Bad / Powerless

verb

1 of 45

Bad / Powerless

audio

plead - To make an emotional appeal

The starving orphan pleaded with the cook to give him more porridge.

noun

See verb

2 of 45

Bad / Powerless

Url audio

scapegoat - A person or group who is unfairly blamed for the problems, mistakes, or wrongdoings of others.

The employee was made the scapegoat for the project's failure, even though the entire team had contributed to the problems.

verb

3 of 45

Bad / Powerless

audio

pander - To provide what someone wants or demands even though it is not proper, good, or reasonable.

With his lead in the polls dwindling, the candidate pandered to his voters by offering them crazy promises.

verb

4 of 45

Bad / Powerless

Url audio

kowtow - To act in an excessively submissive or obedient manner, often to gain favor; to bow or kneel as a sign of deep respect or submission.

In ancient China, people would kowtow before the emperor as a sign of respect.

adjective

5 of 45

Bad / Powerless

Url audio

shorthanded - Not having the usual or necessary number of workers or helpers to get something done.

When the flood swept through the community, though the relief workers were very shorthanded, they did an amazing job rescuing the people by boat.

adjective

6 of 45

Bad / Powerless

Url audio

destitute - poor; not having money, food, home, or possessions.

The drug addict was destitute, and often resorted to stealing food in order to survive.

adjective

7 of 45

Bad / Powerless

Url audio

enslaved - Held in physical or psychological bondage or control.

Max felt enslaved by his addiction to cigarettes, and often struggled to try to give it up.

adjective

8 of 45

Bad / Powerless

audio

haggard - Looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering

Once a cute child actor, Macaulay Culkin has looked surprisingly haggard in recent years.

verb

9 of 45

Bad / Powerless

Url audio

capitulate - To give in or stop resisting something, often unwillingly.

Tired of arguing, he capitulated and agreed to go with the group’s plan.

adjective

10 of 45

Bad / Powerless

Url audio

lowly - Low in status or importance;.

Though he had the position of a lowly janitor, he had dreams of rising up to higher positions in the company.

adjective

11 of 45

Bad / Powerless

audio

hapless - (especially of a person) unfortunate

Since he was not particularly attractive or interesting, Vinny was a hapless loner at the school dance.

noun

12 of 45

Bad / Powerless

Url audio

migrant - A person that travels to a different country or place, often in order to find work.

He grew up as a migrant worker with his family, always changing locations to find another farm to work on.