To assert means to state something confidently, while to belabor means to dwell on or overemphasize it unnecessarily. Similarly, to tend to something means to care for or attend to it, while to fuss means to overreact or pay excessive attention to something, often in an anxious or unnecessary way. Both analogies involve the act of going from a normal action to an excessive or exaggerated form.

Courage is the ability to confront fear or adversity, but rashness is an excessive or reckless form of courage, lacking caution or consideration. Similarly, generosity is the quality of being kind and giving, while prodigality refers to excessive or extravagant generosity, often beyond what is necessary or wise. Both analogies show a quality taken to an extreme form: courage becomes rashness, and generosity becomes prodigality.

A metaphor is a figure of speech where something is described in terms of something else, often non-literal. Literal refers to something being exactly as described, without figurative meaning. Similarly, a melody is a musical sequence that is not spoken, while spoken refers to communication through speech, not music. The analogy contrasts a non-literal or figurative form (metaphor) with its literal counterpart, and melody with spoken language.

Logic is the systematic study of reasoning, and reasoning is the process of thinking through and forming conclusions. Similarly, ethics are principles that guide behavior, and behavior is the way a person acts or conducts themselves. The relationship here is one of cause and effect: logic underpins reasoning, and ethics influence behavior.

"Articulate" means to speak clearly, and "clearly" describes how one should articulate. Similarly, "shout" means to speak loudly, and "loudly" describes how one should shout. Both pairs involve an action (speaking or shouting) and an adverb that describes how the action should be done.

Articulate refers to speaking clearly and effectively, while unclear means difficult to understand. Similarly, to elaborate means to explain something in detail, while sketchy refers to something brief and lacking detail. Both analogies involve contrasting qualities: articulate is the opposite of unclear, and elaborate is the opposite of sketchy.

A wag is a person known for being humorous or playful, often making jokes. Similarly, a dolt is a person who is considered stupid or lacking intelligence. Both analogies describe a person associated with a particular characteristic: a wag is humorous, and a dolt is stupid.

To leave means to go away, while to abscond means to leave secretly or suddenly, often with the intent to evade detection. Similarly, to take something is neutral, but to steal it involves taking it with the intent to illegally or dishonestly possess it. Both analogies describe an action that becomes intensified or morally altered by the second word: leaving becomes absconding, and taking becomes stealing.

A despotic ruler exercises absolute power in a cruel or oppressive way, which is associated with tyranny. In the same way, a generous person demonstrates liberality—the quality of being free-handed and giving. The relationship is one of characteristic behavior to quality: despotism is characterized by tyranny, and generosity by liberality.

"Buoyant" refers to the property of floating, and it contrasts with the action of sinking. Similarly, something that is insoluble does not dissolve in a solvent, while something that is soluble will dissolve. The relationship here is one of opposites: buoyancy is the opposite of sinking, and insolubility is the opposite of dissolving.