Synonyms: Using Roots to Identify Synonyms - SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

The prefixes "e-"and "ex-" both mean out, as in “exit,” which when used as a verb means go out of or leave a location, or “eject,” which means emit, expel, or throw out from a specific location. That means that "expel" is the correct answer, because while "expel" can mean formally kick out of an institution, such as a school, it can also mean throw out of from a specific location. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "eject": “demand” means insist or command when used as a verb; “supply” means give aid or resources to when used as a verb; "insist" means refuse to take any other answer or accept any result other than the one that one desires; and "portray" means depict or characterize.

"Benevolent" means nice and generous. "Kind" means compassionate. Thus, "benevolent" is a synonym of "kind_."_ It can be inferred that "benevolent"means something positive because "bene"is a Latin root meaning good.

A tempting wrong answer choice is "beneficial_,"_ as it sounds similar to "benevolent." However, "beneficial"means of benefit or causing improvement, which is not the meaning of "benevolent."

The prefix "contra_-_" means against or opposite and the root _"_dict" means speak, so “contradict” means to speak against someone and say that their ideas are wrong or when referring to ideas, to oppose an idea by providing evidence or demonstration that it is false. The correct answer is “disagree.” To provide further help, “encourage” means to offer support for someone, and “depict” means represent or show.

The suffix "-tact" means related to touch, so something that is “intact” is something that has not been broken by people touching it. This is most similar in meaning to the word “undamaged,” where “damaged” means defaced or wrecked and the prefix "un-" means not, causing “undamaged” to mean not defaced or wrecked; in the same condition something was in before an event that could have potentially damaged it. To provide further help, “ripped” means torn; "intense" means of great power or degree, and “soggy” means damp or wet; and “burdened” means weighed down with things or responsibilities

The prefix "fore_-_" means before or coming first, so “foremost” means "primary," or first in order or importance. To provide further help, “secondary” means coming second in an order or of less importance than other things. Additionally, “vast” means very large; “genuine” means real; and “lasting” means existing for a long time.

Note that although words may share a root, they may not necessarily mean the same thing. In this case, "temptation" and "desire" are closest in meaning. "Tempo" refers to timing in music. "Temperature" (think weather) and "temperamental" (think moody) are not related to "temptation" (or desire). As suggested, the words "moody" and "temperamental" are synonymous with each other.

"Inconsiderate" is an adjective that means "thoughtlessly causing hurt or inconvenience to others," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "thoughtlessly hurting or inconveniencing others." While both "unusual" and "unsure" begin with "un-," a negative prefix, just as "inconsiderate" begin with "in-," another negative prefix, "unusual" means "not usual" and "unsure" means "not sure," whereas "inconsiderate" means "not considerate." So, because neither "unusual" nor "unsure" mean the same thing as "inconsiderate," neither can be the correct answer. "Rude," however, is an adjective that means "offensively impolite or ill-mannered," and because "rude" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "inconsiderate," "rude" is the correct answer.

Someone who is "omniscient" knows everything. So, the correct answer is “all-knowing.” The prefix "omni-" means everything or all. To help you, "omnipotent" means all-powerful.

The word “destitute” is related to the root word "stature." Your “stature” is your social standing. If you add the negative prefix “de-,” it means the removal of your social position. So “destitute” means extremely poor. Another word that means extremely poor is “impoverished.” To further help you, “generational” means relating to a group of people born at the same time. We can say that taste in musi_c_ is "generational."

The prefix "ac-" means sharp and is used in words like “acute,” which can be used to describe a sharp mind. The word “accurate” means sharp as in correct, on the money, precise. When you fire a shot and it goes exactly where you want, we call this “precise” or “accurate.” To provide further help, “incumbent” means person already in a position of power; “sporadic” means random, infrequent; “benevolent” means good-natured; “malevolent” means bad-natured.

The prefix "trans­-" means to change shape, so the word “transform” can most simply be defined as “change.” To provide further help, “mar” means ruin; “remedy” means make better, fix; “soothe” means make better, calm; “deft” means highly skilled.

“Despair” means great suffering or sadness, which is similar in meaning to "anguish." The prefix "de-" is often used to mean down, going away, such as in “descend,” which means dropping down or “despair,” which means going down into the pits of sadness. To provide further help, “jubilation” means great happiness; “denigrate” means put down, make someone feel worse; “disadvantage” means difficulty, shortcoming; “ironic” means not serious, intended to mock something.

The prefix "sync-" means to act together, to be unified. When we “synchronize” we make things work at or on the same time. For instance, we could synchronize our watches so that the time on them reads the same. This is closest in meaning to “coordinate.” The prefix "co-" is used similarly to the prefix "sync-." To provide further help, “detract” means take away from something; “debacle” means catastrophe, something that has gone horribly wrong; “assailable” means able to be attacked or conquered.

The prefix "dynam_-_" means related to force or power, so something that is “dynamic” is active or forceful. As for the other answer choices, “quaint” means old-fashioned in a good way; “timid” means shy or meek; “ostentatious” means overtly extravagant and luxurious; and “damaging” means harmful.

"Terrestrial" means having to do with the earth or living on land, which makes sense, as the word "terrestrial" is derived from the Latin word "terra," which means Earth. As for the other answer choices, "lunar" means _having to do with the moon; "_solar" means having to do with the sun; "cosmic" means having to do with outer space; and "spectacular" means impressive or excellent.

The prefix "com_-_" means with or together. Thus, it makes sense that the word “combine” means merge together. So, the correct answer is "merge," because "merge" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "combine." None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "combine": “access,” when used as a verb, means be able to use; “retort” means answer back in an argument, often in an incisive or angry way; and “outline” means sketch or draw up a plan for something; and "fight," when used as a verb, means get into a physically violent dispute with.

The prefix "per_-_" means through, and the word “perceive” means become aware of something or notice something through sight. This means that the correct answer is “notice.” None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "perceive": “seclude” means make a person or oneself be apart from others; “justify” means give logical reasons for; “amplify” means increase or intensify; and “consider” means carefully think about.

The prefix "uni_-_" means one, as in “unicycle,” which is a one-wheeled form of transportation powered by pedaling. The word “unify” means make into one group or thing, so "merge" is the correct answer, as "merge" means make two separate groups or things into one group or thing. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "unify": “monotonous” means tedious or boring due to having to do something repetitively; “verify” means confirm that something is true; “berate” means yell at or scold; and "soften" means become or make less severe or hard.

The prefixes "mis_-" and "mit-_" are used often to mean send. The word “missile” means something sent flying through the air, often as a weapon; this is closest in definition to “projectile,” a word that means something propelled into and through the air. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "missile": “combat” is physical fighting; a “replica” is an exact copy; a “maneuver” is a movement that is difficult to perform; and an “antagonist” is a villain in a story that opposes the hero.