verb

1 of 60

Bad / Confused

Url

baffle - To totally bewilder, confuse, and mystify.

Martha was baffled about several things in her life, especially why she seemed to spend more money than she had, and why she couldn’t lose weight even though she carefully watched her diet.

noun

2 of 60

Bad / Old

hovel - A small, squalid, unpleasant, or simply constructed dwelling

Almost hidden behind the foliage was a worn-down hovel that provided little more than a roof over somebody's head.

verb

3 of 60

Good / Successful

clinch - To confirm or settle (a contract or bargain)

Both companies clinched the contract with each other and posed for pictures to celebrate.

verb

See noun

4 of 60

Other / Other

stunt - Prevent from growing or developing properly

Doctors claim poor nutrition and a lack of exercise can stunt a child's growth.

verb

5 of 60

Bad / Hostile

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

6 of 60

Other / Body

clutch - To grasp or seize (something) tightly or eagerly

Babies will often clutch their parents' fingers as part of a bonding ritual.

verb

7 of 60

Good / Friendly

hobnob - To mix socially, especially with those of higher social status

The social event was Terry's chance to hobnob with other people in his industry.

noun

8 of 60

Bad / Small

blurb - A short description of a book, movie, or other product written for promotional purposes and appearing on the cover of a book or in an advertisement

Jasmine decided to buy the book after reading the captivating blurb on the back cover.

noun

9 of 60

Bad / Strange

mongrel - A dog of no definable type or breed

Even though purebreed dogs are in high demand, mongrels are still popular because they combine the attributes of two different dogs in a hopefully positive way.

noun

10 of 60

Bad / Mistake

glitch - A sudden, unexpected, and usually temporary malfunction of equipment such as a computer

The space shuttle take-off was canceled with 2 seconds left in the countdown, due to a glitch discovered in the fuel supply.

verb

11 of 60

Bad / Aggressive

quash - To reject or void, especially by legal procedure

Once DNA evidence proved Marco innocent, the judge quashed his original conviction.

noun

12 of 60

Bad / Stupid

buffoon - A ridiculous but amusing person; a clown

With his mismatched clothing and general absentmindedness, Roy was viewed as a harmless buffoon that no one took seriously.