Thesaurus usage

The old hiking trail was known for being treacherous, with loose rocks and steep drops. Which synonym from a thesaurus best fits this context?

• unreliable

• dangerous

• disloyal

• tricky

Answer explanation

While all options can be related to 'treacherous', 'dangerous' specifically describes physical risk, which fits the context of loose rocks and steep drops. 'Unreliable' and 'disloyal' refer to character, and 'tricky' is too general.

A thesaurus provides antonyms (opposites). Match each word to its antonym.

• durable

• fragile

• stingy

• temporary

• permanent

• courageous

• fearful

• generous

Answer explanation

Each word is paired with its direct opposite in meaning: fragile/durable, generous/stingy, courageous/fearful, and temporary/permanent.

If you look up the word abundant in a thesaurus, which word would you most likely find listed as a synonym?

• scarce

• plentiful

• beautiful

• empty

Answer explanation

'Abundant' means existing in large quantities. 'Plentiful' shares this meaning. 'Scarce' and 'empty' are antonyms, and 'beautiful' has a different meaning.

You're using a thesaurus to find different ways to describe emotions. Sort these words into the correct synonym group: Synonyms for 'Happy' or Synonyms for 'Sad'.

Groups:

(a) Synonyms for 'Happy'

,

(b) Synonyms for 'Sad'

• gloomy

• delighted

• miserable

• joyful

• dejected

• cheerful

Answer explanation

The words are grouped based on their shared meaning. 'Joyful', 'cheerful', and 'delighted' are all synonyms for 'happy', while 'miserable', 'gloomy', and 'dejected' are synonyms for 'sad'.

The word object can be a noun (a thing) or a verb (to disagree). Which sentence uses a synonym for object as a VERB?

• The strange item was found in the field.

• My main goal is to finish my homework.

• The students will protest the new rule.

• He picked up a heavy thing from the floor.

Answer explanation

In this sentence, 'protest' is a verb meaning to express disapproval, which is a synonym for the verb 'object'. The other options use synonyms for the noun 'object'.

Use your knowledge of thesaurus entries to match each word with its closest synonym.

• vital

• furious

• correct

• essential

• angry

• enormous

• huge

• accurate

Answer explanation

Each word is paired with another word that has a very similar meaning: enormous/huge, essential/vital, furious/angry, and accurate/correct.

The teacher praised the diligent student for always completing her work carefully. Which word is an antonym for diligent?

• hardworking

• lazy

• intelligent

• creative

Answer explanation

'Diligent' means hardworking and careful. 'Lazy' is the direct opposite of this. 'Hardworking' is a synonym, while 'intelligent' and 'creative' describe different qualities.

A thesaurus gives many synonyms for 'walk'. Sort these synonyms by their intensity or manner: A slow, relaxed walk or A heavy, difficult walk.

Groups:

(a) A slow, relaxed walk

,

(b) A heavy, difficult walk

• plod

• trudge

• stroll

• saunter

Answer explanation

'Stroll' and 'saunter' describe easy, leisurely ways of walking. 'Plod' and 'trudge' describe slow, heavy, and difficult walking, often due to tiredness or difficult terrain.

Your friend said his explanation was brief. If you wanted to use a synonym that implies it was rudely short, which word would you choose from a thesaurus?

• concise

• short

• curt

• quick

Answer explanation

While all options mean short, 'curt' has a negative connotation, suggesting the explanation was rudely or brusquely brief. 'Concise' and 'quick' are often positive or neutral.

A thesaurus entry often separates synonyms by part of speech. Match each word form to its correct part of speech.

• Adjective (describes a noun)

• brave

• Adverb (describes a verb)

• bravely

• Noun (a person, place, or thing)

• bravery

Answer explanation

'Brave' is an adjective (a brave person). 'Bravery' is a noun (the quality of being brave). 'Bravely' is an adverb (he fought bravely).