Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning · Learn by Concept

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ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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1

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

FORMIDABLE

Daunting

CORRECT

Timorous

0

Reticent

0

Pusillanimous

0

Bestial

0

Explanation

"Formidable" means imposing and daunting. To provide further help, "reticent" means reserved; "timorous" means timid, easily frightened; "pusillanimous" means cowardly; "bestial" means savage, like a beast.

2

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

ELITIST

Snobbish

CORRECT

Apprehensive

0

Desirable

0

Nonplussed

0

Petrified

0

Explanation

Someone who is "elitist" is arrogant and thinks they are better than other people. The closer answer choice to this definition is "snobbish." To provide further help, "petrified" means very scared; "apprehensive" means cautious and worried; "desirable" means wanted; "nonplussed" means confused.

3

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

VULNERABLE

susceptible

CORRECT

veteran

0

painstaking

0

morose

0

Explanation

Vulnerable means susceptible to physical or emotional harm.

4

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

IRASCIBLE

Cantankerous

CORRECT

Tenacious

0

Wary

0

Opaque

0

Mirthful

0

Explanation

"Irascible" means cantankerous or crabby. "Tenacious" means strong-willed or determined. "Wary" means careful or cautious . "Opaque" means clouded, muddy, or hard to understand. "Mirthful" means merry or playful.

5

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

CAPRICIOUS

Fickle

CORRECT

Dreary

0

Ephemeral

0

Insolent

0

Reverent

0

Explanation

"Capricious" means changing one's mood in a fickle, unpredictable manner, so the answer choice that is its best synonym is "fickle," or changing frequently.

6

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

INTRACTABLE

Umanageable

CORRECT

Complex

0

Indefatigable

0

Magnanimous

0

Strenuous

0

Explanation

"Intractable" means difficult or burdensome; therefore, "unmanageable" is the best answer.

7

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

RESOLUTE

Steadfast

CORRECT

Voted

0

Agreed

0

Tacit

0

Difficult

0

Explanation

The word "resolute" comes from similar roots as "resolve" and "resolution." These words mean in general to come to a determined decision. The particular adjective "resolute" describes someone who has decided in a fixed and unchanging manner. Thus, the best answer is "steadfast," which describes someone in a similar manner.

8

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

DILIGENT

Industrious

CORRECT

Devoted

0

Regular

0

Fixated

0

Delightful

0

Explanation

When someone is "diligent," he or she is devoted to his or her work. Now, while this would likely make you think that "devoted" would be the best option, actually "industrious" is slightly better. When someone is "industrious," he or she is works with great care and devotion. This expresses the role of work in the devotion better than the simple word "devoted."

9

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

LAX

Negligent

CORRECT

Odious

0

Prolific

0

Remorseless

0

Tedious

0

Explanation

“Lax” means negligent, not giving enough attention to something, or not taking something seriously enough, so "negligent" is the best synonym amongst the answer choices. As for the other answer choices, “odious” means unpleasant, revolting, or disgusting; “prolific” means able to produce a large quantity of something quickly; “tedious” means dull and boring; and “remorseless” means not feeling guilty about one's actions.

10

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

HAUGHTY

Conceited

CORRECT

Overstated

0

Wealthy

0

Affluent

0

Prosperous

0

Explanation

While one might think that “haughty” is related to someone being wealthy, what it generally means is that someone has a “high opinion” of himself or herself. Such a person would judge others as being “beneath” him or her. An adequate description of such a “haughty person” would be “conceited,” which means “being very proud, judging one’s abilities to be great.”