Synonyms: Nouns for People - SSAT Middle Level Verbal

"Ace" is a word that can be used as a noun, verb, or informal adjective, but because all of the potential answer choices are nouns, we will need to consider "ace" as a noun. When used as a noun, "ace" means expert or master, so "expert" is the correct answer.

A "professional" is an expert in something.

"Antagonist" is defined as an adversary, rival, or foe. Of the answer choices, "opponent" has the closest meaning.

"Magnate" is a noun that means "a person who has great wealth and power in a particular business or industry," so we need to find another word that means something like "a person who has power in a certain industry." While "magnate" may sound like "magnet" and "lodestone" is a synonym of "magnet," "magnet" does not mean the same thing as "magnate," so it can't be the correct answer. "Tycoon," however, means "a very wealthy and powerful business person," and since its meaning is closest to "magnate" of the given answer choices, "tycoon" is the correct answer.

A "bard" is a poet.

A "vagabond" is a wanderer. The Latin root word, "vagari," means to roam.

"Peasant" means worker; Royalty usually refers to the King, his family, and his court; Bird is a type of animal; Church is a place of worship; and Sculpture is art usually carved out of a solid material.

A "firebrand" is a person who incites a revolution or some great change, so "radical," which can mean a revolutionary, is the correct answer. A "professor" is a person who teaches students at a college or university. An "explorer" is a person who travels and discovers new lands. A "voyage" is a long trip, usually made by ship. A "continent" is a very large body of land.

"Braggart" means a person who boasts about his achievements or possessions, so "boaster," which means a person who boasts, is the correct answer. "Vendor" means a person who sells products. "Senator" means a politician usually elected in a representative government. "Chef" means a person who cooks and runs a kitchen. "Examination" means test or inspection.

A "novice" is someone who is a beginner. This is opposite in meaning to an "expert," which means a professional, someone who knows a lot about a subject, or someone who has done an activity for a long time and is very good at it. For clarification, "incumbent" means a person currently holding a political office, and "supercilious" means arrogant or condescending.

The "protagonist" of a story is the hero, so "hero" is the correct answer. For clarification, a "damsel" is a girl or a young woman, often one who is rescued in a story.

"Antagonist" is an antonym of "protagonist." Whereas a "protagonist" is a hero, an "antagonist" is a villain. The answer choice that is closest in meaning to "villain" is “adversary," which means enemy or opponent.

"Surrogate" means replacement or substitute, so "substitute" is the correct answer. For clarification, "protagonist" means hero in a story and is the antonym of "antagonist," which means villain in a story, while "adversary" means opponent and "foe" means enemy.

A “bigot” is a person who hates, or refuses to accept, the members of a particular group. If you are “partisan,” similar to a “bigot,” you are one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance. To help you, do not confuse the word with “big” or “bigfoot.” "Obese" means very fat; "dainty" means delicate; "mythical" means sourced from myth and legend, probably not true.

"Physician" means "a doctor."

"Henchman" means a ruthless subordinate, usually a criminal.

"Rascal" means a dishonest or unscrupulous person.

"Churl" means someone who is rude and surly.

"Queen" is a female monarch.

A "ruffian" is a "hoodlum," a troublemaker or a delinquent.

None of the other words are synonymous with ruffian:

"Spectator" means a bystander or someone who views an event or a spectacle.

"Pontiff" means the pope, or the leader of the Catholic Church.

A "scribe" is someone who makes hand-written copies of texts. Scribes still exist, but were more common in the time before the printing press was invented.

A "cherub" is a very cute baby, or a chubby angel child with wings.

"Marauder" is a plunderer, or someone who raids people for profit.

"Offspring" means child of someone, or progeny.

"Connoisseur" means someone who is an expert in arts or matters of taste.

"Exemplar" is someone who is imitated.

"Jockey" is a professional horse racer.

"Panache" means flamboyance, charisma or swagger.

"Ennui" means boredom, depression or weariness.

"Epiphany" means realization or revelation.

"Suffrage" means the ability to vote.

"Rapport" means understanding or empathy.

"Nemesis" means enemy, typically an unconquerable enemy.

"Hero" means someone who acts with bravery, a person who has performed a heroic act.

"Neophyte" means a beginner at something or a novice.

"Juvenile" means someone who is young or a child.

"Sage" means a deeply wise person.

An "educator" is a person whose job it is to educate people. A "professor" is considered an "educator." An "educator"might use "technology" or a "textbook" as resources for teaching at a "university." Although a "doctor" can also be an educator, especially a university professor, "doctor" is not necessarily synonymous with "educator."