The word “vex” comes from the Latin for “to annoy.” “Vexations,” are annoying things. One could use the word in a sentence like, “After many years of living with Sally, Joan started to become vexed by all of her little character flaws, eventually becoming enraged by what were at best small annoyances.”

We usually think of a “repulsive” thing as being disgusting or gross. The correspondence is not direct. Something gross is called “repulsive” because it “pushes people away from it.” (Nobody wants to be close to the person with body odor; he or she “repulses” people away.) A “pulsation” is so called because it is caused by a “beating” or “pressing” motion. To “repulse” is to “drive, beat, or press” someone away.

"Covet" is a verb that means "yearn to possess or have something," so we need to pick out a verb that means something like "yearn to possess." While "cover" may sound and look similar to "covet," the two words have very different meanings, so "cover" cannot be the correct answer. "Crave," however, means "feel a powerful desire for something," and because it is the closest synonym of "covet" among the possible answer choices, "crave" is the correct answer.

"Daunt" and "deter" both mean to make fearful or hesitant. "Embolden" means to encourage or inspire. "Corrupt" means to pervert or pollute. "Enhance" means to improve or embellish. "Equivocate" means to avoid an issue. 

"Vex" means to agitate or bother. "Alleviate" means to relieve or lessen. "Burgeon" means to bloom or multiply. "Glean" means to pick out or collect. "Incite" means to encourage or provoke.

"Exacerbate" and "aggravate" both mean to infuriate or make worse. "Appease" means to satisfy or pacify. "Contort" means to disfigure or distort. "Oscillate" means to change back and forth. "Patent" means to secure a copyright on an invention. 

"Infuriate" means enrage or make someone angry, so "enrage" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "infuriate": "grovel" means beg or crawl on the floor while begging; "indicate" means designate or mark; "pursue" means continue or follow; and "endorse" means approve or support.

When someone detests another person or thing, he or she does not merely dislike it but instead has an intense hatred for it. For that reason, the weaker answer choices like “dislike” and “disapprove” do not really capture the sense as does “abhor.” Someone “abhors” something or someone when he or she is disgusted by it or has a strong hatred for it.

“Placate” means assuage, or give someone what they want to make them feel better, so "soothe" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “exacerbate” means make worse, intensify, or heighten; “eradicate” means completely destroy; “supplant” means replace; and “regress” means go backwards or return to a former state.

To "mourn" something means to express sadness regarding that thing. Now, do not be tempted by options like "bellow" (meaning, to shout loudly) or "whine." Although the mourning person may make various kinds of sounds, the essence of mourning is being sad. To "lament" something, however, is to express one's sadness just like someone mourning. This is a good synonym, given the options.