Trying to find the right verb for a literature review can feel oddly therapeutic — precision matters more than flair. For me, 'integrate' is my go-to because it conveys bringing separate studies into a coherent whole without pretending they were
Identical. Other solid synonyms I use depending on tone are 'consolidate', 'collate', 'distill', 'harmonize', 'amalgamate', 'synthesize' (when you still want the classic word), 'aggregate', 'weave together', 'assimilate', and 'triangulate'. Each carries a slightly different implication: 'distill' suggests extracting essence, 'triangulate' implies cross-checking evidence, and 'harmonize' hints at resolving contradictions.
In practice I often phrase things to match the method: for a narrative review I'll say the paper 'weaves together' themes or 'constructs a synthesis of' the literature; for systematic work I prefer 'aggregates' or 'meta-analyzes' the findings; when I want to stress critique I use 'situates and critiques the evidence' or 'reconciles divergent findings'. Short sample lines that have saved me time: "This review integrates empirical and theoretical work on X," "We distill core themes across Y studies," or "The study consolidates current evidence to identify gaps." Play with noun forms too — 'synthesis', 'integration', 'consolidation', 'distillation', 'triangulation' — they let you vary sentences so the prose doesn't get stale. Personally, I like mixing 'integrate' and 'distill' depending on whether I'm describing process or outcome; it keeps the review readable and honest about what I'm doing.