Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, or Location

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ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, or Location

Questions 1 - 10
1

Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

STIPPLE

dapple

stupefy

surmise

transmute

vilify

Explanation

"Stipple" and "dapple" both mean to mark with numerous small dots or marks. "Stupefy" means to stun or astonish. "Surmise" means to come to a conclusion. "Transmute" means to convert or alter. "Vilify" means to criticize over harshly.

2

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

HINDER

Impede

Reversed

Overcome

Fight

Argue

Explanation

The word “hinder” can mean “behind” or “rear portion.” However, here it is being used in its more general sense of “to prevent something from acting fully.” A “hindrance” is like a “block” in the way of something’s activity. When one thing acts to “impede” another, it obstructs that thing’s action. The word “impede” literally means “to put something on the foot of (something else).” The “-pede” portion of the word is related to the English “pedal” and “biped.”

3

Answer the following sample question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

MITIGATE

diminish

mollify

depict

feign

sate

Explanation

"Mitigate" means to diminish or lessen. "Mollify" means to pacify or soothe. "Depict" means to describe or illustrate. "Feign" means to pretend or fake. "Sate" means to satisfy.

4

Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

CAULK

shutter

disjoin

impinge

inure

palliate

Explanation

"Caulk" and "shutter" both mean to close or shut off. "Disjoin" means to become separated. "Impinge" means to trespass or encroach. "Inure" means to accustom or acclimatize. "Palliate" means to gloss over or cover up.

5

Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

ABUT

adjoin

strut

condone

ratify

subpoena

Explanation

"Abut" and "adjoin" both mean to border on or be adjacent to. "Strut" means to walk pompously. "Condone" means to make allowance for. "Ratify" means to affirm or authorize. "Subpoena" means to issue a writ or citation.

6

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

RUFFLE

Disorder

Tear

Lacerate

Raiment

Creased

Explanation

Sometimes, you might hear an expression like, “Don’t ruffle his feathers; he gets very angry easily.” The word “ruffle” literally means to cause disorder in some manner, often applying to hair or perhaps a bird’s feathers when they stand up for mating or as a sign of aggression. It can be used in the general sense, implying merely that something or someone is causing disorder something else. Among the options provided, this is the sense to be chosen.

7

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

TRUNCATE

Shorten

Augment

Relocate

Extrapolate

Deviate

Explanation

"Truncate" means to shorten, to abbreviate. To provide further help, "deviate" means go away from, turn away from; "augment" means enhance, make better; "relocate" means move; "extrapolate" means to take further, to think beyond.

8

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

ENERVATE

Enfeeble

Fortify

Recite

Time

Dash

Explanation

"Enervate" is a verb that means "cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "weaken." "Fortify" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "fortify" can mean "strengthen or invigorate (someone) mentally or physically," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "enervate." "Enfeeble," however, is a verb that means "make weak or feeble," and because "enfeeble" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "enervate," "enfeeble" is the correct answer.

9

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

ABSCOND

Flee

Endure

Imply

Inhibit

Sate

Explanation

"Abscond" and "flee" both mean to run away or escape. "Endure" means to withstand or bear a hardship. "Imply" means to suggest or indicate. "Inhibit" means to restrict or prevent. "Sate" means to satisfy.

10

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

CAVORT

Caper

Amble

Plot

Wander

Meddle

Explanation

"Cavort" is a verb that means "jump or dance around excitedly," or, informally, "apply oneself enthusiastically to sexual or disreputable pursuits." So, while we need to pick out an answer choice that has to do with movement, "amble" cannot be the correct answer because "amble" means "walk or move at a slow, relaxed pace," where "cavort" describes excited movement. "Caper," a word that when used as a verb means "skip or dance about in a lively or playful way," is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "cavort."

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