Synonyms: Other Adjectives - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

"Toxic" is an adjective that means "causing or capable of causing death or illness if taken into the body" when used of a plant or substance, "producing poison as a means of attacking enemies or prey" when describing an animal or insect, or "extremely unpleasant or malicious." While "fulsome" might look like a good answer choice, "fulsome" actually means "complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree" or "of large size or quantity; generous or abundant," so it cannot be the correct answer. "Poisonous" however, is a synonym of "toxic," so "poisonous" is the correct answer.

Resistant. Impervious most nearly means, impenetrable and impassable. Something that is "impervious" is resistant to certain or all things. For instance, a sentence using the word would be "He was impervious to her reasoning."

Most of the other choices are antonyms, with the exception of "nervous" which is unrelated.

"Conventional" is an adjective meaning "used and accepted by most people: usual or traditional," "of a kind that has been around for a long time and is considered to be usual or typical," or "common and ordinary: not unusual." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "usual" or "ordinary." "Novel" and "unusual" are antonyms of "conventional," so neither can be the correct answer, but "standard," when used as an adjective, means "used or accepted as normal or average." Because "standard" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "conventional," "standard" is the correct answer.

"Profound" is an adjective meaning "having or showing great knowledge or understanding," "difficult to understand : requiring deep thought or wisdom," or "very strongly felt." "Earnest," which means "resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction," is the best answer because it is closest in meaning to "very strongly felt," and none of the answer choices are at all similar in meaning to any of the definitions of "profound."

"Onerous" is an adjective that means "involving an amount of effort or difficulty that is overly burdensome." Fun is clearly incorrect, as is talented. So scary sounds possible, since onerous looks a little like ominous, but just because something is challenging does not make it scary, so that's out. Rude is close, and onerous can certainly be used in a context that might mean rude, but ultimately, difficult is the closest synonym.

"Exhilarating" is an adjective that means "making one feel very happy, animated or elated." Tedious is an antonym, it has the opposite meaning, which is boring. Illuminating and interesting both sound similar to exhilarating, but they refer to growing lighter and gaining or seeking information. And when one is happy, animated or elated, one is not usually numb, but feels everything. So "thrilling" is the best answer, as it refers to happiness and excitement.

"Fortuitous" is an adjective that means "happening by accident or chance rather than design," so we need to pick out an answer choice that is an adjective that means something like "happening by accident." So, "intentional" cannot be the correct answer because "intentional" means "done on purpose; deliberate," making it an antonym of "fortuitous," not a synonym. "Coincidental," however, is an adjective that means "resulting from a coincidence; done or happening by chance," and because "coincidental" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "fortuitous," "coincidental" is the correct answer.

"Inveterate" is an adjective that means either "having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change," or when describing such a feeling or habit, "long-established and unlikely to change." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "unlikely to change." "Incurable," an adjective that when used of a person or behavior can mean "unable to be changed," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "inveterate," so "incurable" is the correct answer.

"Labyrinthine" is an adjective that means either "like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting" when describing a network, or "intricate and confusing" when describing a system. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "irregular and twisting" or "intricate and confusing." "Simple," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "simple" is an antonym of "labyrinthine," not a synonym. "Convoluted," however, is an adjective that means "extremely complex and difficult to follow" and is often used of an argument, story, or sentence. Because "convoluted" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "labyrinthine," "convoluted" is the correct answer.

"Inert" means lacking the ability or strength to move. If someone is inert, she is motionless or still.

"Noxious" is an adjective that means poisonous. It has a negative connotation, so the answer must also be an adjective with a negative connotation. Considering the potential answer choices, "benign" (which means harmless) and "legitimate" (which means acceptable or lawful) do not have negative connotations, so neither of those words can be the correct answer. This leaves us to pick the correct answer from amongst "injurious," which means harmful, "aggravating," which means irritating or annoying, and "woeful," which means miserable. "Injurious" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "noxious," so "injurious" is the correct answer.

"Turbulent" means characterised by agitation or chaos. "Tempestuous" means stormy, so it is a synonym of "turbulent." "Calm," "tranquil" and "peaceful" are all antonyms of turbulent that mean untroubled.

If you are "obstructed," it means that you are hindered or having to deal with an obstacle in your way. So, "hindered" is the correct answer.

"Minuscule" means very small, so "tiny" is the best match. "Vast" usually refers to areas of land or bodies of water and means very wide, so it is an antonym, or opposite, of "minuscule."

The word "disparate" means unequal. "Unequal" is the best choice because it is a part of the definition of "disparate." Considering the other choices, "parrotlike" means having the qualities of a parrot, "insulting" means causing offense or insult, and "gregarious" means loving the company of others.

The word "benign" means harmless. The best choice is "harmless" because it is a part of the definition of "benign."

The word "apt" means appropriate or very intelligent. The best choice is "appropriate," as it is a part of the definition of the word "apt." Considering the other options, an "application" is a request, "inappropriate" means not suitable, and "fit" means in good physical condition.

"Hypnotic" means to have the effect of fixating one's attention. "Mesmerizing" also means this, so "mesmerizing" is the correct answer.

Both of the meanings of the word "prone" in English derive from a Latin root meaning "leaning forward." In a physical sense, this leads to the meaning of lying face down (now popularly called "planking"), and in a less-literal sense—as in this question—it can mean having a tendency toward something. One might be prone to anger, or prone to speak out of turn in class. The word "wont," (which is a homophone of the more-familiar word "want"), also means to be inclined toward something.