Synonyms: Nouns for People - SSAT Upper Level: Verbal

Alumni are graduates from a school.

A "heretic" is a person who holds an opinion that is at odds with the general way of thinking, or a dissenter.

A "pariah" is a social outcast.

A "maverick" is a rebel or non-conformist.

"Charlatan" is a noun that means "a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill; a fraud." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "fraud." Since "fake" is a synonym of "fraud" and none of the answer choices are close in meaning to "fraud," "fake" is the correct answer.

"Coworker" is the best choice, because a colleague is a person with whom one works. While it is possible that one might work with a "friend" or "acquaintance," neither word necessarily implies a person with whom one would work. A person's "contemporary" would just be someone living and working at the same time as that person. "Student" also doesn't work, because, while a teacher may work with a student, their relationship is not based on their being "coworkers."

A "nomad" is someone who doesn't stay long in one place, or a wanderer.

A fraud is a person or thing that intentionally deceives others, or a cheat.

A maniac is a person who has wild or extreme behavior, or a madman.

A consultant is someone who provides expert advice, or an adviser.

A "precursor"is a person or thing that comes before another of its same kind, or a "forerunner."

A nominee is a person who is nominated as a candidate for something, or a contender.

A dissident is a person who opposes a policy, or an objector.

"Disciple" means a follower. "Professor" is a teacher at a college or university. "President" is the highest position in a government or business. "Manufacturer" is an entity that produces goods. "Idol" is a person or thing that is worshipped by others.

"Retinue" and "entourage" are both defined as a body of aides for an important person, so "entourage" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "retinue": "status" means rank; "burial" means the act of putting something in the ground and covering it with earth , "norm" means standard; and "devotion" means dedication.

A "vagrant" is a person who wanders around idly and has no employment or permanent home, so "wanderer" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "vagrant": "shop" means store; "vegetation" means plants; "station" means a place at which a thing or person stands; and "finale" means end.

A "pundit" is a critic or an expert, so "critic" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "pundit": "anxiety" means nervousness; "assassin" means _killer; "_exaggeration" means overstatement; and "profession" means occupation.

An "interloper" is a person who meddles in the affairs of others, so "meddler" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "interloper": “departure” means the event of leaving;“promise” means vow or pledge;“assignment” means task or obligation; and“belief” means faith or conviction.

An "insurgent" is a rebel or a person who forcefully opposes a government, so "rebel" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "insurgent": “agony” means pain;“performer” means player or doer; “wave” means curl, surge or trend; and“mixture” means combination.