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(v.) to criticize somebody or something very strongly
He was excoriated for his mistakes. |
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(v.) to say that something is false
The scholar gainsaid his fellow panelist's theory. |
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(v.) to criticize, question, or persuade in an angry, forceful way
The headmaster harangued the naughty students. |
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(v.) to suggest that somebody or something cannot be trusted
The bad review impugned the computer company. |
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(v.) to speak angrily in criticism or protest
to inveigh against isolationism |
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(v.) to criticize somebody or something severely; to whip.
The father lost his temper and lambasted his son for a small offense. |
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(v.) to scold somebody angrily
David's mom objurgated him for losing his iPod. |
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(v.) to expose somebody to public ridicule or abuse
The candidate mercilessly pilloried his opponent. |
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(v.) to attack somebody in a harshly abusive or critical manner.
Unleashing all her frustrations, Mary vituperated her roommate after she left the soda out to get flat. |
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(v.) to put on a false appearance
to dissemble one's incompetence in business. |
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(v.) to speak vaguely or ambiguously
When asked directly for his position on disarmament, the candidate only equivocated. |
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(v.) to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression; lie.
When asked directly about his qualifications for the position, Michael prevaricated to conceal his lack of skills. |
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(v.) to make something less harsh, severe, or violent (especially a crime).
Taking pity upon the criminal for his poor situation, the judge mitigated the punishment. |
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(v.) to confuse someone
The difficult calculus problem left the students nonplussed. |
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(v.) to criticize severely
The reviewer panned the play after its opening night, killing ticket sales immediately. |
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(v.) to enlarge in discourse or writing; be copious in description or discussion
I expatiated upon the negative stereotypes Tyler Perry tends to advance in my blog post. |
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(v.) to speak pompously, especially when unqualified to do so
I couldn't believe Mark was pontificating about being a good citizen--he's not even registered to vote! |
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(v.) to rebuke someone mildly but earnestly; to advise someone [not] to do something
Residents were admonished not to stay in their homes in certain areas that were to be hit by the worst of the storm. |
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(v.) to weaken someone's physical, mental, or moral vitality
Revised to take almost 4.5 hours, the GRE is an enervating test. |
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(v.) to call a formal meeting or call people together for such a meeting
When the issue could not be resolved via email, the group's presented convoked the board members. |
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(v.) to speak scathingly; to explode
As a race scholar and a feminist, I often fulminate against those who try to separate the issues of Blacks and women. |
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(v.) to make something ineffective or defective
Atray vitiated Miky's bike when he accidentally backed over it with his SUV. |
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(v.) to change sides or opinions; to be evasive
Knowing his opinion didn't match that of many of his constituents, the politician tergiversated on the subject. |
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(v.) to claim unwarrantably or presumptuously; to assume or appropriate to oneself without right; to ascribe, assign to someone else
School bullies are infamous for arrogating nerds' lunch money. |
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(v.) to treat as a pet, pamper, coddle
Maria scoffed at the trophy wife, not believing cossetting to be a proper part of marriage. |
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(v.) to soften in feeling or temper, pacify, appease; to mitigate or reduce
The cookie mollified the screaming child's tirade. |
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(v.) to drink an alcoholic beverage copiously and with enjoyment
At Erika's 21st birthday, all the guests quaffed cocktails from the open bar all night. |
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(v.) to anticipate and prevent or eliminate difficulties or disadvantages by effective measures; to render unnecessary
We developed a disaster survival kid so as to obviate the effects of the hurricane as best as possible. |
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