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.  abrogate

(A) oppose
(B) cancel
(C) entwine

2.  aphoristic

(A) antiquated
(B) superficial
(C) proverbial

3.  assay

(A) examination
(B) proclamation
(C) vulnerability

4.  berate

(A) scold
(B) critique
(C) endorse

5.  cadge

(A) encumber
(B) beg
(C) fumble

6.  cogent

(A) comprehensive
(B) understandable
(C) convincing

7.  complaisant

(A) blossoming
(B) inattentive
(C) agreeable

8.  convoke

(A) assemble
(B) fabricate
(C) engage

9.  decry

(A) complain
(B) indulge
(C) discredit

10.  discomfit

(A) aggravate
(B) worry
(C) prevent

11.  effusive

(A) talkative
(B) radiant
(C) offensive

12.  enamored

(A) infatuated
(B) cleansed
(C) controlled

13.  extant

(A) immediate
(B) surviving
(C) distinctive

14.  feign

(A) condense
(B) soothe
(C) pretend

15.  gist

(A) cavity
(B) scoundrel
(C) essence

16.  harrow

(A) signal
(B) harass
(C) worship

17.  impugn

(A) characterize
(B) challenge
(C) empty

18.  iniquitous

(A) immoral
(B) unjust
(C) shrewd

19.  intractable

(A) stubborn
(B) irreversible
(C) irresistible

20.  lassitude

(A) circumference
(B) tiredness
(C) coincidence

21.  meretricious

(A) noteworthy
(B) showy
(C) strict

22.  ossified

(A) shocked
(B) discouraged
(C) hardened

23.  parsimonious

(A) stingy
(B) haughty
(C) precise

24.  pithy

(A) witty
(B) boring
(C) meaningful

25.  pragmatic

(A) realistic
(B) impatient
(C) efficient

26.  rail

(A) devalue
(B) protest
(C) impose

27.  rectitude

(A) confidence
(B) virtue
(C) alertness

28.  sate

(A) sample
(B) satisfy
(C) linger

29.  seemly

(A) decent
(B) visible
(C) porous

30.  sodden

(A) soggy
(B) weary
(C) abbreviated

31.  sordid

(A) disoriented
(B) shameful
(C) committed

32.  stanch

(A) attach
(B) wait
(C) halt

33.  vex

(A) irritate
(B) contort
(C) trap

Answers and Definitions

1. (B)
   abrogate (v) to revoke, annul, or rescind

   (A) oppose
   (B) cancel
   (C) entwine

2. (C)
   aphoristic (adj) obvious or well-known, as regarding a general truth

   (A) antiquated
   (B) superficial
   (C) proverbial

3. (A)
   assay (n) a test or analysis to determine characteristics, esp. of a metal

   (A) examination
   (B) proclamation
   (C) vulnerability

4. (A)
   berate (v) to scold harshly; upbraid; censure

   (A) scold
   (B) critique
   (C) endorse

5. (B)
   cadge (v) to sponge off of (another person); freeload; mooch

   (A) encumber
   (B) beg
   (C) fumble

6. (C)
   cogent (adj) persuasive or compelling

   (A) comprehensive
   (B) understandable
   (C) convincing

7. (C)
   complaisant (adj) eager to please; obliging

   (A) blossoming
   (B) inattentive
   (C) agreeable

8. (A)
   convoke (v) to call together for a meeting; convene

   (A) assemble
   (B) fabricate
   (C) engage

9. (C)
   decry (v) to belittle publicly; disparage; slander; denigrate

   (A) complain
   (B) indulge
   (C) discredit

10. (C)
    discomfit (v) to thwart or frustrate

    (A) aggravate
    (B) worry
    (C) prevent

11. (A)
    effusive (adj) gushing; characterized by unrestrained uttering (talking)

    (A) talkative
    (B) radiant
    (C) offensive

12. (A)
    enamored (adj) in love; infatuated (having a crush); smitten

    (A) infatuated
    (B) cleansed
    (C) controlled

13. (B)
    extant (adj) still in existence; not destroyed

    (A) immediate
    (B) surviving
    (C) distinctive

14. (C)
    feign (v) to intentionally give a false appearance

    (A) condense
    (B) soothe
    (C) pretend

15. (C)
    gist (n) the main point of a matter

    (A) cavity
    (B) scoundrel
    (C) essence

16. (B)
    harrow (v) to torment or torture; vex

    (A) signal
    (B) harass
    (C) worship

17. (B)
    impugn (v) to call into question; to oppose as false; gainsay

    (A) characterize
    (B) challenge
    (C) empty

18. (A)
    iniquitous (adj) wicked or immoral

    (A) immoral
    (B) unjust
    (C) shrewd

19. (A)
    intractable (adj) not easily controlled; obstinate

    (A) stubborn
    (B) irreversible
    (C) irresistible

20. (B)
    lassitude (n) weariness or fatigue; languor

    (A) circumference
    (B) tiredness
    (C) coincidence

21. (B)
    meretricious (adj) gaudy; tawdry; flashy

    (A) noteworthy
    (B) showy
    (C) strict

22. (C)
    ossified (adj) turned to bone; fossilized

    (A) shocked
    (B) discouraged
    (C) hardened

23. (A)
    parsimonious (adj) excessively frugal or sparing; miserly

    (A) stingy
    (B) haughty
    (C) precise

24. (C)
    pithy (adj) full of substance, vigor, and meaning (as in a pithy observation or remark), usually concise and to-the-point

    (A) witty
    (B) boring
    (C) meaningful

25. (A)
    pragmatic (adj) emphasizing practicality and realistic consequences

    (A) realistic
    (B) impatient
    (C) efficient

26. (B)
    rail (v) to complain or denounce vehemently

    (A) devalue
    (B) protest
    (C) impose

27. (B)
    rectitude (n) moral virtue or strength

    (A) confidence
    (B) virtue
    (C) alertness

28. (B)
    sate (v) to fully satisfy an appetite or desire; satiate; glut; surfeit

    (A) sample
    (B) satisfy
    (C) linger

29. (A)
    seemly (adj) fitting or proper with respect to propriety and good taste

    (A) decent
    (B) visible
    (C) porous

30. (A)
    sodden (adj) soaked or drenched

    (A) soggy
    (B) weary
    (C) abbreviated

31. (B)
    sordid (adj) dirty or filthy; morally shameful; meanly selfish

    (A) disoriented
    (B) shameful
    (C) committed

32. (C)
    stanch (v) to stop the flow of

    (A) attach
    (B) wait
    (C) halt

33. (A)
    vex (v) to annoy, anger, or provoke; abrade; perturb

    (A) irritate
    (B) contort
    (C) trap