ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

SATE

Possible Answers:

Gratify

Abstain

Drawl

Quaff

Vindicate

Correct answer:

Gratify

Explanation:

"Sate" and "gratify" both mean satisfy. As for the other answer choices, "abstain" means hold back from doing; "quaff" means drink down or gulp; "drawl" means lengthen or draw out; and "vindicate" means prove one's innocence.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

VEX

Possible Answers:

Annoy

Question

Horrify

Enrage

Trigger

Correct answer:

Annoy

Explanation:

The word “vex” comes from the Latin for “to annoy.” “Vexations,” are annoying things. One could use the word in a sentence like, “After many years of living with Sally, Joan started to become vexed by all of her little character flaws, eventually becoming enraged by what were at best small annoyances.”

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

REPULSE

Possible Answers:

Undulate

Reek

Repel

Retch

Foul

Correct answer:

Repel

Explanation:

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.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

COVET

Possible Answers:

Crave

Cover

Introduce

Maneuver

Detest

Correct answer:

Crave

Explanation:

"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.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

DAUNT

Possible Answers:

Equivocate

Embolden

Corrupt

Deter

Enhance

Correct answer:

Deter

Explanation:

"Daunt" and "deter" both mean to make fearful or hesitant. "Embolden" means to encourage or inspire. "Corrupt" means to pervert or pollute. "Enhance" means to improve or embellish. "Equivocate" means to avoid an issue

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

VEX

Possible Answers:

Incite

Alleviate

Agitate

Glean

Burgeon

Correct answer:

Agitate

Explanation:

"Vex" means to agitate or bother. "Alleviate" means to relieve or lessen. "Burgeon" means to bloom or multiply. "Glean" means to pick out or collect. "Incite" means to encourage or provoke.

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters. 

EXACERBATE

Possible Answers:

contort

appease

patent

oscillate

aggravate

Correct answer:

aggravate

Explanation:

"Exacerbate" and "aggravate" both mean to infuriate or make worse. "Appease" means to satisfy or pacify. "Contort" means to disfigure or distort. "Oscillate" means to change back and forth. "Patent" means to secure a copyright on an invention

Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

INFURIATE

Possible Answers:

Endorse

Enrage

Indicate

Pursue

Grovel

Correct answer:

Enrage

Explanation:

"Infuriate" means enrage or make someone angry, so "enrage" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "infuriate": "grovel" means beg or crawl on the floor while begging; "indicate" means designate or mark; "pursue" means continue or follow; and "endorse" means approve or support.

Example Question #9 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

DETEST

Possible Answers:

Forget

Disapprove

Destroy

Abhor

Dislike

Correct answer:

Abhor

Explanation:

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.

Example Question #10 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PLACATE

Possible Answers:

Eradicate

Regress

Soothe

Exacerbate

Supplant

Correct answer:

Soothe

Explanation:

“Placate” means assuage, or give someone what they want to make them feel better, so "soothe" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “exacerbate” means make worse, intensify, or heighten; “eradicate” means completely destroy; “supplant” means replace; and “regress” means go backwards or return to a former state.

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