The word “reprimand” most properly applies to expressions of disapproval or correction that are directed from one in authority to someone under his or her authority. For instance, one could say, “The CEO reprimanded the entire marketing team for its poor performance and laziness this quarter, informing them that if they continued in this delinquency, layoffs would occur in great numbers.” Although “scold” does not necessarily carry the sense of authority, as is the case with “reprimand,” it is the closest of the options provided.

"Intimate" is a word that can be used as a noun, verb, or adjective, but because all of the answer choices can be used as verbs, we will need to consider "intimate" as a verb. When used as a verb, "intimate" means either "imply or hint" or "state or make known." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "imply" or something like "state." "Hide," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "hide" is an antonym of "make known" and does not mean the same thing as "imply or hint." "Insinuate," however, is a verb that means "suggest or hint (something bad or reprehensible) in an indirect and unpleasant way," and because "insinuate" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "intimate," "insinuate" is the correct answer.

Most often, we use the term “dote” with the preposition “on.” For example, “Sally doted on the old man at the restaurant, for she reminded him of her grandfather whom she had so dearly loved.” Generally, the expression “dote on” is used to describe when someone is very fond of another person, often expressing that fondness in a very effusive and perhaps uncritical manner. It is like “spoiling” the person on whom the doting occurs. It can imply that the one “being doted on” is feeble, though this need not be the case.

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.