Synonyms: Verbs - ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning

An example of "atrophy" is when muscles atrophy there is a decrease in muscle mass. Thus, the best definition of atrophy is wasting away or shrinking.

The best answer choice is scatter since disseminate means to spread or disperse such as in the case of disseminating information.

"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."

"Transcend" is a verb that means "be or go beyond the range or limits of something abstract, typically a conceptual field or division," or "surpass a person or an achievement." So, while "concerned with" or "beleaguer" might each look like a potentially correct answer because each answer choice can concern abstract details, "go beyond" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "transcend," so it is the correct answer.

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.”

The word “migrate” is derived from the Latin root word for “to move or transport.” Among the options given here, only “relocate” signifies this general sense of the word. This word can apply not only to humans but also to animals. For instance, consider the sentence, “George was quite knowledgeable about the migratory patterns of spotted geese, which relocated themselves to Mexico every winter.” The word “migrate” is related to “immigrate” and “immigrant.”

"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.

When something is refined, it is cleansed of any impurities. For instance, one might say, “The water is refined so as to contain no solids by boiling the fluid and capturing only the vapor that rises from it.”

The word "recant" comes from two somewhat common roots. The "re-" prefix can mean again. It can also indicate that something turns around (as in re-verse, for instance). The "-cant" portion of the word is derived from the Latin for to sing. Thus, we have words like "chant" and "cantor." When someone recants something, he or she takes back a remark made in the past. Thus, when we say that someone "recants his allegiance to the king of Spain", that person denies that he has such allegiance, though he did have it once upon a time. Although "renounce" would be an even better synonym, the option "deny" is sufficient for this question.

"Befuddle" means to cause someone to think unclearly. Of the answer choices only "confuse" is related to unclear thoughts. "Enlarge" and "diminish" both refer to changes in size, getting bigger and smaller respectively. "Explaining" makes a concept clearer which makes it an antonym of "befuddle." "Obscure" is the most similar word after "confuse," but it often refers to physical obstruction of a view rather than making an idea unclear.

"Rebut" means to prove a claim is false in the course of an argument.

"Contradict" is closer than "argue" because a "rebuttal" is a rhetorical device often used within an argument rather than the argument itself, "agree" is an antonym of "rebut," "slip" means t_o fall or trip_, and "exclaim" means to say something excitedly.

To "interrogate" means to question, to investigate for a crime through questioning. To provide further help, "ponder" means think carefully; "replenish" means refuel, restock; "surmise" means deduce, figure out.

"Peddle" means to sell or to travel around selling something. To provide further help, "sentence" means determine the punishment for; "portray" means depict, show.

To "swindle" someone means to cheat him or her out of money. To provide further help, "mollify" means sooth, calm, relieve; "redeem" means make right something done wrong; "plead" means beg, urge.

To "infringe" means to actively break the rules or to actively disturb someone. As such the closest answer choice is "violate." To provide further help, "kindle" means the same thing as "ignite," they both mean to start a fire; "fetter" means shackle, tie to something; "embellish" means to adorn with details.

"Importune" means to beg, to urge someone to do something, to entreat. To provide further help, "integrate" means combine, include one thing in another; "accost" means physically assault; "exhume" means dig up, as in dig up a corpse; "encroach" means intrude on, impose on.

Although "capitulate" means to surrender, "recapitulate" means to summarize the main points of. This is a somewhat tricky question for this reason. To provide further help, "lure" means attract, often with nefarious means or intentions.

"Covet" is a verb that means "yearn to possess or have something," so we need to pick out a verb that means something like "yearn to possess." While "cover" may sound and look similar to "covet," the two words have very different meanings, so "cover" cannot be the correct answer. "Crave," however, means "feel a powerful desire for something," and because it is the closest synonym of "covet" among the possible answer choices, "crave" is the correct answer.

We usually think of a “repulsive” thing as being disgusting or gross. The correspondence is not direct. Something gross is called “repulsive” because it “pushes people away from it.” (Nobody wants to be close to the person with body odor; he or she “repulses” people away.) A “pulsation” is so called because it is caused by a “beating” or “pressing” motion. To “repulse” is to “drive, beat, or press” someone away.

When someone detests another person or thing, he or she does not merely dislike it but instead has an intense hatred for it. For that reason, the weaker answer choices like “dislike” and “disapprove” do not really capture the sense as does “abhor.” Someone “abhors” something or someone when he or she is disgusted by it or has a strong hatred for it.