so it is actually an antonym of "taciturn" and cannot be the correct answer. "Reserved," however, when used as an adjective, can mean either "slow to reveal emotion or opinions" or "kept specially for a particular purpose or person." Because the first meaning of "reserved" is synonymous with "taciturn," "reserved" is the correct answer.

"Peevish" is an adjective that means "easily irritated, especially by unimportant things," or "feeling or showing irritation." While someone who is peevish might also be loud, "loud" does not mean the same thing as "peevish," so it cannot be the correct answer. "Cranky," however, means "ill-tempered; irritable," so "cranky" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "peevish."

"Vociferous" is an adjective describing someone or something "characterized by noisy and determined shouting." Frustrated, angry, and violent all have a negative connotation to them, which vociferous does not. And rustic simply means natural, or wooded, so that describes more of a physical quality than an audible one. Loud is the best answer. Hint: the root of "vociferous" looks a lot like "voice."

"Pompous" is an adjective meaning "affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important." While "important" may look like a good answer because someone who is pompous merely thinks they are important, "important" and "pompous" are not synonyms, so "important" cannot be the correct answer. "Sententious," however, is an adjective that means "given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner," and the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "pompous."

"Brash" is an adjective that can mean "self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way," "strong, energetic, or irreverent," or when describing a place or a thing, "having an ostentatious or tasteless appearance." "Gregarious" means "fond of company; sociable," so it can't be the correct answer, and while "interruptive" and "demanding" are both nearer in meaning to "brash" than "gregarious" is, neither of them are synonymous with "brash." "Insolent," an adjective that means "showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect," is the closest synonym to "brash" amongst the listed answer choices, so it is the correct answer.

"Benign" is an adjective that can take on several meanings: "gentle; kindly," "mild and favorable" when used to describe a climate or environment, "not harmful to the environment" or, when used of a disease, "not harmful in effect: in particular, not malignant (when describing a tumor)." While "bewildered" and "beneficial" might each start with "be-" like "benign" does, neither word is synonymous with any of the meanings of "benign," so neither "bewildered" nor "beneficial" can be the correct answer. "Warmhearted," however, is an adjective that means "sympathetic and kind" and is used of a person or their actions, and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "benign," it is the correct answer.

"Loquacious" is an adjective that means "tending to talk a great deal; talkative." So, because "talkative" is the only answer choice that is close in meaning to "loquacious," "talkative" is the correct answer.

"Resolute" is an adjective that means "admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "unwavering." "Waffling," then, cannot be the correct answer because "waffling" means "failing to make up one's mind," so "waffling" is an antonym of "resolute," not a synonym. "Unfaltering," however, is an adjective that means "not faltering; steady; resolute." Because "unfaltering" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "resolute," "unfaltering" is the correct answer.

"Illustrious" is an adjective that means "well known, respected, and admired for past achievements." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "well known," "respected," or "admired." Neither "forgettable" nor "substandard" can be the correct answer, because each word has a meaning that is nearly the opposite of "illustrious." "Preeminent," however, is an adjective that means "surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way," and because it is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "illustrious," "preeminent" is the correct answer.

"Absentminded" is an adjective that describes a person or his or her behavior or manner and means "having or showing a habitually forgetful or inattentive disposition," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "forgetful" or "inattentive." Neither "focused" nor "observant" can be the correct answer, then, because each of those words is an antonym of "absentminded." "Forgetful" is an answer choice, and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "absentminded," "forgetful" is the correct answer.

"Frugal"means economical with money, or thrifty.

"Charismatic" is an adjective that means "exercising a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "compelling." "Repellant," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "repellant" is an antonym of "compelling," not a synonym. "Captivating," however, is an adjective that means "capable of attracting and holding interest; charming," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "charismatic," "captivating" is the correct answer.

"Blunt," when used as an adjective, can mean either "having a worn-down edge or point; not sharp" when referring to knives, pencils, or other typically sharp objects, "uncompromisingly forthright" when referring to a person, or "saying or expressing something in a very direct way that may upset some people." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "dull," "forthright," or "saying something in a very direct manner." "Subtle," then, cannot be the correct answer, because because "subtle" can mean "making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something," making "subtle" an antonym of "blunt." "Frank," however, is an adjective that means "open, honest, and direct in speech or writing, especially when dealing with unpalatable matters," and because "frank" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "blunt," "frank" is the correct answer.

"Curt" is an adjective that means "rudely brief," so we need to pick out an answer that means something like "rudely brief." So, "agreeable" cannot be the correct answer because "agreeable" is an antonym, not a synonym, of "curt." "Gruff," however, is an adjective that can mean "abrupt or taciturn in manner," and because "gruff" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "curt," "gruff" is the correct answer.

"Callow" is an adjective that means "inexperienced and immature," especially when referring to a young person, so we need to pick out an answer that means something like "immature." So, "accomplished" cannot be the correct answer because "accomplished" is an adjective that means "highly trained or skilled," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "callow." "Inexperienced," however, is a verb that can mean "having little knowledge or experience of a particular thing," and because "inexperienced" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "callow," "inexperienced" is the correct answer.

"Persistent" is an adjective that means "continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "continuing obstinately." So, "halfhearted" cannot be the correct answer, because "halfhearted" means "without enthusiasm or energy," making it an antonym of "persistent," not a synonym. "Resolute," however, is an adjective that means "admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering," and because "resolute" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "persistent," "resolute" is the correct answer.

"Terse" is an adjective that means "sparing in the use of words; abrupt," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "abrupt." So, "long-winded" cannot be the correct answer, because "long-winded" is an adjective used of speech or writing that means "continuing at length and in a tedious way," making the word an antonym, not a synonym, of "terse." "Brusque," however, means "abrupt or offhand in speech or manner," and because "brusque" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "terse," "brusque" is the correct answer.