Verb

verb

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Other / Move

audio

pierce - To go through something completely, from one end to another

In 1307 during the Swiss revolution, William Tell had to prove his accuracy with bow and arrow by shooting an arrow that pierced the apple sitting on his son's head.

verb

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Other / Surprise

audio

startle - To cause a person or animal to feel sudden shock or alarm

The speeding car startled Victor, and he had just enough time to jump out of the way.

verb

147 of 729

Bad / Hostile

Url audio

undermine - To weaken or damage something, especially gradually or secretly; to sabotage or erode the foundation or support.

Constant criticism from a parent or a boss can undermine a person's self-esteem.

verb

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Bad / Steal

audio

rook - To take money from someone by cheating, defrauding, or overcharging them

Customers tend to get rooked by companies who are able to price their products very high because of the brand name.

verb

149 of 729

Good / Calm

Url audio

simmer - To heat a liquid, usually a stew or soup, just below the boiling point, allowing it to cook slowly; or to stay in a slow, controlled state of progress or tension, often before a larger event or change occurs.

He was simmering with anger, but he kept it inside and didn't say out loud what he was thinking and feeling.

verb

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Other / Up+Down

audio

rouse - To wake someone up or make someone more active or excited

When the alarm rang, Dan couldn't rouse himself up from sleep because he had been out drinking the night before.

verb

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Other / Move

audio

yank - To quickly pull something

Edmund yanked the cord on the lawnmower to get it started.

verb

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Good / Calm

audio

tinker - To attempt to repair or improve something in a casual way, often to no useful effect

Mitch tried to tinker with his computer before realizing that it was more broken that he had thought, and that he had to bring it to the computer store to have a professional repair it.

verb

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Other / Up+Down

Url audio

descend - To move from a higher to a lower place or position; to go down.

We watched the sun slowly descend behind the hills.

verb

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Other / Up+Down

Url audio

uproot - To remove or tear away from a native place or environment

The new leader tried to uproot and erase what had been a spirit of bribery and corruption in the government.

verb

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Good / Flexible

Url audio

speculate - To form a theory about a subject without firm evidence.

The police were surprised by the explosion, but they refused to speculate about its cause until they had time to investigate.

verb

156 of 729

Bad / Hurt

audio

wallop - To strike or hit someone or something very hard

At his birthday party, Robby walloped the piñata so hard that all of the candy fell out of it.