Verb

verb

445 of 706

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.

verb

446 of 706

Other / Slowly

audio

sway - To move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically backward and forward or from side to side

Danny felt at ease in the hammock as he gently swayed back and forth.

verb

447 of 706

Bad / Dislike

audio

cringe - To contract one's face or body due to a feeling of disgust or embarrassment

While discussing her engagement on the phone with her friend, Laura realized that the thought of marrying Bob made her cringe with disgust.

verb

448 of 706

Bad / Confused

audio

drift - To move slowly without much intention or direction.

Bill enjoyed rowing out into the middle of the large lake, and then just letting the boat drift while he relaxed and looked at the water and the sky.

verb

449 of 706

Bad / Aggressive

Url audio

impinge - To have an effect or impact on someone; also to gradually take over an area belonging to someone else.

His constant use of the cell phone impinged on his family life.

verb

450 of 706

Other / Stop

Url audio

intervene - To come between two people, groups, or events to prevent or change an outcome.

The teachers had to intervene when the students started arguing in the school yard.

verb

451 of 706

Good / Friendly

audio

carouse - To drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way

The group of men caroused all night long until they were too drunk to walk home.

verb

452 of 706

Bad / Attack

audio

harass - To subject someone to aggressive pressure or intimidation

Erin didn't know who to turn to when her boss harassed her with uncomfortable physical contact.

verb

453 of 706

Other / Wet

audio

gush - For a liquid to flow out in a rapid and plentiful stream, often suddenly

On a hot summer day, water gushed out of the fire hydrant to cool everyone down.

verb

454 of 706

Other / Move

audio

flutter - To move up and down or from side to side with short, quick, light movements

Sam was amazed at the beauty of thousands of butterflies fluttering their wings in what was called Butterfly Valley.

verb

455 of 706

Bad / Uncomfortable

audio

chafe - To be annoyed or lose patience because of rules or limits

Though Ted loved his father (and boss), he chafed under his father's strict supervision, and he was looking forward to the day when his father would retire so he could run the company himself.

verb

456 of 706

Bad / Disorganized

audio

garble - To distort a message so that it is unclear or confusing

When the astronauts landed on Mars, static garbled their voices so none of the billions of people on earth watching on TV could understand what they were saying.