Verbal Reasoning · 4 min read
High-Frequency Vocabulary · Sentence Completion
The words below appear often on standardized tests. They are grouped by what they describe, and many of them come in opposite pairs, which makes them easier to remember. Study their meanings carefully and practice using them in your own sentences.
| Group | WordsandMeanings | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizeandamount | abundant plentiful · scarce rare , not enough · immense huge · minute tiny · ample plenty · meager a | |
| small amount · vast very large · modest small , not excessive | ||
| Speedandtime | swiftfast·sluggishslow·rapidveryfast·gradualstepbystep·hastyrushed·promptontime·tardy | |
| late·briefshortintime | ||
| Feelings | anxiousworried·contentsatisfied·furiousveryangry·miserableveryunhappy·delightedvery | |
| happy·terrifiedveryscared·enviousjealous·bewilderedconfused | ||
| Character | generous giving · selfish thinking only of oneself · courageous brave · timid shy , easily scared · honest | |
| truthful · deceitful lying , tricky · humble not boastful · arrogant too proud | ||
| Actions | assisthelp·abandonleavebehind·concealhide·revealshow·pursuechase·avoidstayawayfrom· | |
| observewatch·ignorepaynoattentionto | ||
| Quality | genuine real · artificial fake · fragile easily broken · durable long-lasting · ancient very old · modern | |
| Difficulty | new·ordinarycommon·uniqueoneofakind 1 simpleeasy·complexcomplicated·obviouseasytosee·obscurehardtoseeorunderstand·familiar known · foreign strange , unknown · capable able · incompetent not able to do something well |
Similar-Meaning Word Groups
Knowing groups of words with related meanings helps you spot synonyms quickly. When a capitalized word belongs to one of these groups, look for another member of the same group among the choices.
| WordsMeaning | Synonyms |
|---|---|
| HAPPY | joyful cheerful delighted pleased content glad merry elated , , , , , , , |
| SAD | unhappy sorrowful miserable gloomy melancholy downcast dejected , , , , , , |
| ANGRY | furious mad enraged irate irritated annoyed outraged , , , , , , |
| SCARED | frightened terrified alarmed fearful afraid nervous panicked , , , , , , |
| BIG | large huge enormous immense vast giant massive gigantic , , , , , , , |
| SMALL | tiny little miniature minute petite compact microscopic slight , , , , , , , |
| FAST | quick rapid swift speedy hasty brisk hurried , , , , , , |
| SLOW | sluggish leisurely gradual unhurried plodding dawdling , , , , , |
| SMART | intelligent clever brilliant wise bright sharp gifted knowledgeable , , , , , , , |
| FOOLISH | unwise senseless ignorant dense simple-minded , , , , |
| BEAUTIFUL | pretty lovely gorgeous attractive stunning elegant graceful , , , , , , |
| UGLY | unattractive hideous unsightly plain grotesque repulsive , , , , , |
| BRAVE | courageous fearless bold daring valiant heroic gallant , , , , , , |
| COWARDLY | timid fearful afraid spineless fainthearted , , , , |
| MEAN | cruel unkind nasty harsh heartless malicious spiteful , , , , , , |
| KIND | nice caring gentle thoughtful considerate compassionate generous benevolent , , , , , , , |
Each sentence completion question gives you a sentence with a missing word. Four answer choices are provided, and you must choose the one that makes the sentence logical and correct. The sentence itself always contains clues that point to the right answer.
The weather was so ______ that we decided to stay inside all day.
(A) beautiful (B) terrible (C) mild (D) average
The correct answer is (B) terrible, because terrible weather explains why someone would stay inside.
Strategies for Sentence Completion
➜
➜
➜
Read the whole sentence before
Look for context clues and signal
Think of your own word for the
Pick the closest choice and
the choices
words
blank
reread
Tone and Meaning
Every sentence has an overall tone or feeling, and the correct answer must match it.
| Tone | ExampleWords |
|---|---|
| Positive | good excellent wonderful amazing successful helpful friendly generous joyful pleasant delightful , , , , , , , , , , , |
| impressive | |
| Negative | bad terrible awful horrible unsuccessful harmful unfriendly selfish miserable unpleasant , , , , , , , , , , |
| disappointing poor , | |
| Neutral | average ordinary common typical usual normal regular standard moderate medium , , , , , , , , , |
| EXAMPLE The movie received reviews and became a box office success ______ . (A) terrible (B) negative (C) excellent (D) mixed Thephrase“boxofficesuccess”showsapositiveresult so(C)excellentmatchesthetone , . |
Common Word Pairs in Sentences
Some sentences set up two ideas that work together. Recognizing the pattern tells you what kind of word each part of the sentence needs.
| Pattern | SentenceFrame | WordsThatFit |
|---|---|---|
| Problemandsolution | Theproblemwas butthesolutionwas ______, ______. | difficult/simple |
| Beforeandafter | Beforethestorm theskywas ;after itwas , ______ , ______. | clear/dark;calm/turbulent |
| Causeandresult | Becausehestudied hescored onthetest ______, ______ . | hard/well;little/poorly |
| Despiteandstill | Despitebeing sheremained ______, ______. | tired/cheerful;sick/determined |
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