MLAT Near-Synonym Vocabulary Discrimination — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which word is most precisely synonymous with MELANCHOLY?
- Nostalgic
- Sorrowful (Correct answer)
- Somber
- Weary
Correct 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.
Question 2: TENACIOUS most nearly means:
- Aggressive
- Stubborn
- Persistent (Correct answer)
- Forceful
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which word is the closest synonym for FRUGAL?
- Miserly
- Thrifty (Correct answer)
- Impoverished
- Cautious
Correct 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.
Question 4: ALLEVIATE most nearly means:
- Eliminate
- Prevent
- Ease (Correct answer)
- Cure
Correct 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.
Question 5: RETICENT most nearly means:
- Shy
- Reserved (Correct answer)
- Secretive
- Timid
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which word is most precisely synonymous with VERBOSE?
- Vague
- Repetitive
- Wordy (Correct answer)
- Elaborate
Correct 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.
MLAT Near-Synonym Vocabulary Discrimination
Which word is most precisely synonymous with MELANCHOLY?