Synonyms: Verbs - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

"Abound" means to be plentiful. For example, one might write, “In the springtime, my garden abounds with flowers.” To further help you, "nostalgic" means feeling fondness for the past.

"Detain" means to hold back or to arrest. To further help you, "counsel" means give advice; "recommend" means suggest; "liberate" means help to free someone.

To "acquire" means to get, obtain, or buy, so "obtain" is the synonym.

To "instill" means to impart gradually. Therefore, "impart" is the synonym.

"Enhance" means improve, so "improve" is the synonym.

"Instigate" means start, cause, or set off. Therefore, "cause" is the synonym.

"Resign" means give up or quit, so "quit" is the correct answer.

"Squander" means waste or spend unwisely, so "waste" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "squander": "flourish" means succeed or thrive; "quell" means crush or suppress; "cease" means finish or stop; and "tamper" means interfere or disrupt.

"Drudge" means work diligently at a task, often for a prolonged period of time. "Toil" means work hard as well. Therefore, "toil" is the correct answer.

"Enhance" means improve, or make better or clearer. For example, one might write, "The powerful lens enhanced the quality of the photos." So, "improve" is the correct answer.

"Rectify" means to fix or to correct. For example, one might write, "After the mother had yelled inappropriately at her child, she apologized, hoping to rectify the sitaution." So, "correct" is the correct answer.

An "embrace" is a hug, and to "embrace" someone means to hug them. So, "hug" is the correct answer.

"Defile" means to make something dirty or to compromise its original character. Similarly, "taint" means to compromise something's purity or to adulterate something, so "taint" is the correct answer.

To "spearhead" something, like a project, means to lead it. Imagine the tip of a spear piercing its target; the rest of the spear follows the head's lead. So, "lead" is the correct answer.

To "enhance" means to make better or improve, so "improve" is the correct answer.

To "dominate" means to conquer, or to "control."

To "endure" something means to suffer through it or to "undergo" it.

"Subdue" means quiet someone down, hold someone back or restrain someone, so "restrain" is the correct answer. To help you, "distort" means twist out of shape, "hoary" means light grey or overused and stale, and "squalid" means filthy, especially as a result of having little or no money.

To "preclude" something means to stop or prevent it. "Preclude" is an antonym of "start," but quite similar in meaning to "cancel." "Stop" is the best possible answer, however.