When someone slanders another person, he or she makes a statement that damages that other person’s reputation. In general, the act of damaging someone’s reputation can be called “defaming” him or her. The word “slander” comes from the Latin word very closely related to “scandal.”

Although “bewilder” is a verb, we often use it in its perfect passive participle form, “bewildered,” or in its present active participle form, “bewildering.” When it is used in the former sense, it means perplexed or confused. For example, we can say, “He was utterly bewildered by the questions being asked by the child, for he could only understand the sorts of questions asked by people who were his own age.” When used as a verb, “bewilder” merely means to cause confusion or perplexity. For example, one could say, “Questions bewilder the man and make him extremely confused and angry.”

Although “bewilder” is a verb, we most often use it in its perfect passive participle form, “bewildered,” or in its present active participle form, “bewildering.”   When it is used in the former sense, it means “perplexed” or “confused.” For example, we can say, “He was utterly bewildered by the questions being asked by the child, for he could only understand the sorts of questions asked by people who were his own age.” When used as a verb, “bewilder” merely means “to cause confusion or perplexity.” For example, one could say, “Questions bewilder the man and make him extremely confused and angry.”

"Ratify" is a verb that means "sign or give formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid." So, "reject" cannot be the correct answer because "reject" is an antonym of "ratify," not a synonym. "Approve" is a verb that means "officially agree to or accept as satisfactory" or "believe that someone or something is good or acceptable," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "ratify," it is the correct answer.

The word “vacillate” is akin to “oscillate,” meaning “to sway or swing.” In the case of vacillate the “swinging to and fro” is implied as being between two options. It is a person who vacillates, not a pendulum. For this reason, it means something like “hesitate” or to be “ambivalent or undecided.” For example, you could say, “After considering both sides of the argument, Maria could not help but vacillate between choosing either option, for both seemed very appealing.

“Coddle” means overindulge or "pamper." As for the other answer choices, “pretend” means behave as if something is true when it isn't; “portend” means foreshadow or suggest that something is going to happen; “circumvent” means go around or avoid something; and “despair” means give up hope of success in a particular endeavor.

"Chatty" means readily talking at length about relatively unimportant subjects, so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like talkative. "Voluble" means just that, so it is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, "frivolous” means without serious purpose; “tempestuous” means stormy or frenzied; “tender” means delicate and caring; and “hesitant” means unsure and therefore slow to act.

“Ostracize” means banish from a community, or "exclude." As for the other answer choices, “include” means make part of a whole; “involve” means allow to be a part of; “hallow” means make sacred or consecrate; and "suggest" means put forward an idea directly or indirectly.

“Feign” means pretend, simulate, or "fake." As for the other answer choices, “suspend” means pause or stop; “preempt” means take action to prevent something from happening; “pursue” means chase after; and “rouse” means awaken or motivate.

To “pry” means to force two things apart, most often using some sort of lever; it can also mean to question, to become involved in by asking about, or to "inquire." As for the other answer choices, “expire” means run out, die, or stop being binding (in the case of formal documents); “embroil” means get mixed up in or involve someone or oneself in a conflict; “dismay,” when used as a verb, means or cause one to feel shocked, sad, and hopeless; and "bind" means attach securely, tie together the hands and feet in order to restrain, unite, or make something mandatory for someone, as in a "binding contract."