Synonyms: Distinguishing Between Multiple Definitions - ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

The word "villain" is often used in stories. It indicates the "bad guy" or the "antagonist" in the story. Now, this might tempt you to choose something like "monster" or "devil," but the best option is actually "convict." Unless the question gives you "antagonist" for an option, you have to use the secondary meaning of "villain," which indicates, in general, someone who inflicts harm on others.

The word "class" is primarily used to describe a group of people or things. Thus, on a plane, "first class" is the group of passengers who have the most expensive tickets. In school, a "class" is a group of students. Note, however, that "class" is not synonymous with "education" or "scholarship." These options are trying to trick you!

The word "fine" has many meanings. Do not be tempted by "punished". Yes, a "fine" is a punishment; however, that is a noun use, while "punished" is an adjective. The best option, perhaps surprisingly, is "dusty." If you had powder that you would call "fine," this would be very dusty powder. This is the best option among those given.

In general, the word "example" means a particular case or specimen. For example, you can say, "The word 'greet' is an example of a verb, but you can also use the word "example" in the sense of "a model" (to be imitated). For instance, you could say, "Regis' actions were an example for his younger brother to follow." This means that Regis' actions were a model for his younger brother.

Likely, you are thinking of the meaning of "move" as in "to move from one place to another"; however, the word "move" can also be used in several other senses. For this question, the sense is, to inspire, as when we say, "That was a moving discussion." In this example, "moving" means inspiring. Do not be tricked by options like "grab," "take," or "place." All of these have to do with physical locations, but they do not have to do with moving in any immediate sense.

You likely use the word "enhance" to mean to improve. For example, you might say, "The new phone was enhanced by many new features;" however, you could also think of such improvement as being a kind of "enlargening" of the quality of the thing in question. Thus, sometimes, people will speak of something that is "enhanced" by becoming bigger. Thus, the word "magnify" can be used as a synonym. You might use "enhanced" in this way when saying, "The new ingredients enhanced the already excellent flavors," and mean, "The new ingredients made the already excellent flavors even more powerful." This is a kind of "magnification," for you can say, "The new ingredients magnified the flavors."

Although we use the word "grasp" in a physical sense, it also has a metaphorical meaning that is related to this. When we "grasp an idea," we mean that we understand it. Another way of saying that you understand something is to say that you comprehend it. (This actually means that you really understand it.) Do not be fooled by options like "shove" and "force." These do not even match the basic, physical meaning of "grasp."

When someone is "stunned," he or she is unable to move. Therefore, you might be tempted to pick one of the trap options given to this question. Do not be fooled into thinking that "stun" has to do with hurting someone. Therefore, we need to look for another sense to the word. Well, when someone tells someone something surprising, he or she is said to stun the other person if the other person doesn't know how to react. (The person is indeed stopped and unable to move or think!) Thus, we can stun someone with amazing news. The verb "amaze" is a good synonym for this reason. When you "amaze" someone, that person is likely unable to respond at first because of his or her surprise.

We often use the word "intense" to describe something that is very strong. An intense fire is one that is really hot. Someone can have an "intense personality," meaning that he or she is very passionate. That is the sense of the word being used in the one correct option offered here. Do not be tempted by "angry" or even "attentive." These do not indicate the general sense of strength that is indicated by the term "intensity."

The word "stellar" comes from the Latin stella, meaning star. Thus, we can use "stellar" to describe things that pertain to space. Thus, "stellar readings" are observations about the stars. We also use the word informally to mean very excellent. We even see this kind of meaning when we say, "He was a music star," meaning that the person was very highly regarded for music skill. Thus, a good synonym for "stellar" is "outstanding."

The word "original" can have several meanings, though they are related. In one sense, we say that the "original running shoe" was the very first shoe of its kind. To be "original" is to be first—it is to be at the origin or beginning of something. When someone is "creative," he or she makes new things that others have never made before. That is why we can say that an original person is creative. An "original idea" is one that has never been thought of before; therefore, it is likely very creative. This is the only option that expresses some meaning directly related to "original."

Be careful on this question! The word "compact" can have two meanings that are pretty different. It can mean dense. Thus, a compact load of laundry is very densely packed. (The option "heavy" is a trick, trying to make you confuse being dense with being heavy.) The other meaning is "agreement." A "compact" is an agreement between two or more people. (Think of the Mayflower Compact that you have perhaps learned about in history class. This was an agreement among the settlers of the Plymouth colony.)

The word "central" can be used to mean in the middle. It can also mean very important. For example, we might say, "She was the central figure in the whole project." This doesn't mean that she merely was in the middle point of the group. She was the most important person involved. (The idea of being central in this sense does come from the general awareness of something being "in the middle" being important often. It is important to see that this involves some changes in meaning.)

When we are "inspired" by something, that thing makes us feel filled with hope. An inspirational speech makes us want to go and be the best that we can be. In a way, such a speech "moves" us—it moves our emotions at least. The word "moving" can be used to talk about physical movement. It can also be used to mean "inspirational" or something that brings out a person's emotions. It is in this sense that it is the correct answer for this question.

The verb "to join" can be used to describe the action of entering a group. For instance, when someone "joins a book club," he or she becomes a member of that group. This meaning of "to join," however, is based on the more basic meaning—to connect. Thus, you can say, "He joined together the two sticks using glue."

When something is decent, it is "okay" or even respectable. Sometimes, we use this to describe someone's personality: "He was a decent man." This means that he was a good man—or at least good enough and honest. Sometimes, we can use the word to mean "enough" or "an adequate amount." For example, you could say, "He ate a decent amount of food." This means that he ate an acceptable amount of food. It isn't too much, though it is definitely not too little.

Do not be tricked by a question like this! When someone is "kind," he or she is likely nice and helpful. However, this does not mean that he or she is happy or "bubbly." You can be kind without being overly happy. This question is using "kind" in the sense of meaning a particular category. Thus, we say, "Chocolate is a kind of candy." This could also be said, "Chocolate is a type of candy."

The word "leak" can have several meanings (though they are related). Whenever a substance "leaks," it oozes out from its container. Thus, you can have leaky pipe, a leaky tire, or even a leaky bottle of shampoo. The word can also be used in the sense of "leaking a secret." This is the way that the word is being used in this question. None of the options pertain to leaking physical substances. The word "divulge" means "to tell information that should have been kept secret." It is like the information leaked out from its secrecy!

The most tempting wrong options for this questions are likely "conceal" and "hide." When something is "implicit", it is not completely clear and out in the open. Implicit meanings are things that are not directly stated, though they are "really there." For example, someone might say something like, "Oh yes, it is wonderful that you are here." That person's tone might imply that he or she is actually angry. To imply something, however, is not to hide it. Now, you can also use the word to mean, "involve." It especially can indicate that one thing will be the consequence of something else. Thus, you could say, "The heavy rains imply that there will likely be heavy floods."