Verb

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Bad / Stupid

verb

blather - Talk long-windedly without making very much sense

Sally would blather on about pointless topics until people just walked away from her.

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Bad / Mistake

verb

botch - Carry out a task badly or carelessly

Eric botched the assignment that he was asked to do, so his supervisor had to reprimand him.

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Other / Light

verb

ignite - To cause something to catch fire or become inflamed.

Historians discuss and search for the event that ignited the French Revolution.

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Bad / Unfriendly

verb

nix - Put an end to; cancel

Once Ed found out that his potential business partner had been arrested for fraud 2 years before, he nixed the scheduled meeting, and he tore up the partnership agreement that he was about to sign.

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Good / Successful

verb

blossom - To fufill one's potential by becoming more attractive, successful, or confident.

A year after graduating law school, Wendy blossomed as an eloquent court attorney.

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Bad / Unfriendly

verb

rankle - (of a comment, event, or fact) cause annoyance or resentment that persists

Drake would get angry when his coworkers would rankle him with ridiculous requests.

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Other / Move

verb

pierce - To go through something completely, from one end to another

In 1307 during the Swiss revolution, William Tell had to prove his accuracy with bow and arrow by shooting an arrow that pierced the apple sitting on his son's head.

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Bad / Unfriendly

verb

heckle - Interrupt (a public speaker) with derisive or aggressive comments or abuse

When the woman heckled the comedian, he stopped his routine to insult her so cleverly, that she regretted starting up with him.

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Other / Move

verb

scramble - To mix together in a confused way

During the first week of school, the teacher has hopelessly scrambled our names and faces.

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Bad / Unfriendly

verb

sully - Damage the purity or integrity of; defile

Martha spread rumors about Anne, and even though it came out later that the rumors were false, the damage had been done and Anne's reputation was sullied.

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Other / Slow

verb

meander - (of a river or road) follow a winding course.

The river meandered across the plains like a winding snake.

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Bad / Dishonest

verb

debase - To reduce the quality or value of something

When the government added copper to the gold coins, it debased the value of the coins.