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verb

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vacillate - To waver between different opinions or actions; to be indecisive.

He would vacillate between a career in business - that would be more secure - or in acting, something that he loved to do.

verb

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stutter - To speak with involuntary disruptions or repetitions of sounds, often at the beginning of words, due to a speech difficulty.

During the presentation, she began to stutter when she got nervous.

adjective

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insecure - Lacking confidence or self-assurance; feeling unsure about oneself.

When the disease caused blotches on her face, she felt insecure whenever she was with people.

noun

See verb

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shock - A jarring event that causes surprise, disbelief, or emotional disturbance.

The shock of the market crash left investors scrambling to adjust their portfolios.

noun

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tenterhooks - Waiting nervously for something to happen.

After the weeklong trial, we were on tenterhooks waiting for the jury to give its verdict.

adjective

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feverishly - In a highly excited or frantic manner, often due to intense emotion or urgency.

He searched feverishly through his bag, trying to find his lost passport.

adjective

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defensive - To put oneself in a position that is intended to protect oneself.

One of the challenges of a therapist is to achieve the trust of the patient, and overcome the patient's defensive behavior.

verb

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gnaw - To cause continual distress or discomfort, often in a mental or emotional sense.

Doubts about her decision started to gnaw at her, making it hard to focus.

adjective

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agitated - Emotionally upset or excited, especially due to worry or anger.

His voice grew louder and more agitated as he explained what he was feeling.

adjective

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amok - to be out of control and act in a wild or dangerous manner

After Mendel saw the drunken peasants running amok destroying his little village, he knew it was time to leave Russia and go to America.

noun

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fuss - A display of unnecessary or excessive excitement, activity, or interest

The baby would make a fuss every time his parents would try to take a picture of him.

adjective

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frazzled - To feel completely exhausted and worn out, and unable to think straight, after a great deal of mental or physical effort

After being up two nights in a row writing a 60 page history paper, and drinking 60 cups of coffee, Simon's mind felt frazzled.