Using Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots to Identify Synonyms - SSAT Middle Level Verbal

"Outfox" is a verb that means trick or defeat someone by being more clever than him or her, so we need to pick out a word that means trick using wits. While many of the answer choices also begin with "out," only "outwit" has a meaning similar to "outfox." Since "outwit" means to trick or win against someone by being more clever than him or her, it is the correct answer.

“Beguile” means to charm or entice someone, so the correct answer is “entice," which means to tempt someone. For clarification, "deride" means to mock, and "quell" means to suppress or subdue.

"Beseech" means beg or ask someone to do something, so "beg" is the correct answer. "Combine" means blend or put together. "Direct" is a verb that means order or command. "Warn" means inform someone of a potential danger. "Familiarize" means become familiar with something or gain information about a person or topic.

“Becalm” means soothe or make calm. The prefix "be_-"_ means to make or to cause, so it makes sense that "becalm" means make calm. So, "soothe" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “mock” means make fun of, and “intrepid” means brave and adventurous.

“Synthesis” is a noun that means “combination or composition,” and in particular, “the combination of ideas to form a theory or system.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “combination.” That means that “dissociation” cannot be the correct answer, because “dissociation” means “the disconnection or separation of something from something else or the state of being disconnected,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “synthesis.” “Amalgamation,” however, means “the action, process, or result of combining or uniting,” and because “amalgamation” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “synthesis,” “amalgamation” is the correct answer.

"Synchronize" is a synonym of "coordinate." "Synchronize" means to make happen or work at the same rate and contains the prefixes "syn-",which means same; together, and "chrono-", which means time.

"Primitive" means ancient.

"Amorphous" means without shape or form, so the correct answer is “formless.” For clarification, "shapely" means well-proportioned; "crafty" means sly and sneaky.

"Anonymous" means unnamed or unidentified, so "unnamed" is the correct answer. "Armed" means carrying weapons. "Determined" means intent or set on some course of action. "Crafty" means cunning or tricky. "Deceptive" means misleading or fraudulent.

A "cataclysm" or "catastrophe" is a terrible, often naturally occurring, event. These words are synonymous and share a greek prefix. The other words may have similar spellings, but they are not closely related in meaning to catastrophe.

"Infuse" means to inject, so "inject" is the correct answer. You may have been able to associate the two words based on their shared "in-" prefix, which in each does not function as a negative prefix but instead means inward.

"Circumspect" is derived from the Latin for to look around, so the best meaning is "cautious," as in, "The administration was very circumspect about the responses they gave to the media's questions."

"Superfluous" is an adjective that means "unnecessary, especially through being more than enough." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "unnecessary." "Essential," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "essential" means "absolutely necessary; extremely important," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "superfluous." "Redundant," however, is an adjective that means "no longer needed or useful; superfluous," and because "redundant" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "superfluous," "redundant" is the correct answer.

"Convivial" is an adjective that means "friendly, lively, and enjoyable" when being used to describe an atmosphere or event, and "cheerful and friendly; jovial" when being used to describe a person. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "friendly." "Hostile," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "hostile" means "unfriendly; antagonistic," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "convivial." "Affable," however, is an adjective that means "friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to," and because "affable" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "convivial," "affable" is the correct answer.

The word “indispensable” consists of the negative prefix “in-,” which means “not,” and the word “dispensable,” so we can infer that it means “not dispensable.” That inference would be correct, as “indispensable” is an adjective that means “absolutely necessary,” so we need to pick out a word that means something like “necessary.” “Superfluous,” then, cannot be the correct answer, because “superfluous” means “unnecessary, especially through being more than enough,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “indispensable.” “Essential,” however, is an adjective that means “absolutely necessary; extremely important,” and because “essential” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “indispensable,” “essential” is the correct answer.

“Insignificant” is an adjective that can mean “too small or unimportant to be worth consideration,” “without power or influence” when used of a person, or “meaningless.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “unimportant,” “without power,” or “meaningless.” That means that “noteworthy” cannot be the correct answer, because “noteworthy” means “interesting, significant, or unusual,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “insignificant.” “Petty,” however, is an adjective that means “ of little importance; trivial,” and because “petty” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “insignificant,” “petty” is the correct answer.

"Ubiquitous" means existing or being everywhere.

Words you may not know:

• "Scarce" means not abundant.
• "Urbane" means having sophistication or elegance, a quality often associated with cities. The root "urb-" (as in urban) means city.

"Contradict" means to oppose or to assert the contrary. It contains the roots "contra-", which means "against," and "dict-", which means to speak.

Words you may not know:

• "Corroborate" means to make certian; confirm.
• "Captivate" means to catch the attention of.

“Deflate” is a verb that can mean “let air or gas out of something,” “be emptied of air or gas,” or “cause someone to suddenly lose confidence,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “let air or gas out of something,” “be emptied or air or gas,” or “cause someone to lose confidence.” That means that “inspire” cannot be the correct answer, because “inspire” means “fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “deflate.” “Dispirit,” however, is a verb that means “to cause to lose enthusiasm or hope,” and because “dispirit” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “deflate,” “dispirit” is the correct answer.