Synonyms: Other Adjectives - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

"Covert" means hidden or undercover. Spies often go on covert operations which means that it is a secret operation. "Visible" means able to be seen. "Blanket" is a concrete noun referring to a cloth object used as a cover for warmth. "

Look at your answer choices--how would you categorize the words? "Indeterminate," "ambiguous," and "blurry" all refer to something that is not easily known, understood, or perceived. "Relatable" means that you can easily relate to or connect with that that person or thing. "Deliberate" means that there is a clear intention to the action described; in other words, it is "intentional."

"Painstaking" means done with great care and patience, meticulous and careful. To provide further help, "hapless" means hopeless, unfortunate, unlucky.

A "hazard" is a danger, so something that is "hazardous" is dangerous. To provide further help, "unnerving" means troubling, worrying; "urging" means begging, pleading.

For the word particular, do not be confused by the "part" portion of the word. The word "particular" is not primarily concerned with being a part (in contrast to being a whole). Instead, something is particular when it is specific. For example, whenever you say, "I have a particular color in mind," this means that you actually have a specific color picked out. You are not undecided. Thus, the best option given here is "distinct." Something that is particular is also distinct. The word can also be used to describe someone who is very picky. A person who is "very particular" is very picky—he or she wants something very distinct.

Whenever something is "hilarious," that thing is very funny. For this question, the best option will stress the very. That is, the best option will be one that expresses the idea that a hilarious thing is not merely "amusing" or "funny." It is, instead, "hysterical"—very amusing.

Whenever something is "enticing," it draws your attention and makes you desire it. Sometimes, we talk about one person enticing another person to do something or go somewhere. Whenever someone or something entices you, it "invites" you to come closer to it. Put another way, we can say that it "attracts" you. Hence, "attractive" is a good synonym for "enticing."

Whenever something is expansive, it covers a large region—either physically or metaphorically. Thus, "expansive" knowledge of a topic is a very broad knowledge, covering many aspects of the topic. An "expansive" plot of land is a very large territory. Thus, the best option among those provided here is "extensive."

Whenever something happens "occasionally," it does not happen on a regular schedule. It is an irregular occurrence. Hence, you could say, "Rupert's occasional remarks about politics annoyed his family, but they were thankful that he didn't talk about the topic much." To be "occasional" is to happen "only on occasion." (Related words help us to memorize, of course!) Thus, the only option that expresses this idea of being irregular is "random."

When something is "foreign," it is distant, removed, and likely unknown. A foreign country is a country that is not your own country. Sometimes, you can use the word to describe more conceptual things. For instance, if someone does not know anything about a topic, we sometimes say, "That was a foreign notion to him or her." The only option that expresses this kind of foreignness is the word "exotic."

The general idea of something being "absolute" is of something that is unmoving and unchanging. This is opposed to being "relative." We speak of "'relative" matters when we say things like, "The desk is tall, at least in comparison to the pea on the ground," and "George is more handsome than Harold." However, the word "absolute" can then be extended to mean "unlimited." Whenever something is "unlimited," there is nothing relative to it that can limit its exercise or force. Thus, "absolute power" is unlimited power that has no check on it whatsoever.

The word "porous" comes from the same roots as the word "pore"—yes, meaning the things on your skin! You can think of pores as kinds of holes in the surface of the skin. Therefore, the general meaning of "porous" is full of small holes that let things pass through. Thus, a porous surface can be called "permeable," which also describes something that is not locked up but, instead, lets certain materials through. A "permeable membrane" is a kind of membrane that allows water and other substances through it.

Something that is "reclusive" is something that is isolated away from other things. When a person is described as being "reclusive," that person lives in a solitary manner, away from other people. "Seclusion" is the state of being isolated in this manner. Hence, it is an acceptable synonym. A good example of "reclusive" in a sentence would be, "The old man decided that he wanted to live his last days in a reclusive manner, staying in his house and reading the books that he loved, undisturbed by other people."

The word "omnipotent" comes from the combination of the prefix "omni-", meaning all or totally, and the base "-potent," meaning _powerfu_l. Whenever someone is described as being "all-powerful," that person is not merely capable or able to do things. He or she is utterly unstoppable. Therefore, the best option provided here is "unconquerable."

A "disturbance" is something that interrupts the normal status of things. It is the result of the action of "disturbing." Thus, a disturbance could be a loud sound in a quiet neighborhood but also could be a riot that causes a city to shut down because of the violence. Indeed, even agitated emotions can be a disturbance, as when someone gets very angry about things and then cannot think clearly.

The word "perceptive" clearly is related to "perception" or "to perceive." When we perceive something, we either sense it or understand it. For example, you might say, "He perceived the danger of the situation," meaning that the person understood that the situation was dangerous. A "perceptive" person is someone who has the ability to understand. Hence, he or she could well be called "insightful," indicating his or her clear "vision"—meaning that he or she has a clear ability to understand things. Likewise, we can describe something like remarks as being "perceptive," meaning that they express matters intelligently.

Whenever something is "habitual," it has become a fixed and regular habit. For example, someone might habitually tap his foot, meaning that he regularly taps it no matter where he is at. Likewise, a person who regularly smokes cigarettes is rightly called a "habitual smoker." The word can be used to describe any settled way of acting; hence, the word "customary" is a good option for this question. "Customs" are the kinds of things that we establish in our culture and just "keep doing" without thinking too much. Hence, there are customs like saying "thank you," but also customs like buying flowers for those whom we love. We do these things out of a kind of habit. Hence, the word "customary" is a good option among those provided here.

"Profound" is an adjective meaning "having or showing great knowledge or understanding," "difficult to understand : requiring deep thought or wisdom," or "very strongly felt." "Earnest," which means "resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction," is the best answer because it is closest in meaning to "very strongly felt," and none of the answer choices are at all similar in meaning to any of the definitions of "profound."

"Onerous" is an adjective that means "involving an amount of effort or difficulty that is overly burdensome." Fun is clearly incorrect, as is talented. So scary sounds possible, since onerous looks a little like ominous, but just because something is challenging does not make it scary, so that's out. Rude is close, and onerous can certainly be used in a context that might mean rude, but ultimately, difficult is the closest synonym.