ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AGITATE
Disturb
Permit
Avoid
Retract
Condemn
To "agitate" something means to disturb or to unsettle. To feel "agitated" means to feel unsettled, to feel anxious. To provide further help, "condemn" means express disapproval of, denounce; "retract" means take back, as in to take back a statement; "permit" means allow.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PETRIFY
Terrify
Portray
Capture
Kill
Destroy
To "petrify" someone or something means to severely frighten, scare or terrify him, her, or it, so "terrify" is the correct answer.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ADORE
Love
Complain
Annoy
Explain
Iterate
"Adore" is a verb meaning like very much, so the answer choice closest in meaning is "love," a verb meaning feel deep affection for when referring to a person or to people, or more informally and when not being used to refer to people, like a great deal. Considering the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "adore": "complain" is a verb meaning express dissatisfaction about something; "annoy" is a verb meaning pester or bother; and "explain" is a verb meaning clarify in detail.
Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.
PERTURB
Worry
Hurt
Serve
Admire
Desire
"Perturb" means worry. if you are feeling "perturbed," you are feeling worried and uncertain. To further help you, "desire" means want; "admire" means appreciate.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
PLACATE
Calm
Put
Look
Show
The word "placate" means calm down. The best choice is "calm" (used as a verb) because it is a part of the definition of "placate."
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
PETRIFY
Paralyze
Terrible
Rock
Ash
The word "petrify" means paralyze with fear. "Paralyze" is the best choice because it is a part of the meaning of "petrify."
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
DETEST
Abhor
Consent
Esteem
Savor
"Detest" means to hate or to despise. "Abhor" means the same thing, so it is the correct answer. "Esteem" means to respect someone or something, "consent" means to agree to something, and "savor" means to enjoy something.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RELISH
Enjoy
Dislike
Burden
Hide
Gamble
"Relish," when used as a verb, means appreciate greatly, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "relish" is "enjoy," which is a verb meaning take pleasure in. Considering the other answer choices, "dislike" is a verb meaning not enjoy or not like, "burden," when used as a verb, means give someone a thing or a task that causes them undue stress and worry, and "hide" is a verb meaning go to a location in order not to be seen or noticed.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RUE
Lament
Battle
Redden
Leach
Implore
"Rue" is a difficult word to figure out if you aren't familiar with it, as it's too short to be able to lend much help with roots. You may have heard the expression "rue the day," which people who speak a very formal English use when making threats. To "rue" means to lament or regret something. Don't confuse with the unrelated word "roué," which means a sexually immoral man.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
GALL
Annoy
Remote
Placate
Choleric
Debilitating
When used as a transitive verb, to "gall" means to annoy or to make someone angry. It can also be used as a noun, in which case it means boldness or audacity. So, "annoy" is the correct answer. To help you, "debilitating" means greatly weakening, "choleric" means bad-tempered, and to "placate" means to calm or to soothe.