Verb

verb

265 of 690

Bad / Small

Url audio

downsize - To reduce the size, amount, or extent of something.

Bill saved money by moving into a smaller apartment, and tried to downsize his lifestyle and live more simply.

verb

266 of 690

Bad / Unfriendly

audio

scoff - To speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way

The mayor scoffed at the ridiculous question from the reporter.

verb

267 of 690

Bad / Dislike

Url audio

abhor - To hate something

Gail and Samantha were sisters who loved to do things together, except that Gail loved the opera, and Samantha abhorred going to the opera.

verb

268 of 690

Good / Flexible

Url audio

defray - To pay for something in a way that reduces costs, expenses, or financial obligation.

They decided to rent out the basement in order to defray the cost of the monthly mortgage payments.

verb

269 of 690

Bad / Attack

audio

devour - To eat (food or prey) hungrily or quickly

Nick was so hungry that he devoured the french fries by the handful.

verb

270 of 690

Other / Squeeze

audio

crunch - To crush (a hard or brittle foodstuff) with the teeth, making a loud but muffled grinding sound

Chips of any kind, whether potato or tortilla, will always involve people crunching them.

verb

271 of 690

Good / Friendly

audio

laud - To praise a person or their achievements highly, especially in a public context

After Cindy exceeded her sales quota for the month, Renita lauded her in front of the other employees.

verb

272 of 690

Other / Body

audio

bloat - To become swollen with fluid or gas.

After eating the large plate of baked beans, Fred felt like his stomach was so bloated that he might float away like a balloon.

verb

273 of 690

Other / Up-Down

audio

swoop - (especially of a bird) To move rapidly downward through the air

Once it spotted its prey on the ground, the eagle swooped in with its talons ready.

verb

274 of 690

Other / Move

Url audio

zoom - To move quickly or suddenly with a loud humming or buzzing sound.

The motorcycle zoomed past us on the highway.

verb

275 of 690

Bad / Angry

Url audio

admonish - To warn or reprimand someone firmly about their behaviour.

The principal admonished the class for their disruptive conduct.

verb

276 of 690

Bad / Pain

audio

wince - To give a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of or in anticipation of pain or distress

Tiger winced as he realized he had hit the ball too far beyond the hole.