40 Verbal Reasoning questions — Part 1: 20 synonym, Part 2: 20 sentence completion — in the ISEE's own four-option format. Every answer is explained, and every question links to its word's full study page.
Choose the best synonym for the word “tyrannical” as used in this sentence: The manager''s tyrannical behavior made the employees feel oppressed and powerless.
B — oppressive. “tyrannical” means adj. oppressive dictatorial authoritarian. Study “tyrannical” →
In the context of limited resources, the community realized their funding was quite scant. Which word is a synonym for “scant”?
B — scarce. “scant” means adj. insufficient; meager; limited. Study “scant” →
In the library, I found a detailed treatise on the history of ancient civilizations. What is a synonym for “treatise”?
D — report. “treatise” means N. formal written work; dissertation. Study “treatise” →
Choose the synonym for the following word in the given context: The film''s ending was so saccharine that it left the audience feeling slightly nauseous.
B — Sweet. “saccharine” means adj. overly sweet; cloying; artificial. Study “saccharine” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “integral”:
B — fundamental. “integral” means adj. essential or necessary for completeness. Study “integral” →
Select the best synonym for the word “agenda”:
A — schedule. “agenda” means n. a list of items to be discussed or acted upon. Study “agenda” →
In the city, the price of housing has become exorbitant, making it difficult for many families to afford a home. Which word is the best synonym for “exorbitant”?
C — excessive. “exorbitant” means adj. excessive extreme unreasonable. Study “exorbitant” →
Which word is the closest synonym for “nepotism” as used in the sentence: “The CEO was accused of nepotism after hiring his cousin for the management role despite her lack of qualifications”?
A — Favoritism. “nepotism” means n. favoritism; cronyism; bias. Study “nepotism” →
Select the word that is most similar in meaning to labyrinth.
A — maze. “labyrinth” means n. maze complex network. Study “labyrinth” →
Select the best synonym for the word “collate”:
A — arrange. “collate” means v. organize arrange compile. Study “collate” →
Select the word that is a synonym for mundane.
B — Ordinary. “mundane” means adj. ordinary everyday routine. Study “mundane” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “languid”: The scene at the beach was so peaceful and everyone seemed to be in a languid state, enjoying the warmth of the sun.
C — lethargic. “languid” means adj. listless sluggish weak. Study “languid” →
Which of the following words is the best synonym for “quintessential”?
A — typical. “quintessential” means adj. the most typical example or representative.. Study “quintessential” →
Select the word that is closest in meaning to “ascertain”:
A — Discover. “ascertain” means v. determine; find out; establish. Study “ascertain” →
In the debate, Sarah''s arguments were so caustic that her opponent found it difficult to respond. Which word is a synonym for caustic?
C — scathing. “caustic” means adj. corrosive; sarcastic; harsh. Study “caustic” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “accede”: Despite initial resistance, the committee decided to _______ to the demands of the protestors.
B — submit. “accede” means v. agree consent comply. Study “accede” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for polarize?
C — divide. “polarize” means v. divide split separate. Study “polarize” →
Select the word that is most similar in meaning to “moratorium”:
A — Pause. “moratorium” means n. suspension halt pause. Study “moratorium” →
Select the best synonym for the word “invigorate”:
A — energize. “invigorate” means v. to give strength or energy to. Study “invigorate” →
Select the best synonym for the word “ostracize”:
C — reject. “ostracize” means v. exclude; shun; banish. Study “ostracize” →
The new government promised to ______ the old and deeply unfair laws.
D — abrogate. “abrogate” means v. abolish; cancel; repeal. Study “abrogate” →
His ______ jokes about the sacred ceremony deeply shocked the elders.
D — irreverent. “irreverent” means adj. showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.. Study “irreverent” →
In the ______ heat of the afternoon, no one had the energy to move.
D — languid. “languid” means adj. listless sluggish weak. Study “languid” →
A faint golden glow seemed to ______ from the mysterious carved box.
A — emanate. “emanate” means v. emerge; flow; originate. Study “emanate” →
Without steady funding, the once-promising project began to ______ and fail.
B — founder. “founder” means v. To fail; sink; establish. Study “founder” →
Breathing thick factory smoke all day can be highly ______ to the lungs.
B — injurious. “injurious” means adj. harmful; damaging; detrimental. Study “injurious” →
He wore a ______ smile as he openly mocked the foolish, doomed plan.
C — sardonic. “sardonic” means Adj. mocking; cynical; scornful. Study “sardonic” →
He has a strong ______ for telling long, rambling stories at dinner.
C — propensity. “propensity” means n. tendency inclination habit. Study “propensity” →
The horse-drawn carriage was in many ways a ______ to the modern automobile.
C — precursor. “precursor” means n. forerunner; predecessor; harbinger. Study “precursor” →
The huge market offered a bewildering ______ of fruits from every continent.
B — multiplicity. “multiplicity” means n. variety diversity abundance. Study “multiplicity” →
The famous author would not ______ to speak with his ordinary fans.
A — condescend. “condescend” means v. lower oneself; act superior. Study “condescend” →
Her ______ fear of harmless spiders made no logical sense at all.
B — irrational. “irrational” means adj. not based on reason or logic. Study “irrational” →
A careless driver is ______ for any damage that he happens to cause.
B — liable. “liable” means adj. likely to be affected or held responsible. Study “liable” →
Calling the enormous shy giant Tiny was a rather amusing ______.
D — misnomer. “misnomer” means n. wrong name; inappropriate term. Study “misnomer” →
The spy wore plain gray clothes to remain as ______ as possible in the crowd.
A — inconspicuous. “inconspicuous” means adj. unnoticeable hidden subtle. Study “inconspicuous” →
She looked at the cheating student with obvious, undisguised ______.
A — contempt. “contempt” means n. scorn; disdain; disrespect. Study “contempt” →
The young ______ started three successful companies before she turned thirty.
B — entrepreneur. “entrepreneur” means n. Business owner; innovator. Study “entrepreneur” →
Instead of a plain answer, the slippery politician offered only vague ______.
D — circumlocution. “circumlocution” means n. roundabout speech; wordiness; evasion. Study “circumlocution” →
The judge's ______ ruling was fiercely debated for many weeks afterward.
D — controversial. “controversial” means adj. causing disagreement or discussion. Study “controversial” →
The head waiter's manners were ______, polished and perfect in every way.
C — impeccable. “impeccable” means adj. Flawless and perfect; faultless. Study “impeccable” →
Score:
Every question below is now marked up: the correct answer is highlighted in red, and any option you picked that was wrong is highlighted in blue.
No. These are original synonym and sentence-completion questions written from the iSEE Vocab word bank, in the ISEE's own four-option Verbal Reasoning format. No retired or copyrighted ISEE/SSAT questions appear anywhere on this site.
40 — Part 1 is 20 synonym questions, Part 2 is 20 sentence-completion questions, the same roughly-even split the real ISEE Verbal Reasoning section uses.
No. Every Upper Level practice test on this site draws from a disjoint slice of the word bank, so Test 1, Test 2 and every other numbered test at this level use entirely different questions.
Yes. The ISEE gives no penalty for a wrong answer — a blank scores the same as a wrong guess, which is zero — so answer every question even when you have to guess.