Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits
SSAT Upper Level Verbal · Learn by Concept
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SSAT Upper Level Verbal › Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
UNCOUTH
Rude
Avaricious
Captious
Ebullient
Holy
Explanation
"Uncouth" means "rude," uncivilized, or unrefined. "Avaricious" means greedy, and "captious" means prone to nitpick or quibble over even the tiniest detail. Another word for "holy" is sacrosanct. Another word for "ebullient" is overjoyed.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PUNCTILIOUS
Meticulous
Optimistic
Truculent
Stolid
Ferocious
Explanation
"Punctilious" means "meticulous," fastidious, or paying very close and careful attention to detail. "Ferocious" is a synonym for "fierce," and "stolid" is a synonym for "calm" and "impassive." "Truculent" means aggressive, belligerent. "Optimistic," of course, is an antonym for "pessimistic."
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CONTEMPTUOUS
Disrespectful
Comical
Famous
Useful
Daring
Explanation
"Contemptuous" means disrespectful.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PIOUS
Devout
Relevant
Abundant
Patterned
Audible
Explanation
"Pious" and "devout" both mean having a devotion to a god or gods.
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
VOLUBLE.
Talkative
Heavy
Suspended
Antiquated
Loud
Explanation
“Voluble” means garrulous or talkative. For clarification, antiquated means old-fashioned.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TERSE
Concise
Stern
Unfriendly
Unhappy
Brilliant
Explanation
"Terse" means using very few words in order to make a point. "Concise" means using the minimum amount of words to communicate an idea. Given the similarities in meaning between these words, they are synonyms. While "terse"and "tense"may sound similar, they have different meanings and therefore are not synonyms.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FRIVOLOUS
Carefree
Advantageous
Lonely
Stingy
Philanthropic
Explanation
"Frivolous" means carefree or flighty. "Advantageous" and "beneficial" are synonyms, as are "charitable" and "philanthropic." "Stingy" means cheap or miserly. "Lonely" means alone, solitary.
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
RETICENT.
Quiet
Loud
Prattle
Amble
Remorse
Explanation
“Reticent” means quiet or reserved. For clarification, "prattle" is used to describe inane chatter; "amble" is a type of slow, purposeless walk; "remorse" means regret and sorrow. For further clarification, "inane" means pointless.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CAPRICIOUS
Fickle
Avid
Dulcet
Irascible
Petulant
Explanation
"Capricious" means unpredictable or "fickle." "Petulant" and "irascible" both mean irritable, peevish. "Dulcet" is used to describe sweet, pleasant sounds. "Avid" means keen and eager.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
FEISTY
Lively
Depressed
Radiant
Bad-tempered
Fertile
Explanation
"Fiesty" means lively or spunky, so "lively," which means full of energy, is the correct answer. "Depressed" means sad and gloomy. "Radiant" means bright or very shiny. "Bad-tempered" means easily irritated or upset. "Fertile" means fruitful, able to produce a lot of crops, or capable of conceiving.