Struggling with pairing synonyms in Sentence Equivalence (SE) Questions

GRE Verbal Problem Solving
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I’m not sure if this is just me, or if other non-native English GRE test-takers feel the same way (becoz I think native speaker won’t face such a situation) , but I find it incredibly difficult to identify the correct pair of synonyms in Sentence Equivalence (SE) questions.

Currently, my accuracy rate for SE questions is around 75%. My goal is to score higher than V162, and since SE questions are supposed to be the easiest type, I know I need to get all of them right. However, after studying for the GRE for almost 7 months, my SE scores are still very inconsistent. What frustrates me the most is that even when I know every word in the sentence, I still end up pairing the wrong synonyms because of their subtle differences.

I’ve been trying to expand my vocabulary beyond the GregMat word lists, but there are countless synonyms for each word. Even if I memorize just 1-2 synonyms for each word on the GregMat list, my workload essentially doubles.

I’ve looked through Reddit and other forums to see if others have faced similar issues, but it seems like very few people talk about this specific problem. Has anyone else experienced this? Do I need to memorize more vocabs? Any advice on how to improve in this area would be greatly appreciated!

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You are not alone in this. I (a non-native speaker) also had this issue.
Ways to improve:
Instead of simply memorizing synonyms, focus on how words function in sentences.
Try following a context-based vocabulary study approach, where you learn words through example sentences rather than isolated definitions. This way you will realise that synonyms doesn’t have to make a pair. Things like connotation matters.

Example:
Frugal vs. Stingy

Both refer to spending money cautiously and could be considered synonyms but:
Frugal has a positive/neutral connotation → “careful with money, avoiding waste”

E.g: She is frugal and always finds the best deals.*

Stingy has a negative connotation → “ungenerous, unwilling to spend even when necessary”

E.g: He is so stingy that he refuses to tip at restaurants.

If a sentence describes someone wisely managing resources, “frugal” would be correct. But if it suggests selfishness or excessive cheapness, “stingy” would be better.

So if you learn this way, it’s easier to understand these subtle differences. BTW, I don’t think this issue is exclusive to non-native speakers.