Synonyms: Other Adjectives - SSAT Upper Level Verbal

"Germane" is an adjective that means relevant to the topic of discussion, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like relevant. While both "important" and "pertinent" may look like potentially correct answer choices, "important" does not mean relevant, while "pertinent" means relevant. Because "pertinent" is the closest synonym of "germane" amongst the listed answer choices, it is the correct answer.

The word akin means "related to" or "alike." Based on this definition, we can rule out all other answer choices. One way to remember that the word akin means related to may be to think of the word kin, which is used in some areas to mean family or relatives.

"Affluent" means having lots of material wealth.

"Lewd" means crude, offensive, or "vulgar."

"Profane" means secular, disrespectful, or "indecent."

"Terse" means not using many words, or "abrupt."

If an action or decision is unilateral, it only affects one individual and not the others in the group. It is therefore independent.

"Onerous" means challenging, burdensome, and difficult, so "arduous," a word that means difficult and taxing, is the best answer choice.

“Comatose” is an adjective that describes someone in a state of exhaustion or who cannot function. The expression that best matches “comatose” is “passed out.” Energetic and feeling “wide awake” are antonyms of “comatose.”

“Innocuous” is an adjective used to describe something harmless in effect or unlikely to provoke a reaction. It is opposite in meaning to “dangerous” and “diabolical.”

Daunting means seemingly difficult or intimidating.

Favorable means expressing approval, or approving.

Volatile means changeable. It also means explosive.

Acute means sharp or crucial.

Potent means powerful.

Exempt means free from an obligation imposed on others, or excused from it.

Inoperable means unable to be operated on, or untreatable.

“Monolithic” is an adjective that can mean extremely large, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like large. That means that “diminutive” cannot be the correct answer, because “diminutive” means very small when used as an adjective, making the word an antonym, not a synonym, of “monolithic.” “Colossal,” however, is an adjective that means very big, and because “colossal” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “monolithic,” “colossal” is the correct answer.

“Pernicious” is an adjective that means gradually harmful over time, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like harmful. That means that “beneficial” cannot be the correct answer, because “beneficial” means helpful, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “pernicious.” “Detrimental,” however, is an adjective that means harmful, and because “detrimental” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “pernicious,” “detrimental” is the correct answer.