verb

1 of 60

Bad / Weak

Url

waver - To go back and forth between choices or opinions.

Alan would waver back and forth about whether he wanted to be a doctor or an actor.

adjective

2 of 60

Good / Smart-Adj

Url

alert - Awake, watchful, and paying close attention.

The soldier on guard duty had to be constantly alert for signs of enemy activity.

adjective

3 of 60

Bad / Unhappy

Url

despondent - Unhappy and feeling no hope or enthusiasm

Bill was despondent after failing the test that he had studied so hard for.

verb

4 of 60

Bad / Mistake

Url

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.

noun

5 of 60

Other / Inward

Url

inhibitions - A feeling of self-consciousness or restraint that prevents someone from acting freely; a psychological or social barrier that limits a person’s behavior or expressions.

His inhibitions kept him from speaking up during the meeting, even though he had great ideas.

verb

6 of 60

Bad / Weak

crumble - Break or fall apart into small fragments, especially over a period of time as part of a process of deterioration

Boulders very gradually crumble into small rocks over millions of years as part of a slow natural process.

verb

See noun

7 of 60

Other / Up+Down

tumble - (typically of a person) fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong

When the movie star tumbled down the stairs at the popular event, the cameras made sure to capture the entire incident.

verb

8 of 60

Good / Flexible

Url

migrate - To travel to a new location or country, to live there temporarily or permanently.

Many birds migrate to southern climates in the winter, because during that season they find eating and living there easier.

verb

9 of 60

Other / Body

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.

adjective

10 of 60

Good / Smart-Adj

Url

inventive - Having the ability to create or design new things or to think originally.

To be inventive and creative means examining assumptions, thinking out of-the-box, and seeing things in new ways.

noun

See verb

11 of 60

Other / Squeeze

huddle - A group where people have come close to together

When the football team came together in the huddle, the quarterback explained what to do during the next play.

noun

12 of 60

Bad / Uncomfortable

stupor - A state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility

Kramer was in such a drunken stupor that he ended up sleeping on a park bench.