Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes - SSAT Middle Level Verbal

"Dread" means to fear something greatly, so "fear" is the correct answer. For clarification, "aspire" means aim or seek, and "despair" means a feeling of sadness and hopelessness.

"Perturb" is a verb that means unsettle or annoy, so we need to pick out another word that means something like unsettle. While "apprehension" (anxiety about future events) might sound like the correct answer, "perturb" is a verb and "apprehension" a noun, so "apprehension" can't be the correct answer. "Disconcert," a verb meaning unsettle, is the answer choice closest in meaning to "perturb," so it is the correct answer.

"Sate" means to satisfy fully.

"Indulge" is a verb that can mean "allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of," "become involved in (an activity, typically one that is undesirable or disapproved of)," "satisfy or yield freely to (a desire or interest)" when used with an object, or "allow (someone) to enjoy a desired pleasure," also when used with an object. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "allow oneself the pleasure of," "become involved in," or "satisfy." "Limit," then, cannot be the correct answer because "limit" is nearly an antonym of "indulge." "Gratify," however, is a verb that means either "give (someone) pleasure or satisfaction" or "indulge or satisfy (a desire)," and because "gratify" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "indulge," "gratify" is the correct answer.

"Relish," when used as a verb, means either "enjoy greatly" or "be pleased by or about," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "enjoy" or "be pleased by or about." "Dislike," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "dislike" means the opposite of "enjoy greatly," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "relish." "Savor," however, is an verb that can mean "taste (good food or drink) and enjoy it completely," and because "savor" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "relish," "savor" is the correct answer.

“Scorn” is a noun that means “contempt,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “contempt.” That means that “admiration” cannot be the correct answer, because “admiration” means “respect and warm approval,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “scorn.” “Disdain,” however, is a noun that means “the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one’s consideration or respect; contempt,” and because “disdain” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “scorn,” “disdain” is the correct answer.

Astound means to shock or surprise.

To "abhor" is to hate.

"Rejoice" means happiness; Sadness and Gloominess is the opposite; Holiday is a celebrated day; and a Furnace is equipment in a home used to generate heat.

"Startle" means to surprise.

If you "detest" something then you hate it. Other similar words that mean hate include deplore, abhor, despise, loathe, and deride.

A "lament" is an expression of sadness and as such is most similar in meaning to mourn. For clarification, to "defy" means to resist authority.

"Agitate" is a verb that means upset, so "upset" is the correct answer. "Highlight" means emphasize or call attention to. "Convince" means persuade or change a person's mind. "Decipher" means decode. "Surprise," when used as a verb, means shock or reveal something unexpected.

"Perturb" means annoy or disturb, so "disturb" is the correct answer. "Enjoy" means take pleasure in a particular activity. "Complain" means express unhappiness about something. "Indict" means charge someone with a crime. "Acquire" means obtain something.

"Gratify" means please, satisfy, or gladden, so "please" is the correct answer. "Correct" means fix an error or mistake or make right. "Mistake," when used as a verb, means commit an error. "Barter" is a verb that means trade goods. "Sling," when used as a verb, means throw or fling an object.

"Yearn" means to want something or to "desire" something. "Detach" means to remove or to disconnect. "Fast," when used as a verb, means to not eat, usually for a religious purpose. "Blend" means to mix together or to combine. "Consult" means to ask someone for advice.

"Sedate" is a verb that describes the action of administering medicine to put someone or something into an artificially-induced calm or sleeping state. It can also be used as an adjective that means lazy or unhurried. So, "tranquilize," a verb that means to sedate using a tranquilizing drug, is the correct answer.

"Scorn" is a strong feeling of disdain or dislike, so "disdain," which means contempt or show contempt toward, is the correct answer. For clarification, "enamored" means having a strong like for or in love with, "jocular" means good-humored, "repulsive" means disgusting, and "encourage" means support.

"Enthrall" means to captivate someone's attention or to fascinate someone.

"Scare" means to cause fear.

"Disillusion" means to cause somebody to consider his or her belief false.

"Suggest" means to put forward something for consideration.

"Confuse" means to cause bewilderment.