GRE Verbal Reasoning: Sentence Equivalence

Each choice is a pair of words. The right pair both fit and mean nearly the same thing.

GRE is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service. FreeExam is not affiliated with Educational Testing Service, and these questions are original practice, not an official test.

  1. 1.After three sleepless nights, Maya's group-chat replies turned ________, none of them longer than four words. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  2. 2.The chalk rainbow on the driveway was ________ and vanished after one pass of the sprinkler. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  3. 3.By late morning the smell of fresh bread was ________, reaching the corner, the park, and the school lot. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  4. 4.Because the latch had to work by Friday, Luis chose a ________ fix and bought a standard bolt instead of a custom hinge. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  5. 5.The bus driver's answer about the transfer was ________: half the passengers heard 'next stop,' and half heard 'two more stops.' Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  6. 6.Priya checked every receipt twice and initialed the corner, a ________ habit that kept the book-club accounts exact. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  7. 7.When Jonah said the soup was too salty, he was being ________, not cruel; everyone else had been thinking the same thing. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  8. 8.Although the cousins asked twice, Elena stayed ________ about the surprise party and would not even hint at the restaurant. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  9. 9.The wedding toast became ________, wandering through three childhood stories before it ever reached a wish for the couple. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  10. 10.The cabin looked ________: bare bunks, a single lamp, and no curtain on the window. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  11. 11.The parade float was ________, covered in flashing lights and a tower of glitter that blocked the truck behind it. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  12. 12.Every Saturday, Ruth drops off an extra bag of groceries at the food pantry, a ________ habit her neighbors have come to count on. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  13. 13.The note left on the windshield was ________, blaming Sam for a scratch he did not make and telling him to move or else. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  14. 14.The minor-league crowd was ________, standing for every pitch even though the home team was down by eight. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  15. 15.The response to the club signup sheet was ________: it sat on the counter all month, and nobody wrote a name. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  16. 16.Nora's farewell at the library send-off was ________; even people in the back row followed every story without asking her to repeat a line. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  17. 17.The voicemail was ________, jumping from a broken radiator to a birthday cake and never saying what the caller wanted. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  18. 18.Felix's month of dawn practice was ________ work, and it showed in the steady final run of the recital piece. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  19. 19.The dishes stayed in the sink until evening because Owen was ________, napping on the couch instead of washing even one plate. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  20. 20.Before crossing with the toddler, Amina looked both ways twice, a ________ pause that kept them clear of the turning truck. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  21. 21.Marco skated onto the pond after only one cold night, a ________ decision that ended when the ice cracked under his boots. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  22. 22.Even after a rain date was offered, the committee stayed ________ and refused to move the bake sale off the muddy field. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  23. 23.The new member was ________, taking the early setup shift and the cleanup without a single objection. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  24. 24.Helen remained ________ about the raincoat review because the writer never mentioned wearing it in an actual storm. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  25. 25.Chris forwarded the chain email about free pies, too ________ to notice that the bakery's name was misspelled three different ways. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  26. 26.The neighbors wanted something ________ for the brick wall, so they painted bicycle fish instead of another coat of plain gray. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  27. 27.At the library sale, a box of floppy disks looked ________ beside the laptops people were actually buying. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  28. 28.Because the tax leaflet was ________, June could finish the form without calling anyone to explain a single line. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  29. 29.The appliance warranty was ________, full of nested exceptions that even the clerk had to read twice. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  30. 30.The host was ________, refilling cups and remembering which child wanted the corner slice. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  31. 31.Asked where to find tape, the hardware clerk gave a ________ answer: 'Aisle four,' and turned away before any follow-up. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  32. 32.At the potluck, Mr. Adeyemi was ________, arriving with three trays of jollof rice, a full pot of stew, and a cake. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  33. 33.Although the guests had traveled for hours, their host was ________, offering only two crackers and a thin slice of apple. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  34. 34.The garden's tomato crop was ________, with bowls on the porch, bags for neighbors, and still more fruit on the vine. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  35. 35.After the camp stove failed, each hiker got a ________ share of the noodles: about four bites. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  36. 36.Dark clouds and a sudden wind made the downpour seem ________, so the picnic blankets were folded before anyone cut the cake. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  37. 37.Porch-light tea is ________: the same two neighbors have met there every Sunday for twenty years. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  38. 38.Service on the crosstown bus is ________: some mornings it comes at 7:40, and some mornings it never comes at all. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  39. 39.The kitchen faucet was ________, dripping through dinner, through the movie, and still dripping at dawn. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  40. 40.They planned Lila's surprise party in ________ fashion, using a group chat she was not in and hiding the cake in a neighbor's fridge. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  41. 41.Leaving the muddy bike in the wedding aisle was a ________ mistake, impossible for any guest to miss. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  42. 42.The terrier was ________ with the tennis ball, keeping it through treats, calls, and a full walk around the park. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  43. 43.Andre changed the lunch plan three times before noon, a ________ streak that left Rosa unsure which cafe to enter. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  44. 44.Long after the other tutors had gone home, Victor stayed ________, finishing the last practice sheet with the student. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  45. 45.Ruth stood in the paint aisle ________, lifting blue, then green, then blue again, until the store lights dimmed. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  46. 46.From one rattle, the mechanic was ________ enough to name the loose heat shield before she even raised the hood. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  47. 47.The punch line had to be repeated twice, because Lee was ________ about the joke and kept waiting for a story that never came. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  48. 48.Grandpa's notes in the crossword margins were ________, citing two dictionaries and a history of the word's older spelling. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  49. 49.A year after the borrowed jacket came back, Pablo still made a ________ remark about the missing button whenever the closet opened. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  50. 50.The referee was ________ about the minor foul, waving the players back up instead of awarding a penalty shot. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  51. 51.A ten-minute wait for coffee left the customer ________, snapping at the barista over a lid that was only slightly loose. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  52. 52.At dawn the lake was ________, with no boats, no radios, and only a thin mist over the water. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  53. 53.Recess on the kindergarten blacktop was ________, with shouts, a bouncing ball, and three games calling over one another. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  54. 54.During the final exam, the cafe speakers were ________, turned down so low that spoons were louder than the music. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  55. 55.The birthday cake was ________, with sugared roses, gold dots, and curls of icing on every edge. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  56. 56.The studio apartment was ________: a bed, a lamp, and bare walls with not a single picture. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  57. 57.The assistant laughed at every suggestion and called each one brilliant, ________ behavior that made real objections hard to hear. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  58. 58.After the loss, the coach was ________, saying the defense missed tackles and that she herself had called the wrong play. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  59. 59.In that town, building matchstick bridges is ________; only the six members of the Tuesday club know the rules. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  60. 60.By the fifth retelling, the lunch-table joke felt ________, and even the person who invented it barely smiled. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  61. 61.The mailbox on one house is ________, shaped like a trout and painted with spots no catalog offers. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  62. 62.Most families on the street keep ________ front yards: the same low hedge, the same white mailbox, and grass cut to the same height. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  63. 63.Though every other house uses an even number, one porch address is ________, marked 17B. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  64. 64.The weekday carpool was ________: every rider was outside at 7:10, and the route never needed a last-minute change. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  65. 65.The concert tickets were ________: the barcode smeared under a thumb, and the venue had no record of the order number. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  66. 66.The recipe card is ________, written in Grandma's hand and stained with the same vanilla she always used. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  67. 67.The flyer is still a ________ draft: the date is penciled in, and the room number has a question mark. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  68. 68.The result on the scoreboard was ________: 6-2, with no innings left and no protest filed. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  69. 69.The community garden is only ________, with string around empty beds and seed packets still taped to the gate. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  70. 70.The plaza fountain is ________, sending up a thin trickle and already listed on the city's removal schedule. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  71. 71.The picnic table behind the fire station is ________, still level after years of rain, boots, and heavy coolers. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  72. 72.The glass bird on the mantel is ________, so the children are asked to clap well away from it. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  73. 73.Prices at the weekend market are ________: strawberries were two dollars at nine and five dollars by noon. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  74. 74.The parade route is ________, turning at the same oak and the same library steps every year the town has held it. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  75. 75.In the art class, the clay stays ________ for the first hour, easy for a child to press into a bowl or a flat tile. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  76. 76.The pool rules are ________: no food, no music, and no exceptions even when the day is too hot for running. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  77. 77.The neighbors are ________, gathering for stoop talks, shared grills, and any excuse to bring out extra chairs. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  78. 78.The tenant on the top floor is ________, leaving the apartment only to take out the trash and collect the mail. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  79. 79.Uncle Ray talked through the previews and the whole film, a ________ stretch that drew shushes from three rows. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  80. 80.On the night train, the child stayed ________, answering with a nod and never offering a full sentence. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  81. 81.When the cookies burned, Mina's comment was ________: 'I suppose charcoal was the plan.' Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  82. 82.The note after the concert was ________, calling the choir precise, warm, and the best the hall had heard all year. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  83. 83.A comment slipped under the choir door was ________, calling the singing flat, thin, and not worth the ticket. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  84. 84.The pie judge at the county fair stayed ________, scoring her neighbor's crust by the same sheet she used for strangers. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  85. 85.During the little-league final, one parent was openly ________, cheering only when the blue team batted and groaning at every red-team hit. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  86. 86.The treasurer was ________ with the field-trip cash, saving every receipt and counting the envelope twice before locking it. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  87. 87.Someone had been ________ with the snack-fund jar, taking bills out and leaving a note that said only 'IOU, maybe.' Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  88. 88.To stay inside the grocery budget, Nina was ________, packing leftovers for lunch and skipping the extra bag of chips. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  89. 89.The decorating committee was ________ with the budget, buying lighted swans and silk banners for a one-hour lobby party. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  90. 90.From one sip, Omar was ________ enough to tell that the stew was missing cumin before anyone else lifted a spoon. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  91. 91.Planning the hike around this morning's sunshine was ________; the group had no coats when the ridge stormed at three. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  92. 92.Packing umbrellas that morning was ________; the sky was clear at breakfast and pouring by the time school let out. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  93. 93.A flip phone looks ________ on a cafe table where every other screen is bright, large, and tapped every few minutes. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  94. 94.Arriving as the bakery door was unlocked proved ________, because the cinnamon rolls were gone twenty minutes later. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  95. 95.Two weeks past the due date, his ________ return of the library book cost him a fine he could have avoided. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  96. 96.The crew's ________ setup had every chair in place before the first guest reached the door. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  97. 97.Because the main road was closed, the drive home became ________, winding through six side streets and a school parking lot. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  98. 98.The clerk's explanation of the bus transfer was ________, looping through three exceptions before naming the stop. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  99. 99.The exit announcement was ________: 'Leave by the side door' and nothing more. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  100. 100.The second text was ________, repeating the same gate code the email had already sent an hour earlier. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  101. 101.The little bridge is ________ for the morning commute: when it closes, every car on that side of town has to wait. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  102. 102.The gravel cutoff is ________ to the trip: using it saves almost no time, and most drivers never notice it. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  103. 103.By the last verse the voices were ________, blending so fully that no single singer stood out. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  104. 104.The opening chord was ________, with the violin a half step off the piano and the flute even farther away. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  105. 105.She hoped to ________ the soreness in her shoulders with rest and a warm drink before the second picnic game. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  106. 106.A lane closure and a fender bender together ________ the bridge traffic, which was already crawling. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  107. 107.Two metal brackets were added to ________ the wobbly shelf before the dictionaries went back on it. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?

  108. 108.Those repeated five-dollar withdrawals will ________ the club's rainy-day fund if nobody stops them. Which pair completes the sentence so that both words give it nearly the same meaning?