Can You Complete These Sentences With Synonyms?

By: Cassidy Allen Chubb
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Complete These Sentences With Synonyms?
Image: shapecharge/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Did you know that there are more than 171,000 words currently used in the English language? Crazy to think about, right?

You see words all around you whether you're reading a book, passing a billboard, opening a magazine, or deep into an article online. There are just so many words that each person has in their vocabulary, and then there are all the thousands of words that you don't know or have yet to stumble on upon.

If 171,000 words don't phase you, then you definitely need to take this quiz to so we can challenge you! In this quiz, you'll be tasked with replacing a word with the synonym that best fits the sentence. Can you think of a synonym for the word assertive? What about the word frugal or disdain? Or how about the word fickle? Looking at them right now you might be thinking "Oh sure, that's so easy," but it's a whole different ball game when it also has to make sense in the sentence. This quiz will challenge your word knowledge. So what're you waiting for? Take this quiz and let's see if you're as much of a word wizard as you claim to be!

Jada described the winter weather as frigid, which is another word for what?
Chilly
Warm
Hot
Windy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Frigid is defined as intensely cold, while chilly is cold weather that causes shivering. The first known use of the word frigid didn't come until 1619. It's in the top 40% of look-up popularity on the Merriam-Webster website.

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Even though she just ate, Rachel was still hungry, which is another word for ______?
Upset
Starving
Full
Stuffed
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Starving is defined as suffering severely from hunger while hungry means to have a craving for food. When someone says they are starving, it is used in a more dramatic sense than hunger is. The first known use of the word was in the 15th century.

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Sarah wanted to go skydiving with her boyfriend but was hesitant. What is another word for hesitant?
Unsure
Confident
Scared
Excited
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When someone says they are hesitant, there is usually something that is holding them back from making a decision or doing something. In other words, they are unsure about it. Unsure is defined as not being certain or confident.

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He had a hard time coming up with the precise amount of money he owed the bank. What's another word for precise?
Rough
Narrow
Exact
Lump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Precise is defined as marked by exactness or correctness, and exact is defined as accurate or correct in all details. Both words can be used interchangeably with little to no change to a sentence structure, as they are practically identical in meaning.

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The family's attorney is working on their case pro bono. What is another word for pro bono?
Diligently
For money
Carefully
For free
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pro bono is derived from Latin "pro bono publico" which is translated to "for the public good." Did you know there's a National Pro Bono Week that is celebrated every year? The first known use of the word didn't come until 1966, according to Merriam-Webster.

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The students perform best when they are given clear instruction, which is another word for ________.
Direction
Question
Words
Hints
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Instruction is defined as detailed information explaining how something should be done, used or assembled. The first known use of the word explain came in the 15th century, which is also the same year that the word direction had its first known use.

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When driving on the highway, new drivers need to be cautious, which is another word for _______.
Responsibility
Wary
Pride
signs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Caution is defined as care taken to avoid danger, and wary is defined as caution about possible dangers. Both words are used to explain carefulness. The word was first used (as a noun) in 1566 and as a verb in 1683, per the Merriam-Webster website.

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No matter how much her mom tried to make her eat fruit, it's something Abby has always despised. How does Abby feel about fruit?
She indulges in it.
She avoids it.
She hates it.
She enjoys it.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despise is used to describe a deep feeling of distaste, disgust or disdain for something or someone. The first known use of the word was in the 14th century. The word hate was first used in the 12th century. Despise has origins from Middle English, Anglo-French and Latin.

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Tyrone's car accident was so bad that he has no recollection of what happened. What is another word for recollection?
Idea
Thought
Memory
History
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While the two words are almost identical in their definitions, there isn't a plural version of recollection. Recollection is defined as recalling to mind or remembrance, and memory is recalling previous experiences.

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Summers at the lake are so much fun, but it's always so hot. Replace the word hot with a synonym.
Windy
Chilly
Cold
Warm
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Warm can be used as an adjective, adverb, and a verb. Similar words that can also be used in place of warm are toasty and tepid. The first known use of the word as an adjective, adverb and verb all came before the 12th century.

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In the NBA and the world of basketball, Michael Jordan is someone who has had a major influence, which is another word for what?
Power
Force
Pressure
Impact
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first known use of the word impact was in 1601 (as a verb) and in 1781 as a noun. Some words similar include sway, move, touch, and impress.

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The food didn't have seasoning on it and was bland. What does bland mean?
Tasteless
Spicy
Delicious
Watery
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The origin of the word bland comes from the Latin word blandus and is defined as lacking strong flavor. The first known use of the word was in 1565. Bland is also a last name with English origins from West Riding of Yorkshire.

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Celeste is an avid moviegoer and sees a new movie once a week. Which word can be used in place of avid?
Impatient
Informed
Indifferent
Enthusiastic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first known use of the word avid wasn't until 1769, and it comes from the Latin word "avere," which means "to long for." When avid is used, it describes a deep interest with a lot of excitement.

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Tyler doesn't know that people think he's a narcissist, which is another word for what?
Cocky
Egotistical
Caring
Outgoing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Believe it or not, the first known use of narcissist wasn't until 1917 (as a noun) and then as an adjective in 1934. A narcissist is someone who only cares about themselves and is vain when it comes to their appearance.

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Brandon was excited to be at his first NBA game and smiled with relish, which is another word for what?
Appreciation
Relief
Disgust
Animosity
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While relish is used to describe someone's enjoyment, it also is a condiment that's famously added as a topping on hot dogs. The first known use of the word was in 1530 (as a noun) and 1586 as a verb.

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He thinks spending a lot of money at the mall is frivolous, which is another word for what?
Foolish
Serious
Thoughtful
Intelligent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word frivolous is defined as a lack of seriousness or sense. Merriam-Webster breaks it down to simply "things of little importance." It comes from the Latin word frivolus and its first known use was in the 13th century.

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After Lacy was told the bad news, she was baffled, which is another word for ______?
Whimsical
Aware
Giddy
Bewildered
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first known use of the word bewildered came in 1633. It is defined as deeply or utterly confused or perplexed. Baffle is similarly defined as to confuse or frustrate completely.

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In their first year of marriage, they had many financial problems. What type of problems are these?
Health
Unprofitable
Marital
Economic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first use of the word financial was in 1769. In that same year, the words stranded, uninteresting, slew, dissident also came into being. The word finance (noun) is defined as the management of money.

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Veronica went partying on a school night and her parents thought she was irresponsible, which is another word for what?
Accountable
Careless
Mature
Reasonable
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first known use of the word careless came sometime before the 12th century. Some similar words that can also be used in place of irresponsible are: incautious, heedless, and unguarded.

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She has a tendency to be oblivious, which is another word for what?
Ditsy
Forgetful
Unaware
Vigilant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

People often have a hard time knowing if they should use the words 'of' or 'to' after the word oblivious. In order to determine which word to use, it all depends on which way the word is used. Here's an example of a proper sentence with the word 'to': While the family was enjoying their meal, they were oblivious to the tornado that was quickly approaching.

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During all seasons, the weather in Atlanta is so inconstant, which is another word for what?
Confusing
Unstable
Faithful
Similar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word inconstant is defined as likely to change frequently without apparent or cogent reason. The first known use of the word inconstant came in the 15th century. In that same century the words assimilation, behave, capacity and deject were also first known to be used.

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This marks a significant milestone in your career. What's another word for significant?
Trivial
Minor
Valid
Important
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word significant is in the top 10% of words in look-up popularity on the Merriam-Website website. It comes from the Latin word significans and the first known use of the word was in 1579.

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After their break-up, Kerry felt so much disdain for his former partner. What did Kerry feel?
Appreciation
Love
Praise
Hate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hate is a moderate word compared to disdain. The first known uses of disdain as a noun and a verb both came in the 14th century. Some other words from that time include able, abundant, abridged and abstain.

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When Tom drinks too much, his behavior becomes very erratic, which is another word for what?
Normal
Insane
Unpredictable
Interesting
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word erratic can refer to literal "wandering." For example, if a train goes off its tracks, it may move in an erratic way. The first known use of the word erratic came in the 14th century (as an adjective) and circa 1623 as a noun.

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Their relationship started to become too complex, which is another word for what?
Complicated
Simple
Overwhelming
Basic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word complex is defined as consisting of many different and connected parts. The first known use of complex came in 1643 (as a noun), 1645 (as an adjective) and in 1658 as a verb.

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When Lily first meets people, she is very modest, which is another word for what?
Shy
Complex
Intricate
Confident
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A modest person is someone who is described as humble or shy. Some similar words that can also be used in place as modest are self-effacing, unpretentious, low-key. The first known use of the word modest was in 1550.

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During meetings, Melissa felt she had to be very assertive, which is another word for what?
Timid
Decisive
Meek
Emotional
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Assertive is defined as bold or confident statements and behavior. Some synonyms of assertive include militant, self-assertive, strong-willed, and forceful. The first known use of the word assertive came in circa 1619.

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Jim is not someone you can easily persuade, which is another word for what?
Dissuade
Convince
Influence
Deter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first known use of persuade was in the 15th century. It comes from the Latin word persuadēre, meaning thoroughly, and suadēre, which means to advise or urge. Persuade and convince can be used interchangeably because their definitions are so similar.

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What Sally is wearing is the epitome of chic fashion. What is another word for epitome?
Regular
Personification
Standard
Completion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Epitome is defined as the perfect or ideal example. It has Greek roots (epitemnein, which means "to cut short") and was first seen in print in 1520. Epitome is in the top 1% of words in look-up popularity on the Merriam-Webster website.

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As a child, Jason always asked questions that were inquisitive, which is another word for what?
Normal
Boring
Analytical
Incurious
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first known use of the word inquisitive came in the 14th century. Some similar words that can also be used in place of inquisitive are prying, snoopy, and nosy. It's in the top 20% of words in look-up popularity on the Merriam-Webster website.

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Oscar rarely eats out and is very frugal, which is another word for what?
Wasteful
Cheap
Careful
Wealthy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word frugal originates from the Latin word "frux" which means "fruit" or "value." The first known use of frugal was in 1590. Some similar words that can be used in place of frugal are economical, sparing, provident.

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Going back to school right now might not be ideal. What does ideal mean in this sentence?
Realistic
Perfect
Difficult
Appropriate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The history of the word ideal comes from Late Latin, Latin, and Middle English. The first known use of the word ideal was in the 15th century and, when used as an adjective, is defined as regarded as perfect of its kind.

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After speaking out against their mother, Larry felt ostracized, which is another word for ______?
Included
Accepted
Rejected
Exclude
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word ostracize has Greek roots and came from a practice known as ostracism, which was used by powerful citizens. Ostracize comes from the Greek word ostrakizein, which means "to banish by voting with potsherds." The first known use wasn't until 1649.

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When it comes to women's rights, Rebecca considers herself an advocate. What does advocate mean in this sentence?
Supporter
Defender
Enemy
Opponent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A not-so-known fact is that Benjamin Franklin was not the biggest fan of the word advocate. He apparently didn't like the way the word was used and wanted something to be done about it. The first known use of the word came in 14th century (as a noun) and in the 1599 as a verb.

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Everyone always describes Charlie a having a lot of charisma. What does Charlie have a lot of?
Personality
Pride
Dignity
Allure
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Charisma is defined as the power of arousing admiration. Allure is the quality of being powerfully fascinating. When these words are used, they are describing someone who knows how to captivate and draw people in with their personality.

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