Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, and Understanding - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

Since "wail" as a noun means a prolonged cry of pain, grief, or anger, or, as a verb, to make such a noise; we're looking for words that have to do with noises people make, specifically those they make when something bad is happening or has happened. Of the given answer choices, "whistle," "shriek," and "cheer" all refer to noises people can make; however, only "shriek," which as a noun means a high-pitched piercing cry or sound; a scream, or as a verb, to make such a noise, is the closest in meaning to "wail" and so is the correct answer.

Since "goad" is a verb that means provoke or annoy someone so as to simulate some action or reaction, we're looking for a verb that means something like provoke. While "ask" might seem like a good answer because asking someone to do something is one way to get them to do it, it is not a synonym of "goad," so it is not the correct answer. "Urge," on the other hand, means try earnestly or persistently to persuade someone to do something; since it is closest in meaning to "goad," it is the correct answer.

"Jeer" is a verb meaning "make rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice," so we need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb and means something like "mock." "Ridicule," when used as a verb, means "subject someone or something to mockery and derision," and is the only answer choice that is close in meaning to "mock." So, "ridicule" is the correct answer.

While "ignore" might look like a potentially correct answer, "heed" actually means "pay attention to" or "take notice of," so "ignore" is actually an antonym of "heed" and cannot be the correct answer. "Pay attention to" is synonymous with "heed," so "pay attention to" is the correct answer.

"Ramble," when used as a verb, can mean either "walk for pleasure, typically without a definite route," when describing a plant, "put out long shoots and grow over walls or other plants," or "talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way." While all of the possible answer choices have to do with talking, only "drone," a verb that can mean "speak tediously in a dull monotonous tone," is a synonym of "ramble," so "drone" is the correct answer.

"Bamboozle" is a verb which can mean either "fool or cheat someone" or "confound or perplex," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "fool someone," "cheat someone," or "perplex." "Baffle," a verb that means "totally bewilder or perplex," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "bamboozle," so "baffle" is the correct answer.

"Exclude" means to deny someone access to something, or to keep them out of something.

"Spurn" means to reject with contempt.

"Harangue," when used as a verb, means "lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner." So, we need to pick out an answer that refers to speech and means something like "lecture someone aggressively." "Chat," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "chat," when used as a verb, means "talk in a friendly and informal way," making "chat" an antonym of "harangue." "Admonish," however, is a verb that means "warn or reprimand someone firmly," and because "admonish" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "harangue," "admonish" is the correct answer.

"Entreat" is a verb that means "ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something" or "ask earnestly or anxiously for (something). So, we need to pick out an answer that means something like "ask earnestly." While "treat" may seem like a potentially correct answer because the word "entreat" contains the word "treat," "treat" does not mean "ask earnestly," so "treat" cannot be the correct answer. "Beg," however, is a verb that can mean "ask (someone) earnestly or humbly for something" or "ask for (something) earnestly or humbly," and because "beg" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "entreat, "beg" is the correct answer.

"Solicit" is a verb that means either "ask for or try to obtain (something) from someone" or "ask (someone) for something," so we need to pick out an answer that means something like "ask (someone) for something." "Provide," then, cannot be the correct answer because "provide" is an antonym, not a synonym, of "solicit." "Request," however, is a verb that can mean "politely or formally ask for" or "politely ask (someone) to do something," and because "request" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "solicit," "request" is the correct answer.

“Empower” is a verb that can mean either “to give power to” or “make a person stronger and more confident.” That means that “prohibit” cannot be the correct answer, because “prohibit” means “formally forbid,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “empower.” “Authorize,” however, is a verb that means “give official permission,” and because “authorize” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “empower,” “authorize” is the correct answer.

If you at first do not recognize the word "revere," think of other words that are similar, like "reverence." When you hold something in reverence, you hold it in great respect and awe, so it makes sense that "revere," being the verbal form of "reverence," means to hold in great respect and awe. If you did not look at the question closely and thought the word in question was "reverse," you might have picked "backward," as "backward" is a synonym of "reverse." However, "backward" is very distant in meaning from "revere," so it cannot be the correct answer. Considering the rest of the potential answers, "keen" is an adjective while "revere" is a verb, so "keen" cannot be the correct answer. "Personify" is a verb that means represent, while swerve is a verb that means to turn sharply, so neither of these answers can be correct, either. "Respect," however, is a verb that means esteem or admire, and because "respect" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "revere," "respect" is the correct answer.

"Capitulate" means to give in or to surrender. "Ensconce" means to hide something or someone in a safe place. "Defy" means oppose and "withstand" means endure; both are antonyms of "capitulate."

The definition that is closest in meaning to "grant" is "allow," since "grant," when used as a verb, means give or permit.

"Garble" means confuse or jumble, so "confuse" is the correct answer. "Unscramble" means the opposite of "garble."

"Divulge" means make private information public, so "disclose", which means reveal, is the best choice. "Supress", which means hide, is an antonym of "divulge," and none of the other answer choices are related in meaning to "divulge": "suppress" means subdue or repress; "dovetail" means join together, or more specifically, join together with interlocking parts; "fetch" means go get; and "vomit" means be physically ill or throw up.

"Carp" means find fault or complain, so "grumble" is the best match here.

"Gape" means stare with mouth open in surprise or wonder, so "stare" is the best match.