Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, and Understanding - SSAT Middle Level Verbal

Captivate means to charm.

"Divulge" is a verb that means make something secret known. Of the given answer choices, "reveal" has the closest meaning.

To "jest" means to joke, and a "jest" is a joke, so "joke" is the correct answer.

Concede means to give in.

Laud means to praise.

"Endorse" is a verb that means "to publicly or officially say that you support or approve of someone or something," so we need to pick out another word that means something like "support." While "oppose" and "espouse" may look and sound somewhat alike, "oppose" means "to disagree with or disapprove of something or someone," so it is an antonym of "endorse" and not the correct answer. "Espouse," on the other hand, is a verb that can mean either "to marry" or "to express support for a cause or belief." Because "espouse" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "endorse," it is the correct answer.

"Allude" is a verb that means "to make an indirect reference to," so we need to pick an answer that means "reference indirectly." "Cite from" and "Refer to directly" may both seem like correct answers, but they involve direct references, whereas "allude" specifically involves indirect references. The only answer choice that specifically involves indirect references is "refer to indirectly," so "refer to indirectly" is the correct answer.

Since "dispute" means "disagreement, argument, or verbal controversy," we need to pick out another answer choice that also means "disagreement." While "competition" and "debate" might both look like potentially correct answers, "competition" means "the act or process of trying to win something that someone else is trying to win," whereas "debate" means "a discussion between people in which they express different opinions about something." Since both "dispute" and "debate" mean "disagreement," "debate" is the correct answer.

"Concede" is a verb that means " admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it," or "surrender or yield something one possesses" when referring to the object conceded. So, we need to pick out another verb that means something like "admit." Since "acknowledge" means " accept or admit the existence or truth of," "acknowledge" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "concede" and the correct answer.

"Imply" is a verb meaning "strongly suggest the truth or existence of something not expressly stated," or "suggest something as a logical consequence" when used to refer to facts or occurences. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "strongly suggest something unstated." While "suggested" may look like the correct answer, "suggested" is not an infinitive verb, but an adjective or a verb conjugated for the past tense, so "suggested" cannot be the correct answer. "Intimate," however, can be used as a verb meaning "imply or hint," or "state or make known." Because "intimate" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "imply," "intimate" is the correct answer.

"Solicit" is a verb that means "ask for or try to obtain something from someone." So, we need to pick out another word that means something like "ask for." While "command" might look like a good answer, as a verb, "command" means "give an authoritative order," so "command" doesn't mean the same thing as "solicit" and is not the correct answer. "Request," however, means "politely or formally ask for," and since "request" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "solicit," "request" is the correct answer.

"Atone" means serve a punishment for or take other actions to formally apologize for some crime or wrong, so "apologize" is the correct answer.

"Reiterate" means to repeat, as in something said.

"Laud" most nearly means praise, as in "The graduate was lauded for his tremendous academic achievements."

"Decry" is a verb that means "publicly denounce," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "denounce." So, "compliment" cannot be the correct answer because "compliment" is an antonym of "decry," not a synonym. "Disparage," however, is a verb that means "regard or represent as being of little worth," and because "disparage" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "decry," "disparage" is the correct answer.

"Purport" is a word that can be used as either a noun or a verb, but because all of the potential answer choices are verbs, we will need to consider "purport" as a verb. When used as a verb, "purport" means "appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "appear to be something, especially falsely." "Expose," then, cannot be the correct answer, because while one might expose the true qualities of someone falsely purporting to have other qualities, "expose" does not mean the same thing as "purport." "Impersonate," however, is a verb that means "pretend to be (another person) as entertainment or in order to deceive someone," and because "impersonate" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "purport," "impersonate" is the correct answer.

“Chortle” is a verb that means “laugh in a breathy, gleeful way; chuckle,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “laugh” or “chuckle.” “Bawl” may look like a potentially correct answer because, like “chortle,” it describes a noise people can make, but “bawl” actually means either “shout or call out noisily and unrestrainedly” or “weep or cry noisily.” So, because “bawl” does not mean the same thing as “chortle,” it cannot be the correct answer. “Giggle,” however, is a verb that means “laugh lightly in a nervous, affected, or silly manner,” and because “giggle” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “chortle,” “giggle” is the correct answer.

“Capitulate” is a verb that means surrender. “Resist,” then, cannot be the correct answer, because “resist” is a verb that can mean refuse to surrender to; that means that “resist” is an antonym of “capitulate,” not a synonym. “Yield,” however, can mean relent and agree to and because “yield” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “capitulate,” “yield” is the correct answer.

“Coerce” is a verb that means either “persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats” or “obtain (something) by using force or threats,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “persuade using force or threats” or “obtain by using force or threats.” That means that “beg” cannot be the correct answer, because “beg” means “ask (someone) earnestly or humbly for something,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “coerce.” “Pressure,” however, when used as a verb, means “attempt to persuade or coerce (someone) into doing something,” and because “pressure” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “coerce,” “pressure” is the correct answer.