Verb

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Bad / Unfriendly

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.

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Bad / Aggressive

verb

stymie - Prevent or hinder the progress of

Polar bears losing their habitat is an unfortunate side effect of action against climate change being stymied.

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Bad / Aggressive

verb

brandish - Wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement

Once he saw the burglar, Terry brandished his gun in order to scare him off.

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Bad / Attack

verb

ransack - Go hurriedly through (a place) stealing things and causing damage

Within only a few minutes, the burglars ransacked the house in order to find the owners' jewelry and cash.

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Good / Friendly

verb

mollify - To try to calm and soothe feelings, making the other less angry and upset

Bret had to think quickly how to mollify the hungry lion facing him after it had escaped from its cage at the zoo.

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Other / Sound

verb

bellow - For a person or animal to emit a deep loud shout or roar, usually in pain or anger.

When Joan entered the office an hour late the third time this week, her manager Mr. Fass bellowed that if she wanted to keep her job, she should consider coming on time from now on.

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Bad / Aggressive

verb

pummel - To continuously hit something or someone with the fist(s).

After a very stressful day at work, Adam decided to pummel the punching bag at the gym, to vent his frustration.

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Good / New

verb

revamp - Give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to

Every year, Apple revamps its iPhone line with a new model that has different features.

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Bad / Aggressive

verb

instigate - To cause an event or situation to happen by starting some actions

Fred was a bully in the school yard, and he always seemed to be instigating a fight or some other kind of trouble.

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Bad / Disgusting

verb

retch - Make the sound and movement of vomiting

Brenda felt like she was going to retch after eating sushi from the gas station.

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Other / Move

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Escalate - To increase in intensity, seriousness, or severity.

The argument quickly escalated into a bitter fued that took a long time to recover from.

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Good / New

verb

rejuvenate - To make somebody or something look or feel newer or younger

After his camping trip in the Rockies, Sam felt rejuvenated physically and emotionally, and was looking to go back to work with renewed energy.