Number of Questions: 33 multiple-choice
 
Directions: For each numbered word, select the closest synonym (the word that most closely suggests the underlined word's meaning) among the three answer choices. Click on the word to check its definition and for the correct answer.

---

1.  aberration

(A) illusion
(B) objective
(C) divergence

2.  adumbrate

(A) debate
(B) frolic
(C) predict

3.  ardent

(A) passionate
(B) narrow
(C) transparent

4.  belie

(A) surrender
(B) deceive
(C) prevent

5.  blandishment

(A) flattery
(B) scar
(C) revenge

6.  captious

(A) alluring
(B) critical
(C) swift

7.  commiserate

(A) account
(B) sympathize
(C) command

8.  contravene

(A) oppose
(B) disassemble
(C) discourage

9.  culpable

(A) unsatisfactory
(B) timid
(C) guilty

10.  descry

(A) dehydrate
(B) antagonize
(C) detect

11.  disinter

(A) expose
(B) distract
(C) suppress

12.  elucidate

(A) moisten
(B) enlarge
(C) explain

13.  equivocate

(A) qualify
(B) evade
(C) guarantee

14.  extenuate

(A) excuse
(B) prolong
(C) uncover

15.  flagging

(A) dispirited
(B) desperate
(C) heightened

16.  gratuitous

(A) appreciative
(B) determined
(C) free

17.  impend

(A) hasten
(B) approach
(C) block

18.  incursion

(A) collapse
(B) aggression
(C) gamble

19.  insipid

(A) gradual
(B) dull
(C) wary

20.  inviolate

(A) peaceful
(B) undefeated
(C) pure

21.  lucid

(A) clear
(B) toxic
(C) deep

22.  occlude

(A) plug
(B) expel
(C) dig

23.  palpable

(A) plain
(B) agreeable
(C) coarse

24.  pedantic

(A) ordinary
(B) academic
(C) distraught

25.  plaintive

(A) inquisitive
(B) mournful
(C) passive

26.  probity

(A) likelihood
(B) guilt
(C) honor

27.  protract

(A) measure
(B) initiate
(C) continue

28.  recumbent

(A) regretful
(B) reclining
(C) unmistakable

29.  repugnant

(A) distasteful
(B) stubborn
(C) informal

30.  spurious

(A) dangerous
(B) doubtful
(C) inauthentic

31.  tacit

(A) implied
(B) soft
(C) accessible

32.  vacillate

(A) facilitate
(B) fluctuate
(C) immunize

33.  waft

(A) float
(B) preach
(C) adore

Answers and Definitions

1. (C)
   aberration
   (n) deviation from the normal or usual

   (A) illusion
   (B) objective
   (C) divergence


 

2. (C)
   adumbrate (v) to foretell, foreshadow, or prophesy vaguely

   (A) debate
   (B) frolic
   (C) predict

   
    
   
3. (A)
   ardent (adj) characterized by warmth of feeling; fervid; zealous

   (A) passionate
   (B) narrow
   (C) transparent

   
    
   
4. (B)
   belie (v) to mislead or misrepresent

   (A) surrender
   (B) deceive
   (C) prevent

   
    
   
5. (A)
   blandishment (n) speech or action intended to flatter, coax, or cajole

   (A) flattery
   (B) scar
   (C) revenge

   
    
   
6. (B)
   captious (adj) inclined to find fault

   (A) alluring
   (B) critical
   (C) swift

   
    
   
7. (B)
   commiserate (v) to feel or express pity for another

   (A) account
   (B) sympathize
   (C) command

   
    
   
8. (A)
   contravene (v) to act contrary to

   (A) oppose
   (B) disassemble
   (C) discourage

   
    
   
9. (C)
   culpable (adj) worthy or deserving of blame, as for a wrongful act; liable

   (A) unsatisfactory
   (B) timid
   (C) guilty

   
    
   
10. (C)
    descry (v) to catch sight of or discover by observation or investigation

    (A) dehydrate
    (B) antagonize
    (C) detect

    
     
    
11. (A)
    disinter (v) to dig up (unearth); exhume

    (A) expose
    (B) distract
    (C) suppress

    
     
    
12. (C)
    elucidate (v) to clarify by illustration, explanation, or interpretation

    (A) moisten
    (B) enlarge
    (C) explain

    
     
    
13. (B)
    equivocate (v) to dodge or evade (a question or issue) through the use of ambiguous or misleading language; prevaricate

    (A) qualify
    (B) evade
    (C) guarantee

    
     
    
14. (A)
    extenuate (v) to treat as less serious or important than is apparent; mitigate

    (A) excuse
    (B) prolong
    (C) uncover

    
     
    
15. (A)
    flagging (adj) characterized by a decline in spirit, interest, or attention

    (A) dispirited
    (B) desperate
    (C) heightened

    
     
    
16. (C)
    gratuitous (adj) given or done freely, without compensation

    (A) appreciative
    (B) determined
    (C) free

    
     
    
17. (B)
    impend (v) to hover or hang threateningly; loom

    (A) hasten
    (B) approach
    (C) block

    
     
    
18. (B)
    incursion (n) sudden, temporary invasion; raid; attack

    (A) collapse
    (B) aggression
    (C) gamble

    
     
    
19. (B)
    insipid (adj) uninteresting; flavorless; flat; stale

    (A) gradual
    (B) dull
    (C) wary

    
     
    
20. (C)
    inviolate (adj) not violated; unprofaned

    (A) peaceful
    (B) undefeated
    (C) pure

    
     
    
21. (A)
    lucid (adj) clear-minded; easily understood; bright or shiny

    (A) clear
    (B) toxic
    (C) deep

    
     
    
22. (A)
    occlude (v) to obstruct, shut in, or close up

    (A) plug
    (B) expel
    (C) dig

    
     
    
23. (A)
    palpable (adj) evident; obvious; manifest

    (A) plain
    (B) agreeable
    (C) coarse

    
     
    
24. (B)
    pedantic (adj) making an excessive show of learning; overly concerned with rules and details; didactic

    (A) ordinary
    (B) academic
    (C) distraught

    
     
    
25. (B)
    plaintive (adj) expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournful; lugubrious

    (A) inquisitive
    (B) mournful
    (C) passive

    
     
    
26. (C)
    probity (n) integrity; uprightness; honesty

    (A) likelihood
    (B) guilt
    (C) honor

    
     
    
27. (C)
    protract (v) to draw out or lengthen in time; prolong

    (A) measure
    (B) initiate
    (C) continue

    
     
    
28. (B)
    recumbent (adj) lying down; prone; prostrate; supine

    (A) regretful
    (B) reclining
    (C) unmistakable

    
     
    
29. (A)
    repugnant (adj) repulsive; offensive; revolting

    (A) distasteful
    (B) stubborn
    (C) informal

    
     
    
30. (C)
    spurious (adj) not genuine or authentic; bogus; counterfeit

    (A) dangerous
    (B) doubtful
    (C) inauthentic

    
     
    
31. (A)
    tacit (adj) silent; understood without being openly expressed; implicit

    (A) implied
    (B) soft
    (C) accessible

    
     
    
32. (B)
    vacillate (v) to waver in opinion or decision

    (A) facilitate
    (B) fluctuate
    (C) immunize

    
     
    
33. (A)
    waft (v) to drift or float over water or through the air

    (A) float
    (B) preach
    (C) adore