ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

DETEST

Possible Answers:

Dislike

Abhor

Disapprove

Forget

Destroy

Correct answer:

Abhor

Explanation:

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.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

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

PLACATE

Possible Answers:

Soothe

Supplant

Regress

Exacerbate

Eradicate

Correct answer:

Soothe

Explanation:

“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.

Example Question #551 : Synonyms

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

MOURN

Possible Answers:

Lament

Bellow

Pity

Whine

Embalm

Correct answer:

Lament

Explanation:

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.

Example Question #552 : Synonyms

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

IMPAIR

Possible Answers:

Vex

Weaken

Fortify

Renounce

Postulate

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 #553 : Synonyms

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

FORSAKE

Possible Answers:

Satire

Desert

Patronize

Slander

Preempt

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 #554 : Synonyms

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

EXONERATE

Possible Answers:

Acquit

Postulate

Condemn

Prosecute

Convict

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 #555 : Synonyms

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:

sanction

yield

appease

concur

acquiesce

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:

truncate

settle

seize

abolish

donate

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:

pulverize

preclude

quip

ruffle

scrutinize

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

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