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undermine - To weaken or damage something, especially gradually or secretly; to sabotage or erode the foundation or support.

Constant criticism from a parent or a boss can undermine a person's self-esteem.

verb

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intimidate - To frighten or threaten someone, often to make them do something.

The bully tried to intimidate the younger students into giving him their lunch money.

verb

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confront - To deal directly with a problem or difficult situation or person.

Instead of avoiding the issue, he chose to confront it head-on.

adjective

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pugnacious - Having a tendency or desire to fight or argue with other people

Jerry's general pugnacious attitude made it difficult for him to get close to people.

adjective

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contentious - Likely to cause disagreement or argument

When the parents invited the whole clan for Thanksgiving, they asked everyone to try to get along, and to avoid discussing contentious topics.

verb

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shun - To persistently avoid, ignore, or reject (someone or something) through antipathy or caution

When David tried to join in the conversation at the club, they ignored him, and he suspected that he was being shunned because he had a different religion than they did.

noun

See verb

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snarl - An act or sound of snarling

Whenever Patty's dog would try to make a snarl at intruders, it ended up looking like a grin.

noun

See verb

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rebuke - An expression of sharp disapproval or criticism

After Jimmy embarrassed his family, they all participated in a rebuke of him so that he wouldn't repeat the same mistake.

verb

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taunt - To provoke or challenge someone with insulting remarks

The bully taunted Nico so much that it made him depressed.

adjective

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surly - Bad-tempered and unfriendly

Penny's friendly nature was no match for the surly interviewer who never smiled back.

adjective

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fractious - (of a group or organization) difficult to control; unruly

Kaitlin's children were a fractious group that were always fighting in the back seat.

noun

See verb

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jeer - Laughing or shouting insults at someone to show you have no respect for them.

The crowd let out a jeer at the politician when he talked about positions that were extremely unpopular with the public.