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

“Far-fetched” is an adjective that means implausible, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like unlikely. That means that “expected” cannot be the correct answer, because “expected” means thought of as likely to occur, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “far-fetched.” “Improbable,” however, is an adjective that means either not likely to occur or be true, and because “improbable” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “far-fetched,” “improbable” is the correct answer.

Vital means extremely important or essential.

“Confounding” means confusing or puzzling, so "puzzling" is the correct answer. For clarification, "ponderous" means very slow or overelaborate; _"_noteworthy" means significant; "benevolent" means possessing a good or virtuous nature; and "considerate" means thoughtful.

"Imperative" means absolutely necessary or unavoidable.

“Requisite” is a word that can be used as a noun or an adjective, but because all of the potential answer choices are adjectives, we will need to consider “requisite” as an adjective. When used as an adjective, “requisite” means “made necessary by circumstances or regulations.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “necessary.” That means that “optional” cannot be the correct answer, because “optional” means “available to be chosen but not obligatory,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “requisite.” “Required,” however, when used as an adjective, means “officially compulsory; indispensable,” and because “required” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “requisite,” “required” is the correct answer.

"Compulsory" means "required," or mandatory.

Something expressed in a “limpid” way is expressed clearly and lucidly and easily understood. So the correct answer is “lucid” which also means clear. For clarification, "listless" means lacking energy; "laconic" means terse or brief; "ornery" means irritable or bad-tempered; "intrepid" means adventurous.

"Irrational" means making no logical sense, or groundless.

"Cogent" means convincing or compelling.

"Spurious" means false.

"Facetious" means amusing or not meant to be taken seriously. The best answer choice is humorous.

"Cardinal"(as an adjective) means of great importance, or fundamental.

“Salient” means significant or noticeable. For clarification, "corporeal" means concerning bodily things (especially in contrast to spiritual things) and "elegant" means sophisticated and graceful.

“Cryptic” means enigmatic or mysterious. For clarification, the other four answer choices are all antonyms of cryptic and synonyms of one another.

“Polemical” is a noun used to describe a passionate and controversial argument. For clarification, whimsical means quirky or weird; outlandish means eccentric, bold and bizarre.

"Flummoxed"means bewildered, perplexed, or baffled.

"Flagrant" means obviously and conspicuously in bad taste, or blatant.

"Abstruse" means hard to understand. The best answer choice is "incomprehensible."

"Arcane" means secret, mysterious, or understood by very few people. The Latin root word, "arcanus," means secret or hidden.