backfire -
To have the opposite effect of what was intended, usually producing a negative result.
At the company meeting, his attempt to lie backfired, and when the truth came out, he was very embarrassed.
verb
110 of 706
Other /
Body
audio
quiver -
To tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion
When his mother removed his pacifier, the baby's lips began to quiver before he started to cry.
verb
111 of 706
Other /
Fast
Url
audio
careen -
To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way
As the old bus speedily careened around the narrow and steep mountain Tibetan roads, Fred wondered if he would make it safely to interview the guru monk for his magazine article.
verb
112 of 706
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
113 of 706
Other /
Wet
audio
gush -
For a liquid to flow out in a rapid and plentiful stream, often suddenly
On a hot summer day, water gushed out of the fire hydrant to cool everyone down.
verb
114 of 706
Bad /
Unhappy
audio
sulk -
To be silent, morose, and bad-tempered out of annoyance or disappointment
Charlotte sulked in silence when her mother told her she couldn't go outside to play.
verb
115 of 706
Bad /
Aggressive
Url
audio
overwhelm -
To flood or overload someone or something, or to overpower emotionally.
The army overwhelmed the enemy forces with a surprise attack.
verb
116 of 706
Bad /
Dishonest
audio
hoodwink -
To deceive or trick someone.
The con man surveyed the crowd in order to find someone to hoodwink.
verb
117 of 706
Bad /
Hostile
audio
berate -
To criticize someone in an angry manner
When the private acted in an inappropriate way, his officer berated him to give him the message clearly not to act that way again.
verb
118 of 706
Good /
Smart
Url
audio
concoct -
To invent or devise a plan, story, or excuse, often in a clever or dishonest way.
They concocted a brilliant plan to surprise their friend on her birthday.
verb
119 of 706
Other /
Stop
Url
audio
clog -
To become blocked or filled so that movement or activity is slowed or stopped.
Some dirt was clogging the sink, so that the water in the sink didn't drain properly.
verb
120 of 706
Bad /
Unhappy
Url
audio
pout -
To push one's lips or one's bottom lip forward as an expression of displeasure or annoyance.
When Kate's parents told her they didn't have time to go to the circus, she pouted.
