Verb

audio

397 of 584
Bad / Attack

verb

usurp - Take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force

The scheming prince knew that he would soon usurp the throne from his father before his father was ready to give it up.

audio

398 of 584
Bad / Delay

verb

dawdle - To delay by taking more time than necessary

"Johnny!" his mother shouted, "we have to catch the train in 30 minutes, so would you please finish getting dressed and stop dawdling."

audio

399 of 584
Bad / Aggressive

verb

instigate - To cause an event or situation to happen by starting some actions

Fred was a bully in the school yard, and he always seemed to be instigating a fight or some other kind of trouble.

audio

400 of 584
Bad / Dishonest

verb

hoodwink - Deceive or trick (someone)

The con man surveyed the crowd in order to find someone to hoodwink.

audio

401 of 584
Bad / Unfriendly

verb

scoff - Speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way

The mayor scoffed at the ridiculous question from the reporter.

audio

402 of 584
Bad / Confused

verb

Picture

baffle - To totally bewilder, confuse, and mystify.

Martha was baffled about several things in her life, especially why she seemed to spend more money than she had, and why she couldn’t lose weight even though she carefully watched her diet.

audio

403 of 584
Other / Other

verb

whittle - Carve (wood) into an object by repeatedly cutting small slices from it

With nothing but free time, Elmore spent hours whittling a large piece of wood into a smaller piece.

audio

404 of 584
Bad / Attack

verb

smother - To cover something completely

The robber smothered the lone occupant of the house with a pillow, in order to give him more time to find and steal the valuable jewels.

audio

405 of 584
Other / Wet

verb

daub - Coat or smear (a surface) with a thick or sticky substance in a carelessly rough or liberal way

In ancient times, houses were constructed by daubing clay all over the structure in order to hold it together.

audio

406 of 584
Good / Successful

verb

Picture

Excel - To surpass others in achievement or ability within a particular field.

She excels in mathematics and often helps her classmates.

audio

407 of 584
Other / Move

verb

slash - To cut - or to reduce the size of something - with a sweeping movement.

The first thing the new president of the company did was to slash the budget in half, eliminating all the waste he could find.

audio

408 of 584
Good / Love

verb

nuzzle - Rub or push against gently with the nose and mouth

Lions tend to nuzzle against each other to show affection.