Synonyms: Other Adjectives - ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

"Contrary" is an adjective that means "opposite in nature, direction, or meaning," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "opposite." "Similar" cannot be the correct answer because "similar" is an antonym of "opposite," but because "opposite" is one of the answer choices, and the answer choice closest in meaning to "contrary," "opposite" is the correct answer.

The word "listless" means having little energy or interest in things. The best choice is "lifeless," which means without energy. Considering the other choices, "unwritten" means not recorded in writing, "wandering" means moving from place to place without a destination, and "forbidden" means not allowed.

"Drowsy" means sleepy and exhausted, so "tired" is the correct answer. "Excited" means very eager to do something or interested in something. "Painful" means causing pain or suffering. "Concise" means short and to the point. "Agile" means nimble or able to move swiftly.

"Painstaking" means accomplished with care and attention to detail. "Careful" is therefore the word that most closely matches the definition. "Painful" is a tempting choice, but the word "painstaking" actually has little to do with physical pain. "Reckless" is the opposite of "painstaking," and "malicious," which means intentionally causing harm, is unrelated to the definition.

"Sublime" means awe-inspiring or overwhelmingly magnificent. "Magnificent" is the best match because it means impressive or spectacular.

When someone feels weary, they are tired and fatigued.

"Dormant" is an adjective that means "not doing anything at this time : not active but able to become active," or "having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down for a period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep." So, neither "awake" nor "energetic" can be the correct answer because each is an antonym of "dormant," not a synonym. "Inactive" is the closest synonym to "dormant" amongst the listed answer choices, so "inactive" is the correct answer.

“Rash,” when used to describe an action, means hasty, rushed. To provide further help, “sluggish” means tired, lacking energy; “vibrant” means bright and colorful.

"Convoluted" is an adjective that means "extremely complex and difficult to follow" and is used of arguments, stories, or sentences. So, neither "simple" nor "straightforward" can be the correct answer because each of these words are antonyms of "convoluted," not synonyms. "Complex," however, is an adjective that means "consisting of many different and connected parts" or "not easy to analyze or understand; complicated or intricate." Because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "convoluted," "complex" is the correct answer.

When something is dismal such as a dismal day, it means that it is bleak or desolate.

"Auspicious" is an adjective that can mean either "conducive to success; favorable," or "giving or being a sign of future success." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is an adjective and means something like "favorable." So, "ominous" cannot be the correct answer because "ominous" means "giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening; inauspicious," so "ominous" is an antonym of "auspicious." "Promising," however, is an adjective that means "showing signs of future success," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "auspicious," "promising" is the correct answer.

"Famished" is an adjective that means "extremely hungry," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "extremely hungry." "Satiated," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "satiated" means "satisfy (a desire or an appetite) to the full," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "famished." "Ravenous," however, is an adjective that means "extremely hungry" or when referring to hunger or need, "very great; voracious." Because "ravenous" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "famished," "ravenous" is the correct answer.

Estranged refers to a person, often a family member, who is no longer close with another person, or alienated from him/her; therefore, "distant" is the best answer.

Diligent, which is often used to describe someone as hardworking, also means displaying care or being dutiful in one's work. "Conscientious" means the same thing, someone who works well and thoroughly.

"Precise" means marked by exactness, as in the sentence, "In order for the science experiment to work, we must make very precise measurements." "Exact" is most similar in meaning to "precise," so "exact" is the correct answer.

Incorrect answers:

"Perfect" is not the best answer because although you might describe precise measurements as being "perfect," the word "perfect" means as good as it is possible to be. For example, you might say "That was a perfect book report" or "I got a perfect score on my test." So, "exact" is close in meaning to "precise" than "perfect" is.

"Interesting" means holding or catching attention, as in the sentence, "The museum display of brightly colored butterflies was interesting to the students."

"Formal" means following accepted conventions or rules, as in the sentence, "My teacher's first name is Susan, but we address her formally as Mrs. Brown."

The correct answer is "drowsy," which means groggy or sleepy. "Lively," "energetic," and "active" are all opposites of "tired." "Drowsy" is the only word that means nearly the same thing as "tired."

The word "extinct" refers to species of living things and means no longer existing or gone. "Gone" is the best choice because it is part of the definiton of "extinct."

"Tired" is an adjective that means lacking energy or needing to sleep. So, the answer choice closest in meaning to "tired" is "exhausted," an adjective that means drained of bodily resources or tired. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "tired": "hungry" means needing food; "young" means not very old; and "embellished" means having details or additional components that make something more attractive.

"Destructive" means causing damage. Ruinous also means disastrous or causing damage, so "ruinous" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, "considerable" means noticeable due to large size or amount, "brief" means short or quick, a "frontier" is a border between two countries, and to "boast" means to talk about yourself and your achievements with pride.