ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

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

ACCENT

Possible Answers:

disavow

lambaste

cadge

emphasize

disabuse

Correct answer:

emphasize

Explanation:

"Accent" and "emphasize" both mean to place importance or significance. "Disavow" means to reject or contradict. "Lambaste" means to punish or beat. "Cadge" means to beg or scrounge. "Disabuse" means to free from belief

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

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

MINCE

Possible Answers:

misconstrue

reveal

disabuse

exact

flounce

Correct answer:

flounce

Explanation:

"Mince" and "flounce" both mean to pose or put on airs. "Reveal" means to disclose or tell. "Disabuse" means to free from belief. "Misconstrue" means to get a wrong or false impression. "Exact" means to demand or call for.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

FULMINATE

Possible Answers:

dupe

laud

berate

vivify

conciliate

Correct answer:

berate

Explanation:

"Fulminate" and "berate" both mean to criticize harshly. "Laud" means to give acclaim or praise. "Dupe" means to fool someone. "Conciliate" means to placate or appease. "Vivify" means to enliven or animate

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ASSAY

Possible Answers:

condescend

appraise

ramble

perjure

garble

Correct answer:

appraise

Explanation:

"Assay" and "appraise" both mean to analyze or assess. "Ramble" means to wander about aimlessly. "Condescend" means to stoop or humble oneself. "Perjure" means to lie or obscure the truth. "Garble" means to mix up or misrepresent

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

ENTICE

Possible Answers:

Lure

Suppress

Revolve

Err

Mourn

Correct answer:

Lure

Explanation:

"Entice" means to attract or to lure. "Err" means to make a mistake. "Suppress" means to crush or quell. "Mourn" means to lament or to grieve. "Revolve" means to orbit or to circle.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

FATHOM

Possible Answers:

obscure

investigate

dark

comprehend

perplex

Correct answer:

comprehend

Explanation:

The word “fathom” has an interesting derivation. It comes from the measurement of someone’s arms being stretched outward (like “foot” was originally designated to measure the “standard foot size”). It now is used to measure the depth of water and is equal to about six feet per unit. Since it is associated with being “deep,” the verb form of “fathom” means to understand something difficult or deep; therefore, it can mean to comprehend.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

BESEECH

Possible Answers:

Well up

Evacuate

Decline

Describe

Beg

Correct answer:

Beg

Explanation:

"Beseech" is a verb that means implore or entreat. "Decline," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "decline" means refuse in a polite way, making "decline" an antonym of "beseech," not a synonym. "Beg," however, is a verb that means ask in a humble manner, and because "beg" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "beseech," "beg" is the correct answer.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

STYMIE

Possible Answers:

feint

inveigle

thwart

abjure

explicate

Correct answer:

thwart

Explanation:

"Stymie" and "thwart" both mean to frustrate or hinder. "Explicate" means to clarify or explain. "Abjure" means to give up. "Feint" means a pretense or ruse. "Inveigle" means to entice or manipulate

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

SPURN

Possible Answers:

solicit

sanction

repudiate

extirpate

amalgamate

Correct answer:

repudiate

Explanation:

"Spurn" and "repudiate" both mean to turn away or ignore. "Sanction" means an embargo or punishment. "Solicit" means to plead for or to try to sell. "Amalgamate" means to blend or consolidate. "Extirpate" means to destroy or uproot.

Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

QUIBBLE

Possible Answers:

Importune

Denigrate

Whet

Concur

Bicker

Correct answer:

Bicker

Explanation:

"Quibble" and "bicker" both mean to disagree over a minor point. "Concur" means to agree or approve. "Denigrate" means to belittle or malign. "Importune" means to demand or insist. "Whet" means to make sharp or hone.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors