Synonyms - SSAT Middle Level: Verbal

Abominable and offensive are synonyms, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is the best synonym for contradict. "Contradict" means to argue with, to oppose. For clarification, "pacify" means to make calm or better; "admonish" means to criticize or rebuke.

"Languid" is a synonym of "slow," so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best available synonym for choleric. To be "choleric" is to be bad-tempered or easily irritated, so the correct answer is “irritable.”

"Argue" and "debate" are synonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best synonym for candid. "Candid" means frank or honest.

If a leader is “draconian,” his laws and rules are “severe.” The meanings of the words are the same, so they are synonyms. Your “preference” can be described as your "taste" in something, so we can also say that "preference" and "taste" are synonyms.

"Voracious" means greedy, having a large appetite. "Voracious" and "greedy" are synonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices is a synonym of "slovenly." The correct answer is "messy." "Slovenly" means having a messy and dirty appearance.

"Pristine" means completely spotless, immaculate, totally clean without any mess. So, "pristine" and "clean" are synonyms. Which of these words is a synonym of "parched?" The correct answer is "dry," because "parched" means dried out due to heat and lack of water.

Since "bilk" is a word that means "defraud," we need to pick out a word that means the same thing as "genteel." While "tame" may look like a good answer because "genteel" sounds like "gentle" and "gentle" is similar in meaning to "tame," "genteel" does not mean the same thing as "gentle," so "tame" cannot be the correct answer. Because "genteel" means refined, often in an affected manner, "refined" is closest in meaning to "genteel," so "refined" is the correct answer.

"Mercurial" is a synonym of "unpredictable," so to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available synonym for livid. To be "livid" means to be very angry, which is most similar in meaning to “irate.” For clarification, "nomadic" refers to a lifestyle characterized by wandering; "garrulous" means talkative.

"Fetter" is a word that as a verb means bind and as a noun means shackles used on the the feet or more broadly, a restraint. Since "fetter" as a verb means the same thing as "restrain," we need to pick out an answer that consists of a pair of synonyms. While "link is to chain" may look like a good option because "fetter" as a noun means shackles used on the feet and could involve chains, "metal" and "chain" are not synonyms, so "metal is to chain" cannot be the correct answer. "Run" and "dash" are synonyms, however, so the correct answer is "run is to dash."

"Remote" and "distant" are synonyms that both describe something that is far-away, or removed from all other places. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available synonym for "prolific." "Prolific" means highly productive, so "productive" is the correct answer. For clarification, the other four answer choices are all synonyms that mean lazy, or not energetic.

"Sharp" and "astute" are synonyms that each mean shrewd; quick-witted. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best synonym for "extol." To "extol" someone means to praise him or her, so "praise" is the correct answer.

"Belittle" is a verb that means "to describe someone or something as little or unimportant," and "disparage" is a verb that means "to describe someone or something as unimportant, weak, or bad," so the two words are synonyms, and we need to pick out a word that means the same thing as "retrieve." While "refrain" and "reward" also each begin with "re-," neither are synonymous with "retrieve," so neither are the correct answer. One meaning of "recover," however, is "find or regain possession of something stolen or lost," so "recover" is the correct answer because it is a synonym of "retrieve."

"Docile," means "ready to accept control or instruction; submissive," and "tractable" means "easy to control or influence" when used of people or animals and "easy to deal with" when referring to a situation or problem. Since "docile" and "tractable" are synonyms, we need to pick out an answer choice that means the same thing as "obdurate," a word that means "stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action." While "durable" might look like a good answer choice because both "obdurate" and "durable" involve the syllable "dur," "durable" means "able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing." Since "durable" doesn't mean the same thing as "obdurate," it can't be the right answer. "Stubborn," however, is synonymous with "obdurate," so "stubborn" is the correct answer.

Since "brevity" means succinctness, it is synonymous with "concision," which means using few words to convey a lot of information. We need to pick out an answer choice that is synonymous with bravery. Since "valor" means courage, especially courage in battle, "valor" is a synonym of "bravery" and is thus the correct answer.

"Conceited" is an adjective that means full of oneself, so it is a synonym of "vain," an adjective that can mean holding an excessively high opinion of oneself in comparison to others. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is a synonym of "amiable," an adjective that means friendly. "Friendly" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "amiable," so it is the correct answer, because just as "conceited" and "vain" are synonyms, so are "amiable" and "friendly."

"Vindictive" is an adjective that means "having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge," and "vengeful" is an adjective that means "seeking to harm someone in return for a perceived injury." So, "vindictive" and "vengeful" are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of synonyms. Of the possible answer choices, "free is to captive," "limited is to abundant," and "predictable is to surprising" cannot be the correct answer because each of those answer choices consists of a pair of antonyms. "Unfriendly is to hostile," however, is the correct answer choice, because just as "vindictive" is a synonym of "vengeful," "unfriendly" is a synonym of "hostile," which means "unfriendly; antagonistic."

"Hue" is a noun that means "a color or shade," so "hue" and "color" are synonyms. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of nouns that are synonyms. While "hue is to paint" and "speed is to rapidity" may each look like potentially correct answers, "hue is to paint" cannot be the correct answer because while paint has a certain hue, "hue" is not a synonym of "paint." However, "speed" and "rapidity" are synonyms, just like "hue" and "color," so "speed is to rapidity" is the correct answer.

"Insolent" is a synonym of "rude," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available synonym for "irate." "Irate" means angry, so "angry" is the correct answer.

“Liege” is a noun that means a sovereign in the feudal system or the person governed in a feudal system, so that means that “liege” is a synonym of “ruler,” and we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two nouns that are synonyms. “Crab is to shell” cannot be the correct answer because while crabs have shells, “crab” and “shell” do not mean the same thing, and “process” and “product” are two different terms as well. A building may be destroyed, but “building” does not mean “destruction,” and “quiver” is a place where arrows are stored, not a synonym of “arrow.” “Poke,” however, can be used as a noun that can mean the action of poking someone or something, while “prod” can be used as a noun that can mean a poke. So, “poke” and “prod” are synonyms, just like “liege” and “ruler” are synonyms, making “poke is to prod” the correct answer.