Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, or Location - SSAT Middle Level Verbal

"Pilfer" means steal, so "steal" is the correct answer.

Forage means to scavenge.

One meaning of "fumble" is "to search for something by reaching or touching with your fingers in an awkward or clumsy way," we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "search for." While both "search blindly" and "look quickly" could mean "search for," "search blindly" is the better answer because "blindly" conveys the "awkward or clumsy way" of searching that "fumble" conveys.

"Mar" is a verb that means "to ruin the beauty or perfection of something" or "to hurt or damage the good condition of something," so we need to pick out a word that means something like "to ruin" or "to damage." Since one meaning of "spoil" is "to have a bad effect on something" or "to damage or ruin something," "spoil" is closest in meaning to "mar" of the given answer choices, so it is the correct answer.

"Encroach" is a verb that means "intrude on a person's territory or a thing considered to be a right," we need to pick out another verb that means "intrude on." While "enroll" sounds like "encroach," "enroll" means "officially register as a member of an institution or a student on a course"; since it does not mean the same thing as "encroach," it can't be the right answer. "Trespass," however, means "enter the owner's land or property without permission" or "commit an offense against (a person or a set of rules)." Since the first meaning of "trespass" is similar to the meaning of "encroach," "trespass" is the correct answer.

"Encumber" is a verb that means "restrict or burden someone or something in such a way that free action or movement is difficult," so we need to find another word that means something like "burden." While "restriction" might look like a good answer because "restriction" and "encumbrance" are synonymous, "restriction" is a noun and "encumber" is a verb, so "restriction" cannot be the right answer. However, "hamper," when used as a verb, means ": to slow the movement, progress, or action of someone or something." Because "hamper" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "encumber," "hamper" is the correct answer.

"Amble" is a word that means "walk or move at a slow, relaxed pace," so we need to pick out another word that means "walk," and more specifically, "walk at a relaxed pace." While "scamper," "run," and "dash" all refer to movement, they refer to quick movement, not a form of movement that is "at a slow, relaxed pace." Only "saunter," which means "to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner," means "to walk" and includes the connotation of the movement being relaxed and "leisurely." Because of this, "saunter" is closest in meaning to "amble" of the given answer choices, so "saunter" is the correct answer.

"Wilt" is a verb that refers to plants and means "become limp through heat, loss of water, or disease." So, we need to pick out another verb that means something like "become limp." While "droop" and "limp" might both look like potentially correct answers, "limp" cannot be the correct answer because while "wilt" means "to become limp," "limp" as a verb does not mean "become limp" - it means "walk with difficulty, typically because of a damaged or stiff leg or foot." So, "limp" cannot be the correct answer. "Droop," however, means "bend or hang downward limply," so "droop" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "wilt."

"Abridge" means to shorten, as in a text.

"Cavort" means to frolic, to prance.

"Saturate" is a verb that means "cause something to become thoroughly soaked with liquid so that no more can be absorbed," so we need to pick out a verb that means something like "soak." While "condense" might look like a good answer choice because it is a verb that has to do with water, "condense" actually means "make something denser or more concentrated" or "change or cause to change from a gas or vapor to a liquid." Since "condense" is not synonymous with "saturate," it can't be the correct answer. "Drench," however, means "wet thoroughly; soak," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "saturate," "drench" is the correct answer.

"Abate" means to lessen or make less severe, so "diminish" is the best option. One might write, "When the two children were arguing, the return of their mother immediately abated the situation, as neither wanted to upset her with their yelling."

"Splice" is a verb that can mean "join or connect (a rope or ropes) by interweaving the strands," " join (pieces of timber, film, or tape) at the end," or in genetics, "join or insert (a gene or gene fragment)." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "join." "Cut," then, cannot be the correct answer because "cut" is an antonym of "splice." "Interweave," however, is a verb that means either "weave or become woven together" or "blend closely," and because "interweave" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "splice," "interweave" is the correct answer.

"Course" is a word that can take on a variety of meanings. As a verb, "course" means "move without obstruction; flow" when used of a liquid. As a noun, "course" has many different meanings, including "the route or direction followed by a ship, aircraft, road, or river," "the way in which something progresses or develops," "an area of land set aside and prepared for racing, golf, or another sport," "a dish, or a set of dishes served together, forming one of the successive parts of a meal," or "a series of lectures or lessons in a particular subject, typically leading to a qualification." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something similar to "route," "the way in which something progresses," "a dish or set of dishes served together," or "a series of lessons in a particular subject." "Track" is a word which as a noun can mean "a rough path or minor road, typically one beaten by use rather than constructed" or "a prepared course or circuit for athletes, horses, motor vehicles, bicycles, or dogs to race on"; "track" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "course," so "track" is the correct answer.

"Dispel" is a verb that means "make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "make something disappear." So, "appropriate" cannot be the correct answer because "appropriate" means "take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission," not "make something disappear." "Banish," however, is a verb that means "forbid, abolish, or get rid of (something unwanted)," and because "banish" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "dispel," "banish" is the correct answer.

“Mince” is a verb that is often used to refer to meat and means grind up into small pieces, but it can also mean _walk too fastidiously with tiny steps; s_o, we need to pick out a verb that means something like make into small pieces or walk fastidiously. So, that means that “amalgamate” cannot be the correct answer, because “amalgamate” is a verb that means unite multiple things into one thing, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “mince.” “Dice,” however, when used as a verb, can mean cut up into tiny cubes, and because “dice” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “mince,” “dice” is the correct answer.

“Jostle” is a verb that means either “push, elbow, or bump against (someone) roughly, typically in a crowd” or when used in the phrase “jostle for,“ “struggle or compete forcefully for.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “push roughly” or something like “compete forcefully for.” While “leap” and “twirl” might each look like a potentially correct answer because each verb describes a movement a person might make, and “jostle” also describes a movement, neither “leap” nor “twirl” means the same thing as “jostle,” so neither can be the correct answer. “Shove,” however, is a verb that means “push (someone or something) roughly,” and because “shove” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “jostle,” “shove” is the correct answer.

“Garner” is a verb that means “gather or collect (something, especially information or approval),” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “gather.” That means that “disperse” cannot be the correct answer, because “disperse” means “distribute or spread over a wide area,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “garner.” “Gather,” however, is a verb that can mean either “come together; assemble or accumulate” or “bring together and take in from scattered places or sources.” Because “gather” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “garner,” “gather” is the correct answer.

To "augment" is to make bigger. Thus, the best answer choice is the word "enlarge."