Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits - SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

Someone who is "arrogant" is very proud of his- or herself and confident in his or her abilities, so "proud" is the correct answer.

Loyal means faithful.

Sloppy means messy.

"Modest" is an adjective that means humble, so "humble" is the correct answer.

"Wily" is an adjective that means "skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully," so we need to pick out another word that means something like "sneaky." While "sneak" is a potential answer choice, it is a verb, so it can't be the correct answer, because we are looking for an adjective. While "snarky" may also look like a potentially correct answer, "snarky" means "sharply critical; cutting; snide." Since it doesn't mean the same thing as "wily," it can't be the correct answer either. "Sly," however, is an adjective that means "having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature," and because it is closest in meaning to "wily," "sly" is the correct answer.

"Amiable" is an adjective that means "having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner," so we need to pick out a word that means something like "friendly." Since "cordial" means "warm and friendly," "cordial" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "amiable," and the correct answer.

"Mild" is an adjective that can mean gentle or moderate. So, "harsh" cannot be the correct answer, because "harsh" is an adjective that can mean severe, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "mild." "Gentle," however, is an adjective that means mild and tender or moderate. So, because "gentle" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "mild," "gentle" is the correct answer.

“Enchanting,” when used as an adjective, means “delightfully charming or attractive,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “charming.” That means that “boring” cannot be the correct answer, because “boring” means “not interesting,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “enchanting.” “Delightful,” however, is an adjective that means “causing delight; charming,” and because “delightful” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “enchanting,” “delightful” is the correct answer.

“Squeamish” is an adjective that when being used to describe a person, can mean “easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted; having strong moral views.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “easily made to feel sick” or “having strong moral views.” That means that “hard to gross out” cannot be the correct answer, because “hard to gross out” means the opposite of “squeamish.” “Nauseated,” however, is an adjective that means “sickened; affected with nausea,” and because “easily nauseated, is the answer choice closest in meaning to “squeamish,” “easily nauseated” is the correct answer.

“Stubborn” is an adjective that can mean “having or showing dogged determination not to change one’s attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “determined not to change one’s attitude or position on something.” That means that “obedient” cannot be the correct answer, because “obedient” means “complying or willing to comply with orders or requests; submissive to another’s will,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “stubborn.” “Difficult,” however, is an adjective that means “not willing to help others by changing your behavior : stubborn or unreasonable,” and because “difficult” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “stubborn,” “difficult” is the correct answer.

"Laconic" means concise and to the point, using few words.

"Elegant" means graceful.

"Intelligent" means smart.

"Smart" and "intelligent" both share similar meanings.

Someone who is "stealthy" is very sneaky and good at staying hidden, so "sneaky" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "stealthy": "considerate" means kind and "inconsiderate" means unkind, as you might be able to guess from the use of the negative prefix "in-," which means not, in "inconsiderate"; and "diabolical" means evil and "benevolent" means kind and generous.

Someone who is "generous" is not selfish and enjoys sharing, so the correct answer is “unselfish.” None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "generous."

"Callous" means cruel, unkind or heartless, so "heartless" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "callous": "brash" means bold; "reluctant" means disinclined or resistant, or not wanting to do something; and "paranoid" means perceiving and fearing something that doesn't actually exist.

Someone who is "valiant" is very brave, so "brave" is the correct answer. To help you, "humorous" means funny, "shocked" means surprised, and "meek" and "timid" are both synonyms of shy.

"Vocal" means loud and liking to speak one's mind, so "loud" is the correct answer. To help you, "visible" means able to be seen, and "untimely" means occurring at a bad time.