Verb

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Other / Light

verb

kindle - Light or set on fire

Stuck in the cold wilderness, Mitch had to kindle a pile of sticks so he wouldn't freeze to death.

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Bad / Dangerous

verb

jeopardize - To subject somebody or something to the risk of loss, harm, danger or failure.

Wally hated gambling because his father's reckless example had shown him what happens if you foolishly jeopardize everything you have.

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Bad / Attack

verb

devastate - To destroy something completely

The plague of locusts totally devastated the field of grain.

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Other / Slow

verb

budge - Make or cause to make the slightest movement

Despite the men's best efforts, the heavy boulder still wouldn't budge an inch.

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Good / Love

verb

coddle - Treat in an indulgent or overprotective way

Many kids today are coddled by their parents who don't want them to experience difficulties in their lives.

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Bad / Dishonest

verb

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Eavesdrop - To secretly listen to a conversation without being invited.

He tried to eavesdrop on the phone coversation of the person sitting next to him.

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Good / Calm

verb

tinker - Attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory 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.

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Bad / Unfriendly

verb

rankle - (of a comment, event, or fact) cause annoyance or resentment that persists

Drake would get angry when his coworkers would rankle him with ridiculous requests.

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Bad / Unfriendly

verb

ogle - To stare at something or someone in a desirous way

Fran felt uncomfortable the way some of the passengers on the subway ogled her diamond necklace.

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Bad / Attack

verb

pulverize - To crush something into a powder or very small pieces.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown were shocked when they saw how the tornado had pulverized their house into little pieces.

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Bad / Weak

verb

grovel - Lie or move abjectly on the ground with one's face downward

When he was told he was being fired, Todd groveled on the ground and pleaded with his boss.

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Good / Flexible

verb

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Scan - To move your eyes over something rapidly in order to get an overview or to find specific information, or getting a machine to do this.

He scanned the crowd for any familiar faces, hoping to see one of his friends at the concert.