If you “vilify” someone, you say or write harsh and critical things about them. It is related to the root word "villain." Remember that the suffix "-ify" means to make or invest with attributes. "Villify" is similar in meaning to "abuse," which means to treat harshly or unfairly. To clarify the other terms, “declare” means say publically; “enlarge” means get bigger.

The suffix "-able" means able to be,so “fathomable” means able to be fathomed—that is, able to be understood. Notice how all of the answer choices use "-able" or ­"-ible"; this means that you will have to try and figure out which answer choice's stem is most similar to “fathom.” The correct answer is "comprehensible" because "comprehend" means understand. As for the other answer choices, “amiable” means friendly or sociable; “agreeable” means pleasant or easy-going; “intangible” means not able to be touched or not able to be defined, and "comfortable" means cozy and pleasant.

"Reprehensible" means disgraceful or shameful, so "shameful" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "shameful": “optical” means related to seeing; “auditory” means related to hearing; "triumphant" means victorious; and "bewildered" means very confused.

The prefix equ- means equal, same, so the word “equalize” means to make equal. Of the five answer choices this is most similar in meaning to “balance.” To provide further help, “demonstrate” means to show how to do something; “laud” means praise; “condemn” means criticize, say is wrong.

The suffix -cide means related to killing, and the prefix homi- means related to humans, or to sameness (depending on context). Here it could be said to mean either related to humans or related to being the same, because “homicide” involves a human killing a human, or “murder.” To provide further help, “theft” is stealing; “aggression” is hostility, anger; “passivity” is the opposite of aggression, sometimes calm or weak; “incentive” is motivation, the reason for doing something. 

The prefix gyne­- means relating to women or to women’s reproductive systems. “Gynecology” is the medicine that specializes in treating women. To provide additional help, the medicine that specializes in treating children is called “pediatrics.” 

“Fanaticism” is a fanatic outlook or fanatic behaviour. “Fanatic” means marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion. Both words share a link with the root “fan,” as in football fan. “Fanaticism” can also be called “zeal,” which is a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something. If you show “zealous” behaviour then you are full of “zealotry.” To help you “idealism” is the attitude of a person who believes that it is possible to live according to very high standards of behavior and honesty. “Jive” means a type of fast lively dance or music that was especially popular in the early part of the twentieth century; it can also mean informal language that includes many slang terms.

"Listless" means lacking energy and enthusiasm and is therefore most similar in meaning to "lethargic." For clarification, the other four answer choice are all loosely synonyms of one another and antonyms of "listless" and "lethargic."

"Reckless" means uncareful; Prudent means careful; Destructive means causing damage; Disabled means injured; and Crimson is a shade of red.

Something that is "gruesome" is grotesque and horrible. For clarification, mediocre, middling and average are all synonyms that mean in the middle.