Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, and Sensory Imagery - SSAT Middle Level Verbal

"Durable" is an adjective used to describe something that is difficult to break or damage.Of the answer choices, the word with the closest meaning is "stable."

"Limber" is an adjective that means "flexible" or "bending easily," so we need to pick out another adjective that also means "flexible." While "stretched" may look like a good answer because "flexible" means "able to stretch," "stretched" does not mean "flexible," so it can't be correct. "Lithe," on the other hand, means "characterized by flexibility and grace," and since it is closest in meaning to "limber," it is the correct answer.

"Nebulous" is an adjective that means "in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy," or when used to refer to concepts or ideas, "unclear, vague, or ill-defined." So, we need to pick out a word that means something like "hazy" or "unclear." Since "indefinite" means "not clearly expressed or defined; vague," it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "nebulous," and the correct answer.

"Salient" is an adjective that means "most noticeable or important," so we need to pick out a word that means something like "most noticeable." While "constituent" and "conspicuous" might sound quite similar, "constituent" means "being a part of the whole," while "conspicuous" means "standing out so as to be clearly visible" or "attracting notice or attention." Since "conspicuous" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "salient," "conspicuous" is the correct answer.

"Lithe" means graceful and limber, like a ballerina, so "graceful" is the correct answer.

"Rancid" most nearly means rotten, as in "The food that had been left out on the counter top was rancid when the Smiths returned from their two-week vacation."

“Grubby” is an adjective that means either “dirty; grimy” or “disreputable; sordid.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “grimy” or “disreputable.” That means that “spotless” cannot be the correct answer, because “spotless” is an adjective that means “absolutely clean or pure; immaculate,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “grubby.” “Filthy,” however, is an adjective that can mean “disgustingly dirty,” and because “filthy” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “grubby,” “filthy” is the correct answer.

“Strident” is an adjective that is often used to mean harsh and loud. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like loud. That means that “faint” cannot be the correct answer, because “faint” is an adjective that means indistinct or almost imperceptible, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “strident.” “Audible” cannot be the correct answer either, because while a strident noise is audible (perceptible as sounds via listening), “audible” does not mean the same thing as “strident.” “Piercing,” however, is an adjective that can mean shrill and loud, and because “piercing” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “strident,” “piercing” is the correct answer.

“Discrete” is an adjective that means separate, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like distinct. That means that “combined” cannot be the correct answer, because “combined” is an adjective that means merged, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “discrete.” “Individual,” however, when used as an adjective, means separate, and because “individual” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “discrete,” “individual” is the correct answer.

“Frangible” is an adjective that means “fragile; brittle,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “fragile.” That means that “shatterproof” cannot be the correct answer, because “shatterproof” means “made so that it does not break easily and will not form sharp, dangerous pieces if it does break,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “frangible.” “Breakable,” however, is an adjective that means “capable of breaking or being broken easily,” and because “breakable” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “frangible,” “breakable” is the correct answer.

"Vivid"means bright or colorful, so "bright" is the correct answer.

"Vacuous" means empty. It also means lacking ideas or intelligence.

"Durable" means strong and sturdy; Flaccid means limp; Unique means special or different; and Legal means lawful.

"Arid" means dry; Moist means slightly wet; Inundated means flooded; Desert is a place that has sand and is dry; and Outer space it the area outside the earth's atmosphere.

"Frail" means weak and feeble.

"Intact" means complete. "Broken" is an antonym of "intact" and means smashed or shattered. "Spoiled" means coddled. "Social" can mean having to do with society. "Accurate" means correct or precise.

"Industrial" means of or relating to manufacturing or heavy-duty. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "industrial": "prolonged" means extended; "eventful" means significant; "rural" means of or relating to the countryside, as opposed to the city; and "current" means of, related to, or happening at the present time.

"Fragile" means breakable.

"Luscious" means delicious.