Verbs for Assistance, Verbs for Dedication, Verbs for Strengthening and 10 More Topics · Verbs: Verbs Of Helping And Hurting

to help a person in performing a task, achieving a goal, or dealing with a problem

"I will assist you."

"The librarian will assist patrons in finding the books they need."

to contribute to a task, usually alongside others

"Pitch in and help us."

"Everyone pitched in to clean up the park after the festival and the work was finished in just a few hours."

to show the correct way or place to someone

"The teacher will guide the students."

"The tour guide will guide visitors through the ancient ruins and explain the historical significance of each building."

to guide or show the direction for others to follow

"He will lead us."

"His poor financial decisions could lead to bankruptcy if he is not careful."

to freely give goods, money, or food to someone or an organization

"People donate money to charity organizations."

"The wealthy businessman decided to donate a large sum of money to the local children's hospital."

to support or sponsor a person, organization, or cause, often by providing financial assistance

"They patronize this shop."

"Wealthy philanthropists often patronize local artists, providing them with essential financial support and exposure."

to assign something, such as resources or funds, to a particular purpose or use

"Devote time to study."

"She decided to devote all her remaining energy to completing the challenging research project."

to give up something of value for the sake of something else

"We must sacrifice for peace."

"Parents often sacrifice their own desires and comfort to ensure a better future for their children."

to let someone have something, especially something that they have requested

"The committee granted her request for funding."

"The committee decided to grant her request for additional funding to complete her important research project on time."

to give an official degree, title, right, etc. to someone

"They confer degrees."

"The university will confer honorary degrees upon distinguished alumni at the ceremony."

to give or transfer a particular quality or characteristic to something

"It imparts knowledge."

"The experienced mentor sought to impart valuable life lessons and practical skills to his eager apprentices."

to make someone or something stronger or more powerful

"This will fortify you."

"Regular exercise and a balanced diet can significantly fortify your immune system against illness."

to strengthen a substance or structure, particularly by adding extra material to it

"Reinforce the structure."

"They decided to reinforce the aging bridge with additional steel beams to improve its stability."

to increase or enhance the amount, level, or intensity of something

"This drink will boost your energy."

"Drinking coffee can temporarily boost your energy levels and help you stay focused during work."

to bear the weight or provide physical support for something

"The bridge will sustain weight."

"The sturdy foundations of the ancient temple continue to sustain the immense weight of the massive stone structure."

to give someone the power or authorization to do something particular

"Education empowers people to succeed."

"The new law aims to empower local communities by giving them more control over their own resources and decisions."

to strengthen a position of power or success so that it lasts longer

"The company consolidated its market position."

"The new leader worked to consolidate his power by forming alliances with key political figures."

to enhance health and energy

"The walk invigorated her greatly."

"The cold refreshing drink helped to invigorate the tired hikers during their long journey."

to provide someone or something with encouragement or help

"I support my friends."

"The community will rally to support the local charity with donations and volunteers."

to support or endorse a person, cause, or idea

"We get behind this plan."

"The community enthusiastically decided to get behind the initiative to revitalize their historic downtown area."

to support someone or something

"I will back up my friend."

"The community decided to back up the local charity's fundraising efforts."

to remain loyal to or supportive of someone, particularly during a hard time

"I will stand by you."

"The loyal friend promised to stand by her best friend through all of life's difficulties no matter what challenges they would face together."

to help or support the progress or development of something

"They promote equality."

"The organization works tirelessly to promote understanding and cooperation among diverse cultural communities worldwide."

to help something progress or succeed

"We will advance the project."

"The new funding will significantly advance the research and development of this groundbreaking technology."

to promote or support the progress or development of something

"Let's forward the project."

"We must forward the initiative to ensure its long-term success and sustainability."

to give something, especially money or goods, in order to achieve a goal or help a cause

"I will contribute money."

"Many generous individuals contribute funds to support the local animal shelter's important work."

to draw public's attention to something by giving information about it as an act of advertisement

"They publicize the event through social media."

"The charity hired a public relations firm to publicize its fundraising campaign and attract more donors."

to provide someone with support, hope, or confidence

"Encourage the team to win."

"Her encouraging words helped the athlete overcome his self-doubt and perform exceptionally well."

to encourage or provoke someone to take action

"His speech incited the angry crowd."

"The politician's angry speech incited the crowd to violence and several people were injured in the ensuing riot."

to motivate or prompt someone to engage in a specific course of action or behavior

"The news will stir them."

"The speaker's passionate words managed to stir the audience into taking immediate action."

to prevent someone or something from being damaged or harmed

"Protect your eyes from sun."

"Wearing sunscreen can help protect your skin from harmful UV rays and prevent premature aging and skin cancer."

to provide a safe and protective place for someone or something

"We shelter the cat."

"The sturdy building will shelter the refugees from the approaching storm."

to not let any harm come to someone or something

"Soldiers defend their country bravely."

"The lawyer worked tirelessly to defend her client against the serious charges that could have put him in prison."

to repel or avoid an attack or undesirable situation

"He wore a hat to ward off the sun."

"The old superstition says that carrying a rabbit's foot can help to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the person who carries it."

to push away or cause something or someone to retreat or withdraw

"The army repelled the enemy attack."

"The small army managed to repel the much larger invading force by using the mountainous terrain to their advantage during the battle."

to resist or defend against an attack or threat, whether physical or metaphorical

"Fight off the infection naturally."

"The body's immune system works hard to fight off infections caused by harmful bacteria and viruses."

to keep something from change or harm

"Conserve energy for future."

"It is important to conserve natural resources like forests and clean air for the benefit of future generations."

to keep someone or something safe and away from harm, death, etc.

"Save the cat!"

"The brave firefighter managed to save the family from the burning building."

to rescue someone or something from harm or danger

"Deliver us from evil."

"The brave firefighters worked tirelessly to deliver the trapped hikers from the perilous mountain."

to make something stay in the same state or condition

"Maintain the car's condition."

"It is important to maintain a positive attitude even when facing significant challenges."

to cause something to remain in its original state without any significant change

"We preserve food by canning it."

"We need to preserve the old building because it is an important part of our city's history and culture."

to cause injury or physical pain to yourself or someone else

"Don't hurt yourself."

"Be careful when you are climbing the ladder, you don't want to hurt yourself and break a bone."

to hit and pass over something or someone with a vehicle, causing damage

"Be careful not to run over."

"The driver didn't see the small box on the road and accidentally ran over it with his front tire."

to make someone or something unconscious

"The boxer knocked out his opponent."

"The champion boxer managed to knock out his opponent with a powerful left hook in the third round of the match."

to be on fire and be destroyed by it

"The house will burn."

"Do not leave the candles burning when you leave the room because they could cause a serious fire that might destroy your entire house."

to intentionally set fire to something, causing it to burn or be destroyed

"They torch the old house."

"The vandals decided to torch the abandoned warehouse, causing significant destruction."

to injure oneself with hot liquid or steam

"She will scald her hand."

"Be careful not to scald yourself with the boiling water when you pour it."

to violently hurt a person as a punishment or as a way of obtaining information from them

"The captors tortured their prisoners brutally."

"International law prohibits the use of torture under any circumstances even during times of war or national emergency."

to give a substance containing toxins or harmful elements to a person or animal with the intention of causing illness, harm, or death

"Some chemicals poison the drinking water supply."

"The factory was accused of trying to poison the river with dangerous chemical waste from its production process."

(of an animal or insect) to pierce the skin of another animal or a human, typically injecting poison, either in self-defense or while preying

"A bee can sting you."

"The angry bee can sting you if you get too close to its hive or try to swat it away aggressively."

to harshly beat someone using a whip or rod

"The guard lash the prisoner."

"The cruel overseer would lash the slaves mercilessly for any perceived infraction."

to hit or strike someone or something with one's hand or a bat

"He bat the fly."

"The angry fan began to bat the umpire's calls with increasing vehemence."

to beat or strike repeatedly with force, often in a violent or uncontrolled manner

"He will thrash the water."

"The injured animal began to thrash wildly in its attempts to escape from the hunter's trap."

to vigorously and continuously throw objects, often with force or intensity

"The rain pelted the windows hard."

"The angry protesters began to pelt the police with stones and bottles during the violent demonstration."

to strike someone or something with force using one's hand or an object

"Hit the ball hard."

"The baseball player hit the ball so hard that it sailed over the outfield fence for a home run."

to hit a thing or person with the foot

"Don't kick the dog."

"The frustrated player attempted to kick the ball, but missed entirely."

to strike someone repeatedly, usually causing physical harm or injury

"Do not beat the drum."

"The aggressive crowd began to beat the man after they wrongly accused him of stealing their belongings."

to hit using hands or weapons

"He will strike the target."

"The massive lightning bolt struck the old oak tree and split it into two pieces."

to violently hit a person or animal with a whip

"The old punishment was to whip criminals."

"In the past prisoners were sometimes punished by being whipped with a leather strap as a form of physical discipline."

to suddenly attempt to strike someone or something

"He lash out angrily."

"Feeling cornered, the politician began to lash out at his accusers with harsh words."

to end the life of someone or something

"Farmers kill the harmful insects carefully."

"The hunter was arrested for trying to kill an endangered species of wild animal."

to intentionally cause someone's death with planning and purpose

"They slay the dragon."

"The ancient legend tells of a knight who was destined to slay the tyrannical king."

to kill people in a brutal and cruel way

"The killer butcher them."

"The invading army proceeded to butcher the innocent villagers in a horrifying display of violence."

to eliminate someone, often perceived as a threat, by causing their death

"They liquidate the rivals."

"The dictator's regime sought to systematically liquidate all political dissidents to maintain power."

to pursue wild animals in order to kill or catch them, for sport or food

"They hunt deer."

"The lion hunts for food at night when the temperatures are cooler and prey is active."

to hunt, capture, and eat other animals as a means of survival

"Lions prey on zebras."

"Sharks are apex predators that often prey on smaller fish and marine mammals."

to kill or injure someone through electric shock

"The faulty wire electrocute him."

"The careless worker was tragically electrocuted when he touched the live electrical equipment."

to deprive someone or something of food

"Don't starve the dog."

"The harsh winter conditions threatened to starve the isolated community of essential supplies."

to block the throat, hinder breathing and cause suffocation

"He almost choked on a bone."

"You might easily choke on your food if you eat too fast without chewing it properly first."

to stop someone or something from breathing by covering or blocking the air

"Smother the fire quickly."

"She tried to smother the flames with a heavy blanket to prevent the fire from spreading."

to die or struggle for breath due to a lack of oxygen

"I stifle coughing."

"He tried to stifle his laughter during the serious presentation, but failed miserably."

to indicate a potential danger or risk to someone or something

"The storm threaten us."

"The aggressive rhetoric from the opposing party began to threaten the stability of the government."

to put someone or something at danger or risk

"Don't hazard your life."

"The careless construction worker chose to hazard his safety by ignoring the proper safety protocols."

to intentionally expose something of personal importance or value to the possibility of loss

"He ventures his savings."

"The young explorer decided to venture into the dangerous jungle alone despite the warnings from the local villagers."

to put someone or something in a position in which they are vulnerable or are at risk

"Expose the child to sun."

"The investigative journalist decided to expose the corruption within the company to the public."

to put someone or something in danger, particularly by being careless

"Don't compromise the safety."

"Leaving the gate unlocked could compromise the security of the entire neighborhood and put residents at risk."

to completely destroy or to knock down a building or another structure

"Workers demolish the unsafe old building."

"The city council decided to demolish the old abandoned factory to make room for a new public park."

to harm, damage, or ruin something

"Do not spoil the surprise."

"Overexposure to sunlight can severely spoil the delicate fruit and vegetables."

(of a construction) to fall down suddenly, particularly due to being damaged or weak

"The bridge will collapse."

"Due to extensive structural damage, the old building was expected to collapse imminently."

to attack or destroy, especially with a sudden force or energy

"Zap the fly with spray."

"The lightning strike seemed to zap the ancient oak tree with incredible destructive energy."

to destroy a structure such as building or wall

"They knocked down the wall."

"The demolition crew used heavy machinery to knock down the old abandoned factory."

to make something catch fire and burn

"The paper will combust."

"The volatile chemicals, when mixed, were found to combust spontaneously, creating a dangerous situation."

to destroy completely, especially by fire

"The house will burn out."

"After the prolonged fire, the entire structure had completely burn out, leaving only ashes."

to cause damage due to repeated friction or usage

"Shoes will wear out."

"Constant use of the old rope caused it to wear out and become unsafe for climbing."

to make something change in terms of color, shape, etc. due to the effect or influence of the sun, wind, or rain

"The statue weathered many harsh storms."

"The old wooden fence has weathered many harsh winters but it is still standing strong today."

to become damaged, broken, or deformed under pressure

"The can will crush."

"The heavy weight caused the delicate box to crush, damaging its contents."

to damage or destroy something, usually deliberately

"They will trash the car."

"The vandals proceeded to trash the abandoned building, breaking windows and spray-painting walls."

to break with a sudden and loud impact, often causing damage

"The plate will crash."

"The overloaded truck lost control and began to crash violently down the steep embankment."

to come into sudden and forceful contact with another object or person

"Two cars collided on the highway."

"Two large trucks collided on the icy highway causing a major traffic jam for several hours."

to remove something, such as words from a text or unnecessary elements from a plan

"Delete that word."

"Please delete any unnecessary jargon from the report to make it more accessible to a wider audience."

to get rid of something, often by throwing it away or selling it

"Remove the rubbish."

"The council decided to remove the old, dilapidated buildings to make way for new development."

to dispose of something

"Ditch the old toy."

"He decided to ditch his outdated mobile phone in favor of a newer, more functional model."

to remove unwanted or unnecessary things from something or somewhere

"Clear the clutter from desk."

"Please clear all the unnecessary items from the table before we eat."

to entirely remove something

"The disease wipes out entire populations."

"The bad investment nearly wiped out all of his life savings and left him with almost nothing."

to throw away something, often in a responsible manner

"Dispose of the waste."

"It is important to dispose of electronic waste responsibly to prevent environmental contamination."

to get rid of waste material, particularly in an unorganized manner

"Don't dump trash here."

"Illegal dumping of industrial waste poses a significant threat to the local ecosystem."

to discover and eliminate a harmful or dangerous person or thing from a place or situation

"Root out the weeds."

"The new manager vowed to root out corruption and inefficiency within the company's administrative department."

to completely clean something, particularly the skin

"Cleanse your face now."

"The facial cleanser is designed to gently cleanse your skin without stripping away its natural protective oils."

to use a soft cloth or tool to clean and remove particles from the surface of objects, like furniture

"Dust the shelves every week."

"She needs to dust the old bookshelf because a thick layer of dust has accumulated on the shelves."

to remove unwanted or harmful substances from another substance

"Refine the oil to remove impurities."

"The company needs to refine its manufacturing process to reduce waste and increase the overall quality of its final products."

to restrict or reduce the normal activity or function of something

"This will inhibit growth."

"Lack of proper nutrients can inhibit the healthy development of young plants and seedlings."

to limit or control by placing restrictions on something

"Curb your spending."

"The government introduced new regulations to curb the escalating rate of inflation and stabilize the economy."

to consciously control the expression of emotions, desires, or behavior

"Suppress your anger."

"Despite the provocation, she managed to suppress her immediate urge to retaliate with harsh words."

to stop the expression of thoughts, feelings, or actions

"Repress your feelings."

"He had learned from a young age to repress his true emotions, fearing they would be misunderstood."

to make something move or operate more slowly

"Retard the process."

"The unexpected delay in the supply chain began to retard the overall progress of the construction project."

to keep something bad under control in order to prevent deterioration or to slow down its spread or development

"Check the spread."

"The authorities are working to check the spread of misinformation online through fact-checking initiatives."

to stop the normal flow of something, often temporarily

"The storm disrupts air travel for days."

"The loud construction noise outside the window disrupted my concentration and I could not finish my work on time."

to disrupt or alter the usual order or operation of something

"Don't disturb him."

"The sudden loud noises from the street were enough to disturb the quiet atmosphere of the library."

to cause sadness or unhappiness in someone

"This news will bring him down."

"The constant stream of negative news reports about the economic downturn began to bring her down."

to oppose or resist someone or something

"Do not go against your parents' wishes."

"It is difficult to go against the wishes of your parents when you know they only want the best for you."

to fight or contend against someone or something, often in a physical or armed conflict

"They will combat the enemy."

"The local government has introduced several new laws to combat the rising levels of pollution effectively."

to cause someone to feel worried, upset, or concerned

"Don't bother me now."

"The constant noise from the construction site did not seem to bother the residents in the slightest."

to persistently annoy someone, often by making repeated requests or demands

"He will bug you."

"She continued to bug her parents about getting a new phone until they finally agreed."

to cause worry or annoyance for someone

"This will eat you."

"The constant worry about the upcoming exam began to eat away at his peace of mind."

to secretly observe someone

"The spy watched the house."

"The foreign agent was caught trying to spy on the military base and gathering secret information for his country."