Alphabetic B

noun

97 of 198

Good / Important

Url audio

bigwig - A VIP (very important person) or influential decision-maker, often used informally.

Only the bigwigs got access to the exclusive boardroom on the top floor of the company's headquarters.

verb

See noun

98 of 198

Other / Shape

Url audio

bulge - Swell or expand to an unnatural extent

Alan loved drinking beer, but one of the unfortunate consequences of his drinking so much beer was that his belly bulged more than he liked.

verb

See noun

99 of 198

Good / Big

Url audio

binge - Indulge in an activity, especially eating, to excess

Bob loved eating pizza so much, that whenever he had a desire to eat pizza, he ordered several pies and would binge and continue eating until his bursting stomach couldn't hold any more food.

adjective

100 of 198

Other / Shape

Url audio

borderline - Unclear and uncertain whether something is in one category or another.

Because she was only a borderline diabetic, she didn't need insulin shots, and could maintain her blood-sugar level through diet and by staying away from sweets.

noun

101 of 198

Bad / Hostile

audio

barb - A remark that is funny but unkind.

Burt realized that Sam was not really his friend when Sam made several barbed comments directed at Burt at the dinner party.

verb

See noun

102 of 198

Bad / War

Url audio

breach - The act or a result of breaking; a break or rupture.

After 6 months of siege, the invading army breached the city's wall and destroyed the city.

noun

See verb

103 of 198

Good / Smart

Url audio

brainstorm - A great idea that someone thinks of suddenly.

During the meeting, we had a brainstorm about how to improve our marketing strategy.

noun

104 of 198

Bad / Mistake

audio

blooper - An embarrassing error

Movies will frequently have blooper reels where the actors laugh and ruin a scene.

verb

105 of 198

Other / Entice

audio

beguile - To charm or enchant someone, sometimes in a deceptive way.

Jim really didn’t like sitting at a desk and programming, and sometimes he suspected that he chose to be a programmer because he had been beguiled by the hope of becoming a rich entrepreneur.

noun

106 of 198

Bad / Stupid

audio

buffoon - A ridiculous but amusing person; a clown

With his mismatched clothing and general absentmindedness, Roy was viewed as a harmless buffoon that no one took seriously.

noun

107 of 198

Bad / War

audio

brutality - Actions that are extreme violent and deliberately cruel

The brutality of slavery is not only horrible for the slaves, but has a terrible effect on society and everyone involved.

adjective

108 of 198

Bad / Weak

audio

brittle - Hard but liable to break or shatter easily

Glass is usually brittle and can break apart despite its strong appearance.