Bad / Hostile

verb

61 of 74

Bad / Hostile

audio

berate - To criticize someone in an angry manner

When the private acted in an inappropriate way, his officer berated him to give him the message clearly not to act that way again.

adjective

62 of 74

Bad / Hostile

Url audio

unforgiving - Not making an allowance for error or weakness in others; not willing to forgive others for things they might have done wrong.

Because they knew that Alaska in the winter is an unforgiving environment, they had to plan their expedition very carefully.

verb

63 of 74

Bad / Hostile

Url audio

badger - To repeatedly and annoyingly ask someone to do something.

Every time that Arnold asked Samantha to go out on a date, she would tell him firmly ‘No’. But each time he saw her, he would badger her again and again about wanting to go out, and again she said 'No!'

verb

64 of 74

Bad / Hostile

Url audio

shame - To publicly disgrace or dishonor someone, making them feel humiliated or guilty.

The media shamed the mayor when it revealed that he had accepted a bribe.

noun

65 of 74

Bad / Hostile

Url audio

wisecrack - A clever or witty remark, often sarcastic or humorous; s short, sharp, or mocking comment made in a casual or playful way.

When they were at lunch, he made a wisecrack about the boss, and everyone at the table laughed.

noun

66 of 74

Bad / Hostile

audio

revenge - Harm done to someone in return for harm being done in the past

Max took the insults quietly, plotting how he would eventually seek revenge that would be swift and complete

verb

67 of 74

Bad / Hostile

audio

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

68 of 74

Bad / Hostile

audio

slander - A false spoken statement about someone that damages their reputation

Bill's company took a while to recover after his competitor broadcast a TV ad that contained slander about Bill's company's products.

adjective

69 of 74

Bad / Hostile

Url audio

divisive - Causing disagreement or hostility between people, tending to disrupt unity or harmony.

The election was fought over the deeply divisive issue of immigration, and people on either side of the issue can't see things from the other point of view.

adjective

70 of 74

Bad / Hostile

Url audio

irreconcilable - So different or conflicting that compromise is not possible.

Their political beliefs were so irreconcilable that they decided to stop discussing politics altogether.

verb

71 of 74

Bad / Hostile

audio

heckle - To interrupt (a public speaker) with derisive or aggressive comments or abuse

When the woman heckled the comedian, he stopped his routine to insult her so cleverly, that she regretted starting up with him.

verb

See noun

72 of 74

Bad / Hostile

audio

ridicule - To subject (someone or something) to contemptuous and dismissive language or behavior

John's friends ridiculed him for wearing a funny outfit.