Verb

verb

37 of 708

Bad / Attack

audio

topple - To fall as a result of being unsteady or pushed.

Robespierre and the National Assembly stormed the Bastille and toppled King Louis XVI in the French Revolution of 1789.

verb

38 of 708

Good / New

Url audio

emerge - To come out or appear from somewhere, especially after being hidden.

The sun emerged from behind the clouds after the storm passed.

verb

39 of 708

Bad / Small

audio

dwindle - To diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength

The dodo bird population dwindled over time before finally going extinct.

verb

40 of 708

Bad / Mistake

Url audio

backfire - To have the opposite effect of what was intended, usually producing a negative result.

At the company meeting, his attempt to lie backfired, and when the truth came out, he was very embarrassed.

verb

41 of 708

Bad / Disgusting

Url audio

repel - To cause someone or something to back away to a point of greater distance, usually as a result of a strong feeling of aversion or disgust.

His rude behavior seemed to repel new friends, making it difficult for him to form close relationships.

verb

42 of 708

Good / Exciting

Url audio

rave - To talk about someone or something with great enthusiasm

When Elvis' hit "Hound Dog" came out in 1956, it sold 10 million copies, and the whole world raved about it.

verb

43 of 708

Bad / Unfriendly

audio

spurn - To reject and push away with disdain, scorn, and contempt

The boss spurned his employee when the employee asked to see the confidential memo.

verb

44 of 708

Good / Calm

audio

tinker - To attempt to repair or improve something in a casual way, often to no useful effect

Mitch tried to tinker with his computer before realizing that it was more broken that he had thought, and that he had to bring it to the computer store to have a professional repair it.

verb

45 of 708

Good / Smart

audio

delve - To research or make painstaking inquiries into something

In his research for his book about George Washington, the author delved into the details of his life and presidency.

verb

46 of 708

Other / Light

audio

sparkle - To shine brightly with flashes of light

The river sparkled with the sunlight shining down on it.

verb

47 of 708

Bad / Unfriendly

audio

leer - To look or gaze in an unpleasant, malicious, or lascivious way

Francesca felt very uncomfortable as the strange man leered at her for what seemed like an eternity.

verb

48 of 708

Other / Body

audio

gargle - To move a liquid around in your throat without swallowing, especially to clean it or stop it feeling painful

Arthur gargled with mouth wash every morning to make his breath fresh