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Near-Synonym Vocabulary Discrimination Flashcards

6 cards from real MLAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which word is most precisely synonymous with MELANCHOLY?

    Answer: Sorrowful

    Melancholy means a deep, persistent sadness or unhappiness. Sorrowful is the closest synonym — it directly describes the feeling of grief or sadness. Nostalgic implies wistful longing for the past; somber means dark or serious in mood or tone; weary means physically or mentally tired.

  2. TENACIOUS most nearly means:

    Answer: Persistent

    Tenacious means holding firmly to a purpose or plan and continuing despite obstacles. Persistent is the closest match — it captures determined, continued effort. Stubborn implies unreasonable resistance without a positive connotation; aggressive implies hostility; forceful emphasizes physical or rhetorical power.

  3. Which word is the closest synonym for FRUGAL?

    Answer: Thrifty

    Frugal means being careful and economical with money or resources without waste. Thrifty is the closest synonym — both describe prudent resource management positively. Miserly implies extreme, unpleasant stinginess beyond what frugal conveys; impoverished means lacking money; cautious relates to avoiding risk, not spending.

  4. ALLEVIATE most nearly means:

    Answer: Ease

    Alleviate means to make something bad, especially pain or a problem, less severe — not to remove it entirely. Ease is the closest match. Eliminate and cure both imply complete removal, which alleviate does not; prevent means to stop something from happening at all.

  5. RETICENT most nearly means:

    Answer: Reserved

    Reticent means unwilling to speak freely or share one's thoughts — a deliberate restraint in expression. Reserved is the closest synonym. Shy implies social anxiety or fear; secretive suggests intentionally hiding things from others; timid implies fearfulness, not communicative restraint.

  6. Which word is most precisely synonymous with VERBOSE?

    Answer: Wordy

    Verbose means using more words than are needed — unnecessarily long-winded. Wordy is the direct synonym. Vague means unclear or imprecise, not necessarily long; repetitive means saying the same thing multiple times; elaborate means detailed and complex, which is not the same as unnecessarily lengthy.