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

"Avert" is a verb meaning "turn away one's eyes or thoughts," or "prevent or ward off an undesirable occurrence." Neither "notice" nor "watch" can be the correct answer because "avert" specifically means to "turn away one's eyes or thoughts," and "bungle" ("mess up") has nothing to do with "avert." "Stop" might look like a good answer, but "avert" means "prevent," not "stop," so it cannot be correct either. "Avoid" is the closest synonym to "avert," as one meaning of "avoid" is "prevent from happening." So, "avoid" is the correct answer.

"Ebb," when used as a noun, means "the movement of the tide out to sea," and when used as a verb, it means "move away from land; recede" when referring to tides and "gradually lessen or reduce" when referring to emotions or qualities. Since none of our potential answer choices have to do with tides, we should pick one out that is a verb meaning something like "gradually lessen." While "increase" may have initially looked like a correct answer, "increase" means the opposite as "ebb," so it cannot be the correct answer. "Dwindle," however, means "diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength." Because "dwindle" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "ebb," "dwindle" is the correct answer.

"Flourish" can stand as either a noun or a verb, one meaning "an embellishment or decoration," the other meaning "to thrive or succeed." So, in this case, if one is not sure which part of speech this is, the answers can give a clue-- there are no nouns in the answers, only verbs and adjectives. Since flourish is never an adjective, flowery and old do not make sense. To overturn means exactly what it sounds like, which is not necessarily a successful or thriving event. Extend is close, but does not have any connotation, successful or otherwise. So grow is the best option.

"Deplete"means to use up or exhaust a supply of something.

"Withhold" is a verb that means either "refuse to give (something that is due to or is desired by another)" or "suppress or hold back (an emotion or reaction)," so we need to pick out an answer that means something like "refuse to give" or "suppress." "Proffer," then, cannot be the correct answer because "proffer" is a verb that means "hold out (something) to someone for acceptance; offer," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "withhold." "Retain," however, is a verb that can mean "continue to have (something); keep possession of," and because "retain" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "withhold," "retain" is the correct answer.

"Fortify" is a verb that can mean "strengthen (a place) with defensive works so as to protect it against attack" or "strengthen or invigorate (someone) mentally or physically," or "strengthen (a drink) with alcohol." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "strengthen." "Weaken," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "weaken" is an antonym of "strengthen." "Toughen," however, is a verb which means "make or become tougher," and because "toughen" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "fortify," "toughen" is the correct answer.

"Resuscitate" is a verb that means either "revive (someone) from unconsciousness or apparent death," or "make (something such as an idea or enterprise) active or vigorous again." So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "revive" or "make active again." That means that "execute" cannot be the correct answer, because one meaning of "execute" is "carry out a sentence of death on (a legally condemned person)." So, "execute" is an antonym, not a synonym, of "resuscitate." "Revive," however, is a verb that means "restore to life or consciousness," and because "revive" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "resuscitate," "revive" is the correct answer.

"Grovel" is a verb that means either "to kneel, lie, or crawl on the ground," or "to treat someone with too much respect or fear in a way that shows weakness in order to be forgiven or to gain approval or favor." So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "to kneel" or "to treat someone with too much respect or fear to gain approval." While "pardon" may look like a potentially correct answer, "pardon" means "forgive or excuse (a person, error, or offense)," so while someone may grovel to a person who can pardon them for past offenses, "pardon" does not mean the same thing as "grovel," so "pardon" cannot be the correct answer. "Crawl," however, is synonymous with the first meaning of "grovel," so "crawl" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "grovel."

"Mar" means to spoil the appearance of or disfigure. A scar might mar someone's face or a wooden table could be marred by a deep scratch.

“Abate” is a verb that can mean “to become less intense” when referring to something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “become less intense.” That means that “augment” cannot be the correct answer, because “augment” means “adding to something; increase,” making it a near antonym, not a synonym, of “abate.”“Diminish,” however, is a verb that means “make or become less,” and because “diminish” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “abate,” “diminish” is the correct answer.

"Aggregate," when used as a verb, means to gather several separate things together to form one entity, such as a class or a cluster. When used as a noun, "aggregate" means an entity formed of several separate things. "Aggregate" can also be used as an adjective that means composite. None of the potential answer choices are nouns, so we will need to consider "aggregate" as an adjective and as a verb. Considering the potential answers that are adjectives, "particular" means specific, "rustic" means rural or plain, and "courageous" means brave. None of these answers are close in meaning to composite, so none of them can be the correct answer. So, we need to consider "aggregate" as it is used as a verb, and decide whether "accumulate" or "bother" is the better answer choice. "Bother" means to annoy while "accumulate" means to gather up, so "accumulate" is the correct answer becuase it is closest in meaning to "aggregate."

Don't confuse the word "taper" with the piglike mammal the "tapir," or think of it as "one who tapes" something. The word "taper" used to refer to a candle. From there it came to mean "rising like a flame," and eventually came to its present meaning of gradually decreasing (much like how many candles decrease in size from the base to the wick). Both physical objects (like a cone or pants) and less-tangible things (like anger or sales figures) can be said to taper when they decrease.

"Languish" means to weaken and become feeble, so it is most similar in meaning to "deteriorate," which means to waste away. "Enliven" and "flourish" both have positive connotations and mean to prosper or to come alive. "Stagnate" means to remain without growth or movement, and "concern" (which means consternation)is unrelated in meaning to "languish."

"Dawdle" is most appropriate here because both "dawdle" and "tarry" mean linger or procrastinate. "Hasten" is an antonym of "dawdle" that means to move more quickly or to cause to occur sooner, while "frustrate" can mean thwart or spoil. "Scramble" means clamber or muddle, and "maintain" means to continue or to persist.

When something (like light) is "emitted," it means that it is given off. So, "give off" is the correct answer.

"Douse" means submerge briefly in water or throw liquid at, so "drench," which means soak, is the best match. "Drain" means remove liquid from something, making it an antonym, or opposite, of "douse."

"Expedite" means to speed up the process or progress of, so the best choice for a synonym is "hasten," which means speed up or go somewhere quickly.

"Impale" means pierce with something pointed, so "lance," which means pierce, is the best choice.

"Plummet" means plunge, nosedive, or fall straight down, so "plunge" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "plummet": "deviate" means stray from the normal course or path; "determine" means solve or figure out; "sway" means move forward and backwards in turn; and "loathe" means despise or hate.