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

"Squander" means waste or fritter away, so "waste" is the best answer choice.

To burgeon is to grow quickly or flourish.

Something that "festers" is something that rots or decays, e.g. "a festering sore."

Since "kindle" means light or set on fire or inspire, we're looking for a verb that means set on fire or inspire. Of the three answer choices that are verbs ("equivocate," "undertake," and "ignite"), "ignite" is the closest synonym to "kindle" as "ignite" means catch fire or cause to catch on fire, so "ignite" is the correct answer.

"Garner" is a verb that means "gather or collect something, especially. information or approval," so we need to pick out another word that means something like "collect." While "swindle" may look like a potentially correct answer because "swindle" means "to take money or property from someone by using lies or tricks," "amass" is actually a closer synonym to "garner," as "amass" means "to gather or collect something, such as a large amount of money, especially for yourself." So, because "amass" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "garner," "amass" is the correct answer.

"Truncate" means_curtail_ or cut off the end of, so "shorten" is the closest synonym amongst the available answer choices.

"Propel" is a verb that means "to push or drive someone or something forward or in a particular direction," so we need to pick out a word that means something like "push." While "propeller" might sound like a good answer because it contains the word "propel," "propeller" is a noun, not a verb, so it can't be the correct answer. "Shove," which means "to push someone or something with force," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "propel," so "shove" is the correct answer.

"Whet" is a verb which means "to sharpen the blade of a tool or weapon," or "to excite or stimulate someone's desire, interest, or appetite." So, we need to pick out another verb that means something like "sharpen." While "whet" sounds like "wet," and "dampen" is synonymous with "wet" when "wet" is used as a verb, "whet" has a very different meaning than "wet," so "dampen" cannot be the correct answer. "Hone," however, is a verb that means "to sharpen with a whetstone" or "to make sharper or more focused or efficient." Since "hone" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "whet," "hone" is the correct answer.

While "follow" might seem like a good answer because to "tail" someone is to follow them, "curtail" does not mean the same thing as "tail," so "follow" is not the correct answer. Similarly, while "curmudgeon" and "curtail" both begin with "cur-," curmudgeon is a noun and curtail is a verb, so they cannot be synonyms. Since "curtail" means "reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on," "reduce" is its closest synonym and the correct answer.

"Tarnish" and "sully" are both words that mean make something dirtier or less valuable.

To "barricade" or "obstruct" something is to block it.

"Converge" is a verb meaning come to the same place (metaphorically or physically) at the same time, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like come together. "Protest" and "scatter" might look like potentially correct answer choices initially, but they are each antonyms of "converge," so neither of them can be the correct answer. Because "meet" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "converge," "meet" is the correct answer.

"Erect"means raise, build, or construct, so "construct" is the correct answer.

"Congeal" means to solidify, or thicken.

"Hinder"means to create difficulties for something, or to obstruct something.

"Pulverize" means to grind or pound into powder, so "crush" is the best synonym amongst the provided answer choices.

"Retract" means to pull back or withdraw. Advance is to go forward, which is the opposite meaning of Retract. Poach means to hunt, Permeate means to penetrate, and Laud means to applause. None of these words have any relation to Retract.

To curtail means to cut short or shorten.

To vacillate and to fluctuate both mean to continually shift back and forth.