Verb / Bad

verb

1 of 326

Bad / Attack

audio

strangle - To try to kill someone by squeezing their throat

When Martha's boss shouted at her, she felt like strangling him, a feeling that she thankfully was able to control

verb

2 of 326

Bad / Aggressive

Url audio

stymie - To prevent or hinder the progress of something.

When he got very sick, it stymied his plans and ability to study for final exams.

verb

3 of 326

Bad / Attack

audio

sabotage - To deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct (something), especially for political or military advantage.

People who aren't willing to better themselves often resort to sabotaging themselves instead of working through the problem.

verb

4 of 326

Bad / Dirty

audio

scuff - To scrape or brush the surface of something such as a shoe or other object, against something else.

Quincy had to take his car in for repairs after his bumper scuffed a brick wall.

verb

5 of 326

Bad / Unfriendly

audio

mock - To tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner

While the professor wrote the math formula on the board, one of the students mocked him behind his back as the other students laughed.

verb

6 of 326

Bad / Attack

Url audio

belittle - To speak about someone or something in a way that shows little respect.

A good rule of interpersoanl relationships is: Don’t belittle others just to make yourself feel better.

verb

7 of 326

Bad / Dirty

audio

tarnish - To cause a metal to lose its shine, especially as a result of exposure to air or moisture

The spoons were in varying conditions, some of them tarnished until they turned black.

verb

8 of 326

Bad / Disorganized

audio

scatter - To throw in various random directions

When Joe shot his shotgun, the birds scattered in all directions.

verb

9 of 326

Bad / Mistake

audio

flunk - To fail to reach the required standard in an examination, test, or course of study

Ron hid his school test from his mother because he didn't want her to know he had flunked it.

verb

10 of 326

Bad / Confused

audio

bumble - To act or speak in a confused manner.

Joe wasn't really ready for the test, but somehow by guessing here and there he bumbled his way into getting a passing mark.

verb

11 of 326

Bad / Unfriendly

audio

scowl - To frown in an angry or bad-tempered way

Sam scowled at his boss when he was told he was being fired, but he had enough self control not to be physical.

verb

12 of 326

Bad / Dangerous

Url audio

blast - To explode or destroy something or someone with explosives, or to break through or hit something with a similar, very strong force

While building the tunnel through the mountain, the construction crew blasted its way day by day until it was finished.