Synonyms: Other Verbs - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

"Remunerate" is a verb meaning "to pay someone for services or work done." If you don't know the definition of this word, you can still get to the correct answer-- jealous and responsive are both adjectives, and words ending with "-ate" in English can often be verbs. Withhold and steal are both verbs, but they both are connected to taking something away, rather than giving. So in this case, "pay" is the best answer.

"Usurp" is a verb that means "take a position of power or importance illegally or by force." While "oversee," "approve," and "mandate" might all look like potentially correct answers because they all have to do with positions of power, only "seize" ("take hold of suddenly and forcibly" or "take forcible possession of") is close in meaning to "usurp," so "seize" is the correct answer.

"Bungle"means to carry out a task clumsily, ruining the outcome.

"Provoke" means to stimulate, give rise to, or cause something.

"Subject to" means "cause or force to undergo (a particular experience of form of treatment)." So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "cause or force to undergo something." While someone might teach a certain subject, "teach" does not mean the same thing as "subject to," and considering how someone might "teach a subject" uses "subject" as a noun, not a verb. "Put through," however, is close in meaning to "cause or force to undergo," and because "put through" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "subject to," "put through" is the correct answer.

"Ratify" means to give legal or official approval to, so "endorse" is the best choice. "Invalidate" actually has the opposite meaning, while "prototype" means a preliminary model of an invention built before the actual invention; "goad" means encourage or prod; and "embark" means set of on a trip, usually one made by ship.

An “anchor” is something you use to keep a boat at one location in the water. When used as a verb, however, “anchor” means hold onto or secure. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "anchor": "demean" means put someone down or embarrass someone; "allege" means claim or assert; and "depict" and "portray" are synonyms that each mean show or represent.

“Avert” means to turn something away, to prevent something bad from happening. To provide further guidance, "succinct" means clearly expressed in as few words as possible; "contend" means argue for, compete.

“Merit” describes something of value that deserves respect and admiration. “Merit” can also mean proven ability or something earned. To provide further guidance, "protect" means defend, look after; "malcontent" means dissatisfied, no content; "satisfied" means content and happy.

To "manufacture" something means to make, to build, to create. To provide further help, "vend" means sell; "insist" means forcefully maintain something is right.

The word "abjure" means avoid. The best choice is "avoid" because it is a part of the definition of "abjure." Considering the other choices, "notable" means worthy of notice, "educate" means provide training, and "tell" means inform, usually in a verbal manner.

"Reveal" is a verb meaning make known, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "reveal" is "expose," a verb that means uncover something that was secret. Considering the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "reveal": "waver" means_shake_ or hesitate between two possible options; "rescind" means repeal; and "ask" is verb that means present a question.

"Surpass" is a verb meaning do better at something than someone else or be greater than, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "surpass" is "exceed," a verb that means be greater or more than or outdo. Considering the other choices, none are close in meaning to "excel": "fail" is a verb that means be unsuccessful in attempting to complete a task or goal; "promise," when used as a verb, means commit to do something; and "entice" means a lead on.

"Approve" is a verb that means accept or agree to, so the answer choice closest in meaning is "accept," a verb that means agree to. Considering the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "approve": "reject," when used as a verb, means refuse to accept or deny; "bash," when used as a verb, means hit or pummel, especially in the case in which an object is used to do the hitting; and "ruin," when used as a verb, means destroy.

“Enrich” means to make better, to enhance, to augment. To provide further help, “render” means turn into, cause to be; “presume” means to think something about someone before you have the facts; “deplore” means hate; “personify” means characterize, exemplify, to show all the traits evident of some idea.

You might already know that the word "remedy" can refer to a treatment for an ailment or injury. In that case, however, "remedy" is used as a noun. When this word is instead used as a verb, its meaning becomes slightly different. Here, to "remedy" something means to correct it, and "remedy" generally is used to refer to a situation that has gone wrong. Our clear answer, then, is "fix." The three answers that remain are antonyms, since they refer to the act of making a condition worse.

"Recur" means repeat or happen again, so "repeat" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "recur": "abstain" means restrain oneself from doing something; "prevail" means win or triumph; "demolish" means destroy completely; and "relish" means take great enjoyment in doing something.

"Abolish" means get rid of or eliminate, so "eliminate" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "abolish": "seize" means grasp or take control of; "surrender" means give up and stop fighting; "cease" means stop completely; and "correct" means make right or fix.

“Avert” means turn away or prevent. To provide further help, “desist” means stop; “abrasive” means rude; “irate” means angry; “suppress” means hold down, conceal.

"Inundate" means to flood, or overwhelm.