ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Verbal
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #162 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPAIR
Weaken
Renounce
Fortify
Postulate
Vex
Weaken
“Impair” means weaken, damage, or have a negative effect on. "Fortify” means reinforce and make more secure; "postulate” means posit, or state an unsupported point to consider as the start of a hypothetical argument; "renounce" means swear off one's association with; and "vex" means annoy.
Example Question #163 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FORSAKE
Slander
Desert
Satire
Patronize
Preempt
Desert
“Forsake” means desert or renounce. “Preempt” means to act in advance of something else in order to stop that thing from occurring; “slander” means say bad, false things about something to damage their reputation; “satire” means mock something by adopting its style in a humorous way; and “patronize” means interact with in a condescending manner.
Example Question #164 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EXONERATE
Acquit
Convict
Prosecute
Postulate
Condemn
Acquit
“Exonerate” means release from blame, free from guilt in court, or "acquit." As for the other answer choices, “condemn” means heavily criticize or punish; “convict," when used as a verb, means demonstrate in court that someone committed a crime; “prosecute” means start legal action against someone; and “postulate” means posit.
Example Question #2264 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Each synonyms question is made up of a word in capital letters followed by five choices. Choose the one word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SUCCUMB:
sanction
concur
acquiesce
yield
appease
yield
If someone succumbs, it means they yield or surrender; an example is succumbing in battle.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Verbs
Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.
AMELIORATE
quiet
improve
provoke
grind
improve
Ameliorate means to make better or improve.
Example Question #331 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
USURP
donate
settle
truncate
abolish
seize
seize
"Usurp" means to take without permission. "Truncate" is incorrect because it means to reduce, "donate" means to give away, and abolish means to get rid of. "Seize" is the only possible answer choice, which means to take.
Example Question #332 : Identifying Synonyms
Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
OBVIATE
scrutinize
ruffle
preclude
pulverize
quip
preclude
"Obviate" and "preclude" both mean to make unnecessary. "Pulverize" means to smash or destroy. "Quip" means to make a witty remark or retort. "Ruffle" means to upset or irritate. "Scrutinize" means to examine closely.
Example Question #333 : Identifying Synonyms
Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
JEOPARDIZE
warp
garner
jettison
imperil
incite
imperil
"Jeopardize" and "imperil" both mean to put at risk or in danger. "Jettison" means to eject or expel. "Garner" means to collect or accumulate. "Incite" means provoke or inspire to action. "Warp" means to distort or cause to be misshapen.
Example Question #334 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ESCHEW
forgo
disdain
overlook
ignore
spurn
forgo
The word “eschew” is a rather strange English word meaning to avoid the use of (something) or to forgo the use of. For instance, it would be used in a sentence like, “Since Harold had allergic reactions to all kinds of strawberries, he chose to eschew them entirely, rather than risk any contact with the potentially deadly fruits.”
Example Question #335 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EASE
cater
juxtapose
mitigate
intuition
angst
mitigate
The crucial thing to realize when approaching this problem is that "ease" can function either as a noun or as a verb. We have both nouns and verbs listed in the possible answer choices, so it's important to consider each of the word's different meanings. As a noun, "ease" means a lack of difficulty; neither "angst" nor "intuition" match that meaning. As a verb, "ease" means lessen the severity of something bad. As "mitigate" means cause to become less severe, it is the best answer choice.
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
