Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, and Location - SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

"Wander" means to walk around.

Since "nourish" is a verb that means "provide with food," we need to find another verb that means "to provide with food." While "grow" may seem like a good answer because things that are nourished can grow, "grow" does not mean the same thing as "nourish," so it can't be the right answer. Since "feed" means "provide with food," "feed" is the correct answer.

Since "flee" is a verb that means "run away," we need to find another verb that means "run away." Spelling is important - while "insect" might look like a good choice because a "flea" is an insect, to "flee" is to run away, so "insect" is not the correct answer. Similarly, "fleet," which is only one letter away from "flee," means "quick," but neither word means "run away," so "quick" isn't the correct answer either. Since "escape" means "run away," it is the correct answer.

Since "illuminate" is a verb that means "provide or brighten with light," we need to pick out an answer that also means "provide or brighten with light." Since "light up" also means "provide or brighten with light," it is the correct answer.

Both "budge" and "shift" can mean to move something slightly.

"Perish" and "die" both refer to something passing away or expiring.

"Evade" and "flee" both mean to avoid someone or a situation.

"Dismantle" is a verb that means "to take something, such as a machine or structure, apart so that it is in separate pieces," so we need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb and means something like "take apart." While "discard" may look like a good answer choice because like "dismantle," it starts with the prefix "dis-," "discard" actually means "throw away," so it cannot be the correct answer because it does not mean the same thing that "dismantle" does. "Deconstruct," however, is a verb that means "to break down into constituent parts; dissect; dismantle," and since it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "dismantle," "deconstruct" is the correct answer.

"Elude" is a verb that means "to escape from a danger, enemy, or pursuer, typically in a skillful or cunning way," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "to escape in a cunning way." While all the answer choices may seem potentially correct because they all start with the letter "e," only "engross" and "evade" are verbs. "Engross" means "absorb all the attention or interest of," so it can't be the correct answer because it is not similar in meaning to "elude." "Evade," however, means "escape or avoid, esp. by cleverness or trickery," and since it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "elude," "evade" is the correct answer.

"Dwindle" is a verb meaning "diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength," so we need to pick out a verb that means something like "get smaller." Since "shrink" means "become or make smaller in size or amount; contract or cause to contract," "shrink" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "dwindle" and the correct answer.

"Appear" means to become visible, or show up.

“Trespass” is a verb that means “enter the owner’s land or property without permission,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “enter an area without permission.” That means that “leave” cannot be the correct answer, because “leave,” when used as a verb, can mean “go away from,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “trespass.” “Encroach,” however, is a verb that can mean “intrude on (a person’s territory or a thing considered to be a right),” and because “encroach” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “trespass,” “encroach” is the correct answer.

“Stretch” is a verb that refers to things that are soft or elastic and means “be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “be made longer.” That means that “shrink” cannot be the correct answer, because “shrink” means “to become or make smaller in size or amount,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “stretch.” “Extend,” however, is a verb that means “cause to cover a larger area; make longer or wider,” and because “extend” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “stretch,” “extend” is the correct answer.

“Clog” is a word that can be used as a noun or a verb, but because all of the answer choices can be used as verbs, we will need to consider “clog” as a verb. When used as a verb, “clog” can mean “block or become blocked with an accumulation of thick, wet matter” or “fill up or crowd (something) so as to obstruct passage.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “block.” That means that “clear” cannot be the correct answer, because “clear,” when used as a verb, means “become free of obstructions,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “clog.” “Obstruct,” however, is a verb that can mean “block (an opening, path, or road); be or get in the way of,” and because “obstruct” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “clog,” “obstruct” is the correct answer.

"Mend" means to repair; sleep is to rest for an extended period of time; strike is to hit; rise is to move up; and swim is to move through a body of water.

"Locate" means to find, so "find" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, to "change" is to modify; to "crawl" is to move on one's hands and knees; to "hide" is to make something or oneself not visible; and to "clean" someone or something is to remove dirt or other residues from that person or thing.

"Lumbering" means moving heavily in a bulky and massive fashion. "Plodding" is most similar in this context.

"Return" means to go back.

"Burst" means to rupture or to break.