Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, and Importance - ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning

"Ancillary," when used as an adjective, means "providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system," or "additional; subsidiary." So, "necessary" cannot be the correct answer because it is an antonym of "ancillary." "Supplemental," an adjective that means "something that completes or enhances something else when added to it," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "ancillary," so it is the correct answer.

When something is “legitimate” it is in accord with the laws that would pertain to that class of things. For example, one could speak of a “legitimate action” as being one that is legal. Also, in a more extended sense, it can indicate conformity to the general laws of rationality or that a given thing is rightfully done in a given circumstance. For instance, a “legitimate critique,” is one that is valid given the data of the original argument. Such a critique justly finds something wrong with the argument and is therefore called “valid” or “legitimate.”

The word “spurious” most generally means false or fake, often implying that the fake thing does not at first appear to be fake, though it really is. Often, one will find the word used to describe a “spurious argument” or a “spurious claim,” meaning arguments and claims that are ultimately false.

When used as an adjective, the word “dubious” means “doubting” or “hesitating.” It is clearly related to “dubious” as well as the word “indubitable,” which means “unable to be doubted.” It would be used in a sentence like, “Since the argument presented to him was rather weak, John remained rather dubious regarding the truth of its conclusions.” Among the options provided, “uncertain” is the closest to this sense.

"Demonstrative" is an adjective that can mean openly demonstrating feelings or providing conclusive proof. We need to pick out an adjective that means something like showing feelings or providing proof. "Inconclusive" cannot be the correct answer because it is an antonym of the second meaning of "demonstrative," providing conclusive proof. "Indisputable," however, is an adjective that means unable to be disputed and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "demonstrative," "indisputable" is the correct answer.

"Marginal" is an adjective that can besides meaning "of, relating to, or situated at the edge or margin of something," can also mean " of secondary or minor importance; not central." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "of minor importance." Neither "crucial" nor "monumental" can be the correct answer, then, because each word is an antonym of "marginal," not a synonym. "Negligible," however, is an adjective that means "so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant," and because it is the answer choir that is closest in meaning to "marginal," "negligible" is the correct answer.

"Unwitting" is an adjective that means either "not aware of the full facts" when referring to a person, or "not done on purpose; unintentional." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "not aware of the full facts" or "unintentional." "Purposeful" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "purposeful" is an antonym of "unwitting," not a synonym. "Inadvertent," however, is an adjective that means "not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning," and because it is the answer choir that is closest in meaning to "unwitting," "inadvertent" is the correct answer.

The word “negligible” is related to “neglect,” though it does not directly mean that. When something is “negligible,” there is so little of it that it is not even worth being thought about. That is, one can neglect thinking about it. It would be used in a sentence like, “The health benefits of running an extra three miles on top of his regular five were so negligible that he decided to forego the extra exercise.” The sense is that they are “insignificant.”

The word “specious” comes from the Latin for “appearance” or “beautiful.” When something is “specious,” it appears to be correct but really is not. It is merely apparent. Therefore, it misleads the person who considers it. Often, one will speak of “specious reasoning,” describing thereby some argument that appears to be plausible when in fact it is really false.

Although one can be said to “verbalize” his or her words when he or she writes them, the term most often is used to describe the process of speaking ideas that were heretofore unspoken. For example, you could say, “After thinking about his theory for a number of years, Paul finally decided to verbalize it, hoping that he could clarify his thoughts by speaking them.”

The “margins” of a piece of paper are the edges on which nothing is normally written. When someone takes “marginal notes,” he or she writes in this space—as when someone writes in the margins of a book to keep notes on the text being read. To say that something is “marginal” is to imply that it does not sit “in the midst of the important things” but is merely “on the edges.” For this reason, the word is often used to describe something that is believed to be unimportant. For example, someone might say, “His remarks were really of marginal significance for the decision, for he did not know much about the topic.”

Privy means to be in on or sharing some secret knowledge, or informed.

Affected means artificial or pretentious.

"Negligible" means insignificant or unimportant. "Thrifty" means economical or frugal. "Canceled" means called off or erased. "Viable" means reasonable or practical. "Sarcastic" means nasty or mocking in speech.

"Candid" means impartial, open, or honest. "Caustic" means burning or sarcastic. "Corporal" means bodily or physical. "Prevalent" means accepted or widespread. "Ubiquitous" means ever-present or pervasive.

"Expendable" means superfluous or unnecessary. "Erudite" means well-educated and cultured. "Dogmatic" means dictatorial or opinionated. "Pedantic" means bookish or overly precise. "Extravagant" means lavish, indulgent, or wasteful.

"Superficial" and "perfunctory" both mean shallow or trivial. "Analytical" means systematic or examining. "Genuine" means authentic or real. "Profuse" means abundant or excessive. "Somber" means sad or depressing.

"Cognitive" and "logical" both mean reasonable or rational. "Irrational" means illogical or senseless. "Eclectic" means comprehensive or diverse. "Irascible" means _crabby or cantankerou_s. "Voluble" means talkative or chatty.

"Veritable" and "bona fide" both mean authentic or actual. "Voracious" means very hungry or greedy. "Ironic" means sarcastic or caustic. "Raucous" means rowdy or rough. "Effusive" means gushing or profuse.