Definition: To exclude or banish someone from a group or society by general consent; to shun or avoid

Sample sentence: After the scandal, the once-popular politician found himself ostracized by his former supporters.

Definition: To expand or swell due to pressure from within, often caused by gas or fluid

Sample sentence: The balloon began to distend as air was pumped into it, eventually reaching its maximum capacity.

Definition: To express deep sorrow, grief, or regret; to mourn; a passionate expression of grief or sorrow

Sample sentence: The widow lamented the loss of her husband, visiting his grave daily.

Definition: To express disapproval or criticism of, often in a mild or gentle manner; to belittle or undervalue

Sample sentence: The professor deprecated the student's opinion during the discussion, suggesting it was flawed and simplistic.

Definition: To express sorrow, regret, or mourning for something; to grieve or mourn deeply

Sample sentence: She would often lament the loss of her childhood friendship.

Definition: To express strong disapproval or condemnation of something; to lament or regret deeply

Sample sentence: The humanitarian organization deplored the inhumane treatment of refugees.

Definition: To feel intense dislike, disgust, or hatred for something or someone; to detest or abhor

Sample sentence: She loathes dishonesty in any form.

Definition: To find fault with or to reproach severely; to scold or criticize

Sample sentence: The mother upbraided her son for his poor performance at school.

Definition: To forbid, prohibit, or condemn, especially by law or by authority; to denounce or ostracize

Sample sentence: The government decided to proscribe several harmful substances to protect public health.

Definition: To force or compel someone to do something through pressure, threats, or violence; to persuade through intimidation

Sample sentence: The gang tried to coerce the storeowner into paying them for 'protection'.

Definition: To free from blame or guilt; to absolve or vindicate someone of responsibility or culpability

Sample sentence: After careful investigation, the authorities were able to exonerate the individual of the charges against him.

Definition: To gain the goodwill or favor of someone by friendly actions or gestures; to placate or reconcile

Sample sentence: He tried to conciliate his wife with flowers and an apologetic note after they argued.

Definition: To give a false impression or appearance of; to misrepresent, disguise, or contradict; to show to be false or erroneous

Sample sentence: Her calm demeanor belied the turmoil and anxiety that she felt inside.

Definition: To give or bestow the right to vote or other rights of citizenship; to set free; to liberate, as from slavery

Sample sentence: The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution enfranchised women by granting them the right to vote.

Definition: To give or share information or knowledge; to bestow or communicate something to someone

Sample sentence: The teacher tried to impart her passion for literature to her students.

Definition: To give someone the courage or confidence to do something; to inspire or encourage

Sample sentence: The coach's pep talk served to embolden the team before the big game.

Definition: To go against or violate a rule, order, or law; to act in opposition to

Sample sentence: The company was fined for contravening the environmental regulations.

Definition: To greatly dismay or horrify; to shock or outrage someone

Sample sentence: The violent images in the film were enough to appall even the most seasoned horror fans.

Definition: To have a tendency, preference, or liking toward something; to cause to bend or lean in a particular direction; a slope or slant

Sample sentence: His natural incline toward helping others led him to a career in social work.

Definition: To have an effect or impact on, often with negative consequences; to encroach or infringe upon something

Sample sentence: The construction project threatened to impinge on the natural habitat of endangered species.

Definition: To have an effect or impact, especially a negative one; to infringe or encroach upon; to collide or strike against

Sample sentence: The construction of the new road may impinge on local wildlife, disrupting their natural habitats.

Definition: To hold or express opinions that are different or contrary to those of the majority or official viewpoint; disagreement or opposition

Sample sentence: A few members of the committee expressed dissent, but the majority supported the proposal.

Definition: To ignite or set fire to something; to stir up, arouse, or inspire an emotion or feeling

Sample sentence: The motivational speaker's words kindled new hope and enthusiasm in the audience.

Definition: To instruct or enlighten morally or intellectually; to improve or uplift someone's mind or character

Sample sentence: The teacher's goal was not just to fill students' heads with facts but to edify them with deeper understanding.

Definition: To intimidate or discourage someone by making a task or difficulty seem overwhelming; to dishearten

Sample sentence: Despite the odds stacked against her, Alicia refused to be daunted by her challenging workload.

Definition: To involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest; to submerge in a liquid

Sample sentence: She likes to immerse herself in her work to take her mind off her problems.

Definition: To leave secretly and hurriedly, often to escape from custody or avoid detection; to flee or disappear

Sample sentence: The thief managed to abscond with the valuable painting before the security guards caught him.

Definition: To lessen the intensity of something, such as pain or distress; to alleviate, mollify, or soothe; to appease or satisfy

Sample sentence: The kind words and comforting gestures from her friends helped assuage her grief after her loss.

Definition: To list or count off one by one; to specify or itemize individually

Sample sentence: She began to enumerate the many reasons why the project had been a success.

Definition: To list or count off separately, often in detail or by specifying each item; to itemize or catalog

Sample sentence: The applicant was asked to enumerate her qualifications and experiences relevant to the job position.

Definition: To make a problem or its effects less severe or unpleasant without actually solving or removing it; to alleviate or soothe

Sample sentence: The medication served to palliate his symptoms, but it could not cure the underlying illness.

Definition: To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse; to aggravate or inflame

Sample sentence: The loud noise outside only served to exacerbate her headache.

Definition: To make a problem, situation, or negative feeling worse; to aggravate or intensify

Sample sentence: The construction delays only served to exacerbate the city's traffic problems, frustrating commuters even more.

Definition: To make an unpleasant feeling less intense; to relieve or ease someone's discomfort or distress

Sample sentence: His kind words did little to assuage her grief over the loss of her pet.

Definition: To make full use of and derive benefit from a resource; to utilize for one's own advantage, often selfishly or unethically

Sample sentence: The company exploited the natural resources of the area, leaving environmental degradation in its wake.

Definition: To make greater, more numerous, larger, or more intense; to increase, expand, or amplify

Sample sentence: In order to augment their income, the couple decided to rent out a portion of their home.

Definition: To make known (private or sensitive information); to reveal or disclose

Sample sentence: The reporter refused to divulge the identity of his anonymous source.

Definition: To make known, declare, or proclaim, especially an idea, cause, or set of beliefs; to officially put a law or regulation into effect by public declaration

Sample sentence: The government planned to promulgate new policies to stimulate economic growth.

Definition: To make or declare something sacred, often for religious purposes; to dedicate or devote solemnly to a particular purpose or service

Sample sentence: The priest consecrated the bread and wine during the communion ceremony.

Definition: To make someone feel uneasy, confused, or embarrassed; to unsettle or disconcert

Sample sentence: The difficult questions posed by the interviewer discomfited the candidate.

Definition: To make someone less angry or hostile, often by making concessions or giving reassurances; to appease or pacify

Sample sentence: He attempted to placate his angry wife with flowers and an apology.

Definition: To make someone unable to think or feel properly; to astonish or shock with surprise, amazement, or bewilderment

Sample sentence: The magician's astounding performance managed to stupefy even the most skeptical audience members.

Definition: To make something unclear, confusing, or difficult to understand; to obscure or darken

Sample sentence: The convoluted language in the contract seemed designed to obfuscate the true nature of the agreement.

Definition: To openly disregard or mock a rule, law, or convention; to show disdain or contempt for

Sample sentence: The rebellious teenager would often flout her parents’ curfew, coming home long after they had gone to bed.

Definition: To overwhelm or flood with a large amount of something; to deluge

Sample sentence: After the hurricane, the coastal town was inundated with water and debris.

Definition: To perceive or recognize something, often by making fine distinctions or judgments; to distinguish

Sample sentence: With practice, the sommelier was able to discern the subtle notes of flavor in the complex wine.

Definition: To persistently and insistently ask or beg for something; to make repeated annoying requests or demands

Sample sentence: The children continued to importune their parents for candy even after being denied multiple times.

Definition: To persuade or force someone to do something by using threats, intimidation, or pressure; to compel by authority or force

Sample sentence: They tried to coerce him into signing the contract by threatening to reveal his secret.

Definition: To persuade someone not to take a particular course of action; to deter through advice or persuasion

Sample sentence: Her friends tried to dissuade her from quitting her job without having another one lined up.

Definition: To persuade someone that an idea or belief they hold is mistaken; to free a person from deception or error

Sample sentence: The documentary successfully disabused many viewers of their misconceptions about climate change.