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.

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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