verb

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Other / Move

pluck - To take hold of something and quickly remove it from its place

In Ralph Waldo Emerson's beautiful poem Forbearance, he suggests that it is good to appreciate a beautiful flower without plucking it from the ground.

adjective

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Bad / Unfriendly

pesky - Causing trouble; annoying

Amanda couldn't concentrate on anything while that pesky fly was flying around and bothering her.

noun

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Bad / Stupid

Url

platitude - A trite or cliché saying that is expressed as if it were profound, but is actually banal.

The motivational speaker's advice sounded more like a bunch of platitudes rather than genuine guidance, offering nothing new to the audience.

noun

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Bad / Dangerous

plight - A dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation

The plight of the jobless is slightly improved when they receive temporary unemployment benefits.

adjective

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Good / Brave

plucky - Having or showing determined courage in the face of difficulties

Mary's plucky personality made her determined to compete in the race despite being confined to a wheelchair.

adjective

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Bad / Small

piddling - Pathetically trivial; trifling

In a piddling attempt at perfection, Alec would cut the blades of grass individually.

adjective

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Bad / Nervous

Url

perturbed - Feeling unsettled, anxious, or troubled due to confusion, concern, or disruption.

She was visibly perturbed when she found out her flight had been canceled at the last minute.

verb

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Other / Move

Url

pivot - To strategically change direction or focus, often in response to new circumstances or needs.

In the middle of the game, the coach decided to pivot the team's approach, switching from defense to a more aggressive offensive strategy.

verb

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Good / Friendly

Url

placate - To pacify or appease someone who is upset or agitated.

He tried to placate his upset friend by apologizing and buying a book that he gave as a present.

adjective

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Other / Inward

Url

picky - Being very particular or selective about something, often to the point of being hard to please.

My dog is picky about where he sleeps; he’ll only rest on his favorite blanket.

noun

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Good / Successful

Url

pinnacle - The highest point or peak of something, usually representing the peak of success or achievement.

The concert at Madison Square Garden was the pinnacle of the band's tour, with the crowd cheering wildly.

adjective

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Other / Slowly

Url

piecemeal - Done in a series of steps, little by little, gradually over time.

The general knew that the battle could not be won all at once, so he had a plan to win it piecemeal, one part at a time.