ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #521 : Synonyms

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

SCAVENGE

Possible Answers:

Steal

Rummage

Nibble

Gnaw

Mortify

Correct answer:

Rummage

Explanation:

“Scavenging” animals are those that live on the dead bodies of other animals. More generally, “scavengers” are those animals and people that search for whatever they need by looking in the waste and garbage of others. When someone “rummages,” he or she searches in a manner that is rather disorganized, often paying little head to the mess they make when performing his or her search. When someone scavenges, this is likely to be the manner of searching. For this reason, “rummage” is often used as a synonym of scavenge.

Example Question #522 : Synonyms

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

STAUNCH

Possible Answers:

Olfaction

Restrain

Reek

Decomposition

Spoilage

Correct answer:

Restrain

Explanation:

The word “staunch” has two meanings. On the one hand, it can mean “faithful” as in, “He was a staunch supporter to the cause, regularly donating time and money.” The word is derived from a base that means “watertight” or “dried up.” In English, it has thus come to mean “to stop the flow of blood” as in, “He staunched the wound with thick bandages.” When used figuratively, it can mean the more general “to stop the flow.” For this reason, “restrain” is the best option among those provided.

Example Question #523 : Synonyms

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

DISSEMINATE

Possible Answers:

Demobilize

Atomize

Scatter

Pulverize

Crumble

Correct answer:

Scatter

Explanation:

The best answer choice is scatter since disseminate means to spread or disperse such as in the case of disseminating information.

Example Question #524 : Synonyms

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

ABSCOND

Possible Answers:

Endure

Inhibit

Imply

Flee

Sate

Correct answer:

Flee

Explanation:

"Abscond" and "flee" both mean to run away or escape. "Endure" means to withstand or bear a hardship. "Imply" means to suggest or indicate. "Inhibit" means to restrict or prevent. "Sate" means to satisfy.

Example Question #525 : Synonyms

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

MIGRATE

Possible Answers:

Occupy

Flee

Invade

Relocate

Retreat

Correct answer:

Relocate

Explanation:

The word “migrate” is derived from the Latin root word for “to move or transport.” Among the options given here, only “relocate” signifies this general sense of the word. This word can apply not only to humans but also to animals. For instance, consider the sentence, “George was quite knowledgeable about the migratory patterns of spotted geese, which relocated themselves to Mexico every winter.” The word “migrate” is related to “immigrate” and “immigrant.”

Example Question #526 : Synonyms

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

DAWDLE

Possible Answers:

Proliferate

Draw

Harry

Linger

Incite

Correct answer:

Linger

Explanation:

“Dawdle” means delay, linger, or stay somewhere too long, or move too slowly, so "linger" is the best answer, as "linger" means remain in a place longer than one is expected to. As for the other answer choices, “Harry” means annoy or harass; "incite" means cause someone to feel strong emotions or act definitively, often in a negative way; "draw" means illustrate or sketch the image of; and "proliferate" means multiply in number.

Example Question #527 : Synonyms

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

ASSIMILATE

Possible Answers:

Incorporate

Embarrass

Peak

Frequent

Insist

Correct answer:

Incorporate

Explanation:

To “assimilate” something means to take it over and add it to something else. It is very close in meaning to “incorporate,” which means take in and add into the whole. As for the other answer choices, to "insist" means to encourage someone forcefully to do something your way; "peak," when used as a verb, means to reach a high point; "embarrass" means cause someone to feel ashamed, often in front of others; and "frequent," when used as a verb, means patronize or visit a certain location or establishment often.

Example Question #528 : Synonyms

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

AMASS

Possible Answers:

Collect

Intervene

Tamper

Interject

Bellow

Correct answer:

Collect

Explanation:

“Amass” means gather or "collect." As for the other answer choices, to “tamper” with something means to interfere with it, or to mess around with it so that it breaks; “interject” means interrupt the flow of a conversation with one's own comments; “intervene” means get involved to stop something from happening; and “bellow” means shout or yell loudly.

Example Question #529 : Synonyms

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

PROCURE

Possible Answers:

Barter

Furnish

Obtain

Demonstrate

Peddle

Correct answer:

Obtain

Explanation:

To “procure” means to get something or to "obtain" something. As for the other answer choices, “furnish” means provide; “peddle” means sell, “barter” means trade, particularly to try and buy something for less money than it is worth, or to obtain something through exchange and not direct purchase; and "demonstrate" means show to be the case.

Example Question #530 : Synonyms

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

FLUCTUATE

Possible Answers:

Meticulously

Eerie

Hoary

Surreptitious

Vary

Correct answer:

Vary

Explanation:

“Fluctuate” means change in quantity randomly, or "vary." As for the other answer choices, “eerie” means spooky and suggestive of danger; “hoary” means old and having white hair or clichéd; “surreptitious” means stealthy or secretive; and “meticulous” means careful, considering all options, and dedicated.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors