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About This Quiz
Think back long ago to when you were in elementary school and your teacher first introduced you to the thesaurus. Now, once you got over your initial disappointment that the thesaurus isn't a cool new dinosaur, you thought it was pretty nifty, dandy and super to have all the synonyms (and antonyms) you could ever need collected in one book! And today, because the Internet is so awesome, you can even pull up an online thesaurus with a few keystrokes, making it even easier to find the perfect word for every occasion.
Your teacher probably drilled it into your head that not all synonyms mean exactly the same thing. They're not interchangeable, in other words. You might describe a ballerina as delicate and graceful — perfectly acceptable descriptions. But if you used the synonyms frail, fragile or flimsy, you could wind up the unlucky recipient of a swift kick from a pointe shoe!
So if you have a surfeit, a glut, a deluge or a plethora of synonyms in your arsenal of words, you will no doubt ace this quiz and be able to brag to all your chums, buddies, cronies and comrades!
Here are three synonyms: unobtrusive, discreet, unnoticeable. Can you identify the word?
Advantageous
Tantalizing
Inconspicuous
"Inconspicuous" means not noticeable. Have you ever left an inconspicuous ding in your parents' car after borrowing it, and somehow they spotted it right away? How do they always do that?
Florid
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If we give you the synonyms scandalous, atrocious and heinous, can you identify the word?
Egregious
"Egregious" means extraordinarily bad or flagrant. If you're going to make a mistake at work, it's best not to make an egregious one. A shocking or grievous one, maybe, but not egregious!
Mundane
Blasé
Splendid
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Here are three synonyms: allay, lessen, mollify. What's the word?
Truncate
Fantasize
Pontificate
Mitigate
To "mitigate" means to lessen or to make something less intense. While some people like to mitigate risks by taking proper precautions, others dive into situations without much forethought.
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Which word is a synonym with vague, equivocal and inconclusive?
Ambiguous
The word "ambiguous" means open to multiple interpretations. People generally like movies to have clear-cut endings, but sometimes filmmakers challenge audiences with ambiguous conclusions.
Dismal
Scabrous
Militant
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This word is synonymous with animosity, aversion and hostility. What is it?
Contentment
Misgivings
Antipathy
"Antipathy" is an instinctive dislike of something. Perhaps a friend of yours has an antipathy for earthworms and runs away shrieking if you dangle one in her face. It's only a harmless worm!
Senility
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Three synonyms are philanthropic, compassionate and generous. What's the word?
Haughty
Benevolent
A "benevolent" person shows goodwill toward others. Many people consider parenthood a benevolent dictatorship because while Mom and Dad make the rules, they have the kids' best interest at heart.
Spiteful
Indifferent
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Can you choose the right word if we give you the synonyms power, influence and sway?
Brawl
Avenue
Clout
"Clout" is strong influence, particularly in the realm of politics. Someone who has clout with the city council might be successful at having all the potholes in the neighborhood filled promptly.
Dissertation
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Three synonyms for this word are apogee, pinnacle and acme. What's the word?
Apex
An "apex" is the highest point or a climax. Ambitious people strive to reach — and remain at — the apex of their career. Lots of people are climbing to Mt. Everest's apex these days.
Trough
Emission
Imposition
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Which word has the synonyms rash, foolhardy and thoughtless?
Imprudent
"Imprudent" means the opposite of wise. In "The Sandlot," the boys imprudently chew tobacco before riding the carnival ride. Still, they learn a lesson that will stick with them for-ev-er!
Malicious
Fluctuating
Earnest
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If we give you the synonyms profitable, worthwhile and fruitful, can you identify the word?
Omnipotent
Peculiar
Plausible
Lucrative
Something that's "lucrative" is profitable and brings in money. For instance, if you're going to develop a website, you hopefully want to make it lucrative so you can start raking in the moolah.
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Which word has the synonyms pliable, supple and flexible?
Rigid
Sublime
Malleable
"Malleable" means adaptable or moldable. When you're baking cookies, the dough should be malleable so you can roll it out with a rolling pin. Otherwise, you might've done something wrong!
Tedious
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Resolute, unyielding and persistent are synonyms of which word?
Tenacious
"Tenacious" is a strong word meaning persistent or holding fast. So the next time someone complains that you're as stubborn as an ox, you can take comfort in the idea that they meant to say "tenacious."
Pitiable
Quirky
Solemn
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Which word has the synonyms buttress, fortify and bolster?
Scrutinize
Reinforce
"Reinforce" means to strengthen. Nothing reinforces a new skill like hours of practice, whether it's perfecting a free throw shot or mastering a tricky classical piece on the piano.
Undulate
Formulate
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This word is synonymous with vulnerable, prone and liable. What is it?
Impervious
Qualitative
Potent
Susceptible
"Susceptible" means likely to be affected by something. For instance, during flu season doctors recommend that children, seniors and people susceptible to illness get their flu shot.
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Disintegrate, wither and succumb are all synonyms for which word?
Invoke
Perish
To "perish" means to die or be destroyed. Over 1,500 passengers perished when the "Titanic" sank in icy Atlantic waters in 1912, but Jack and Rose's love will never perish, not even in death!
Foresee
Dispatch
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Here are three synonyms: consternation, disillusionment, chagrin. What's the word?
Dismay
"Dismay" means to perturb or dishearten. Much to our dismay, it is not socially acceptable for adults to don Halloween costumes and go trick-or-treating, no matter our intense love of chocolate.
Jubilation
Conviction
Bias
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Which word is synonymous with avid, fervent and passionate?
Ardent
"Ardent" means passionate or zealous. When you spend hours creating a costume based on your favorite superhero character to wear to Comic-Con, it's fair to call you an ardent fan.
Frigid
Evanescent
Gargantuan
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This word has the synonyms rapacious, insatiable and ravenous. Which word is it?
Quenched
Voracious
"Voracious" is a cool word because it can describe a hearty appetite or zealous love of something. For instance, you can be a voracious reader and a voracious eater of bonbons at the same time!
Diverse
Preeminent
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This word is synonymous with aggravate, provoke and intensify. What is it?
Exacerbate
To "exacerbate" is to aggravate. For example, if you already have a piercing headache, listening to kids squabbling over a toy will only exacerbate your pain and raise it to migraine-level.
Alleviate
Exhilarate
Lament
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Here are three synonyms: ruin, harm, impair. What's the word?
Adorn
Embellish
Prevaricate
Mar
"Mar" means to damage or impair. Nothing mars your dream vacation more than foul weather, poor hotel service, cancelled flights, lost luggage and any other inconvenience you can think of.
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Which word means the same as discharge, flow and seepage?
Tact
Secretion
"Secretion" is the process by which a cell or gland releases a substance. Our salivary secretions spike dramatically when we come home from an intense workout and smell burgers cooking on the grill.
Urge
Acquisition
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This word has the synonyms deft, capable and proficient. What's the word?
Coarse
Flagrant
Adept
An "adept" person is an expert at something. When we go out to eat, we always hope the servers are adept at balancing multiple plates on their arms — particularly when they pass by us.
Slovenly
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Which word means nearly the same as languid, listless and lackadaisical?
Lethargic
"Lethargic" means drowsy or sluggish. It never fails that we feel lethargic after eating a large meal at Thanksgiving. But it's a sacrifice we're willing to make to show our gratitude!
Vivacious
Adversarial
Candid
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Which word has the synonyms surrender, acknowledge and accept?
Repudiate
Enervate
Condone
Concede
To "concede" means to admit something, such as a defeat. After an election, the losing party is expected to concede the winner's victory. We concede that pajamas are not approved daytime attire.
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Three synonyms are enrich, nurture and promote. What's the word?
Neglect
Cultivate
"Cultivate" means to foster or to help to grow. You can cultivate a richer vocabulary by reading constantly, whether it's books, magazines, newspapers or the backs of cereal boxes!
Endow
Foment
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Which word has the synonyms alluring, enticing and mouthwatering?
Offensive
Reputable
Tantalizing
Something "tantalizing" arouses your desires, like a luscious chocolate cake. As punishment, poor Tantalus couldn't reach the fruit above him or the water below him in Greek mythology.
Freewheeling
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Which word has the synonyms frugal, miserly and selfish?
Magnanimous
Stingy
Someone who's "stingy" is not generous. In Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge is the classic stingy miser who learns the error of his ways from three ghosts. Bah, humbug!
Galvanizing
Indulgent
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This word has the similar words reversal, opposite and contradiction. What is it?
Inversion
An "inversion" is a reversal of position or order. Yoda from Star Wars is the master of speech inversion, which adds to his mystique as a wise Jedi Master. Mixing up syntax he does!
Persecution
Scorn
Circulation
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Here are three synonyms: rowdy, unruly, boisterous. What's the word?
Rambunctious
"Rambunctious" means wild, noisy or hard to control. Puppies, kittens and young children hopped up on sugar are known for being rambunctious, as are sports fanatics at critical games.
Docile
Tentative
Squalid
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If you have the synonyms austere, bleak and desolate, can you come up with the word?
Provocative
Calamitous
Erratic
Stark
No, we're not talking about "Game of Thrones." "Stark" means harsh or extremely simple. Many people who visit old log cabins are surprised by the stark accommodations. Really, no Wi-Fi in here?
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Which word has the synonyms resent, covet and begrudge?
Envy
To "envy" is to covet something belonging to another. In "Toy Story," Woody envies Buzz Lightyear when he replaces Woody as Andy's favorite toy. Still, pushing someone out the window is not the answer!
Malign
Suspend
Demur
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Which word has the synonyms squander, bankrupt and drain?
Furnish
Culminate
Deplete
To "deplete" means to use something up. After depleting your resources in the zombie apocalypse, you will be forced to make a run to the store, where the undead love to congregate.
Boost
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This word means nearly the same as plethora, fruitfulness and overabundance. What is it?
Dearth
Antithesis
Onset
Cornucopia
A "cornucopia" is an overflowing abundance, named after the horn of Amalthea that never ran out of food or drink. We'd love a cornucopia of snacks and beverages at our Super Bowl parties.
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Here are three words that mean nearly the same thing: capricious, flighty and unpredictable. What's the word?
Fickle
"Fickle" means easily changeable. Teachers often call Romeo of "Romeo and Juliet" fickle, because he's mooning over Rosalind one day and obsessed with Juliet the next. We all know how that ends!
Obsolete
Null
Modest
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This word has the synonyms articulate, expressive and stirring. What's the word?
Eccentric
Introverted
Eloquent
Someone who's "eloquent" uses forceful or expressive speech. Not everyone's eager to give public speeches — okay, some actually dread it! But put in that position, we all hope to be eloquent.
Dubious
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You Got:
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