ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #166 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

IMPAIR

Possible Answers:

Postulate

Weaken

Renounce

Fortify

Vex

Correct answer:

Weaken

Explanation:

“Impair” means weaken, damage, or have a negative effect on. "Fortify” means reinforce and make more secure; "postulate” means posit, or state an unsupported point to consider as the start of a hypothetical argument; "renounce" means swear off one's association with; and "vex" means annoy.

Example Question #167 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

FORSAKE

Possible Answers:

Desert

Patronize

Satire

Preempt

Slander

Correct answer:

Desert

Explanation:

“Forsake” means desert or renounce. “Preempt” means to act in advance of something else in order to stop that thing from occurring; “slander” means say bad, false things about something to damage their reputation; “satire” means mock something by adopting its style in a humorous way; and “patronize” means interact with in a condescending manner.

Example Question #168 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

EXONERATE

Possible Answers:

Condemn

Postulate

Acquit

Convict

Prosecute

Correct answer:

Acquit

Explanation:

“Exonerate” means release from blame, free from guilt in court, or "acquit." As for the other answer choices, “condemn” means heavily criticize or punish; “convict," when used as a verb, means demonstrate in court that someone committed a crime; “prosecute” means start legal action against someone; and “postulate” means posit.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Verbs

Each synonyms question is made up of a word in capital letters followed by five choices. Choose the one word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

SUCCUMB:

Possible Answers:

appease

concur

yield

acquiesce

sanction

Correct answer:

yield

Explanation:

If someone succumbs, it means they yield or surrender; an example is succumbing in battle.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Verbs

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

AMELIORATE

Possible Answers:

quiet

improve

provoke

grind

Correct answer:

improve

Explanation:

Ameliorate means to make better or improve.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Verbs

Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

USURP

Possible Answers:

donate

settle

abolish

seize

truncate

Correct answer:

seize

Explanation:

"Usurp" means to take without permission. "Truncate" is incorrect because it means to reduce, "donate" means to give away, and abolish means to get rid of. "Seize" is the only possible answer choice, which means to take.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Other Verbs

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

OBVIATE

Possible Answers:

scrutinize

ruffle

preclude

quip

pulverize

Correct answer:

preclude

Explanation:

"Obviate" and "preclude" both mean to make unnecessary. "Pulverize" means to smash or destroy. "Quip" means to make a witty remark or retort. "Ruffle" means to upset or irritate. "Scrutinize" means to examine closely

Example Question #561 : Synonyms

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

JEOPARDIZE

Possible Answers:

incite

garner

warp

imperil

jettison

Correct answer:

imperil

Explanation:

"Jeopardize" and "imperil" both mean to put at risk or in danger. "Jettison" means to eject or expel. "Garner" means to collect or accumulate. "Incite" means provoke or inspire to action. "Warp" means to distort or cause to be misshapen

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Verbs

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

ESCHEW

Possible Answers:

ignore

spurn

disdain

overlook

forgo

Correct answer:

forgo

Explanation:

The word “eschew” is a rather strange English word meaning to avoid the use of (something) or to forgo the use of. For instance, it would be used in a sentence like, “Since Harold had allergic reactions to all kinds of strawberries, he chose to eschew them entirely, rather than risk any contact with the potentially deadly fruits.”

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Verbs

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

EASE

Possible Answers:

angst

juxtapose

intuition

cater

mitigate

Correct answer:

mitigate

Explanation:

The crucial thing to realize when approaching this problem is that "ease" can function either as a noun or as a verb. We have both nouns and verbs listed in the possible answer choices, so it's important to consider each of the word's different meanings. As a noun, "ease" means a lack of difficulty; neither "angst" nor "intuition" match that meaning. As a verb, "ease" means lessen the severity of something bad. As "mitigate" means cause to become less severe, it is the best answer choice.

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