Appendix C Monosyllabic Verbs
As I wrote in the fifth tip in Chapter 16, short verbs will enliven your prose. To prove that you can almost always find a trim verb to serve your needs, I present below a list of monosyllabic verbs — roughly 2,000 of them.
Many of these words can invest your briefs and motions with energy and freshness. But don’t litter your briefs with obscure verbs. Rather, just revel in the trove of short words that our language has bequeathed us. And then use the common ones. A plain, lean verb usually stands ready to serve your authorial needs. Save the rare ones for special occasions.
I ditched nearly all archaic verbs, a good deal of slang, and — to protect you from the contempt powers of the judiciary — all obscenities. With a single exception, I avoided words that are used in Great Britain: I included prang. Given the nation’s ever-growing use of drone raids and airstrikes, I thought that our country needed to import this word from England. I couldn’t resist.
I’m sure that I missed a few good verbs, so please let me know if you spot any gaps (or if you think I should cut any of these words). My email address is noah.messing@yale.edu.
aah
ace
act
add
age
aid
ail
aim
air
ape
arc
arch
arm
ask
awe
ax
back
bag
bail
bait
bake
ban
band
bang
bank
bar
bare
barf
barge
bark
base
bash
bask
baste
bat
bathe
bawl
bay
be
beach
bead
beam
bean
bear
beat
beep
beg
belt
bend
best
bid
bide
bilk
bill
bin
bind
blame
blanch
blank
blare
blaze
bleach
bleat
bleed
bleep
blend
bless
blight
blind
blip
bliss
blitz
block
blog
bloom
blot
blow
bluff
blunt
blur
blurt
board
boast
bob
bode
bog
bolt
bomb
bond
bonk
boo
book
boom
boost
boot
booze
bore
botch
bounce
bound
bow
box
brace
brag
braise
branch
brand
brave
breach
break
breathe
breech
breed
breeze
brew
bribe
bridge
brief
brim
brine
bring
broach
bronze
brood
brook
browse
bruise
buck
bud
buff
bug
build
bulge
bulk
bum
bunch
burn
burp
burst
bus
busk
bust
butt
buy
buzz
cab
cage
cake
call
calm
camp
can
cane
cap
card
care
carp
cart
carve
cast
catch
caulk
cause
cave
cease
cede
chafe
chaff
chalk
chance
change
chap
char
charge
charm
chart
chase
chat
cheat
check
cheer
chew
chide
chill
chime
chip
chirp
choke
choose
chuck
chug
chum
churn
cinch
cite
clack
clad
claim
clam
clamp
clank
clap
clash
claw
clean
clear
cleave
clench
clerk
clew
climb
clinch
cling
clink
clip
cloak
clone
close
clot
cloud
clown
cloy
club
clue
clump
clutch
coach
coast
coat
coax
cock
code
coin
comb
come
comp
con
conk
cook
cool
coop
cop
cope
cost
cote
couch
cough
count
course
court
cow
cowl
coze
crack
craft
cram
cramp
cranch
crane
crank
crap
crash
crate
crave
crawl
craze
crease
creep
crest
crib
crimp
cringe
crisp
croak
crook
croon
crop
cross
crouch
crow
crowd
crown
cruise
crunch
crush
cry
cube
cue
cull
cup
curb
cure
curse
curve
cuss
cut
dab
dam
damn
damp
dance
dare
darn
dart
dash
date
daunt
dawn
daze
deal
deck
deed
deem
deign
delve
dent
dice
die
dim
dip
disc
dish
dive
do
dock
dodge
doff
dog
dole
don
doom
dope
dose
doss
dot
dote
doubt
douse
down
doze
draft
drag
drain
drank
drape
draw
dread
dream
dredge
dreg
drench
drift
drill
drink
drip
drive
drone
drool
droop
drop
drown
drowse
drudge
drug
drum
dry
dub
duck
duel
duke
dull
dumb
dump
dunk
dupe
dust
dwarf
dwell
earn
ease
eat
ebb
edge
egg
eke
end
err
etch
eye
face
fade
fail
faint
fall
fan
fard
fare
farm
fast
fault
fawn
faze
fear
feast
feed
feign
feint
fell
fence
fend
fess
fetch
fete
feud
fib
field
fife
fight
filch
file
fill
film
find
fine
fink
firm
fish
fit
fix
flag
flail
flank
flap
flare
flash
flaunt
flay
flee
fleece
fleer
flesh
flex
flick
flip
flirt
flit
float
flock
flog
flood
flop
floss
flow
flub
fluff
flume
flump
flunk
flush
fly
foam
fob
fog
foist
fold
fool
foot
force
ford
forge
fork
form
foul
found
fox
frag
frame
fray
free
freeze
fret
fringe
frisk
front
frost
frown
fry
fudge
fuel
fume
fund
furl
fuse
futz
gab
gag
gain
gall
game
garb
gas
gash
gasp
gauge
gear
geek
gel
get
gift
gild
gin
give
glean
glint
glitz
glom
glow
gloze
glut
glutch
gnarl
gnash
gnaw
go
goad
golf
goose
gorge
gouge
grace
grade
graft
grant
grasp
grate
graze
greet
gride
grieve
grift
grind
grip
gripe
groan
groom
groove
grope
grouch
ground
group
grouse
grow
growl
grub
grunt
guard
guess
guide
gulf
gull
gulp
gum
gun
gurge
gush
gust
gut
hack
hail
hale
halt
halve
ham
hand
hang
harm
harp
hash
hasp
hatch
hate
haul
haunt
have
hawk
hay
haze
head
heal
heap
hear
heat
heave
hedge
heed
heel
help
helve
hem
herd
hew
hex
hide
hike
hinge
hint
hire
hiss
hit
hitch
hoard
hoax
hob
hock
hoe
hog
hoist
hold
hole
home
hone
honk
hood
hoof
hook
hoop
hoot
hop
hope
horn
horse
hose
host
hound
house
howl
huff
hug
hulk
hum
hump
hunch
hunt
hurl
hurt
hush
husk
hutch
hype
ice
imp
inch
ink
irk
itch
jab
jack
jag
jail
jam
jape
jar
jaunt
jaw
jazz
jeer
jell
jerk
jess
jest
jet
jib
jibe
jig
jilt
jinx
jive
job
jog
join
joke
jolt
josh
joss
jot
joust
judge
juice
juke
jump
junk
jut
keck
keel
keen
keep
keeve
kelp
kern
key
kick
kid
kill
kiln
kilt
kip
kiss
kit
kite
knar
knead
knee
kneel
knell
knife
knight
knit
knob
knock
knoll
knot
knout
know
knurl
kraal
lace
lack
lade
lag
lam
lamb
lame
lamp
lance
land
lap
lapse
lard
lark
lase
lash
last
latch >lath
lathe
laud
laugh
launch
lave
lawn
lay
laze
lea
leach
lead
leaf
leak
lean
leap
learn
lease
leash
leave
ledge
leech
leer
leg
lend
let
letch
lick
lid
lie
life
lift
light
like
lilt
limb
lime
limn
limp
line
link
lip
lisp
list
live
load
loaf
loam
loan
loathe
lob
lock
lodge
loft
log
loll
long
loo
look
loom
loop
loose
loot
lop
lope
lord
lose
lot
lounge
louse
lout
love
low
lube
luff
lug
luge
lull
lump
lunch
lunge
lunt
lurch
lure
lurk
lush
lust
lute
lye
lynch
lyse
mace
mack
maim
make
malt
man
map
mar
march
mark
marl
mash
mask
mass
mast
mat
match
mate
matte
maul
max
may
mean
meet
meld
melt
mend
mense
meow
merge
mesh
mess
mete
mew
mewl
miff
might
mike
milk
mill
milt
mime
mince
mind
mine
mint
miss
mist
mix
moan
moat
mob
mock
mold
mold
molt
moo
mooch
moon
moor
moot
mop
mope
morn
morph
mosh
moss
moth
mound
mount
mourn
mouse
mouth
move
mow
muck
mud
muff
mug
mulch
mulct
mull
mum
mump
munch
murk
muse
mush
muss
must
mute
mutt
nab
nag
nail
name
nap
nape
near
neck
need
neigh
nerve
nest
net
nib
nick
nil
nip
nit
nix
nock
nod
noise
noose
norm
nose
nosh
notch
note
nudge
null
numb
nurse
nut
oar
off
oink
ooh
ooze
opt
orb
ought
oust
out
owe
own
pace
pack
pad
page
pail
pain
paint
pair
pal
pale
pall
palm
pan
pant
pap
par
parch
pare
park
parse
part
pass
paste
pat
patch
pause
pave
paw
pawl
pawn
pay
peach
peak
peal
pearl
peck
pee
peek
peel
peen
peep
peer
peeve
peg
pelt
pen
pend
pep
perch
perk
pest
pet
phase
phone
phrase
pi
pick
piece
pierce
pig
pike
pill
pimp
pin
pinch
pine
ping
pink
pip
pipe
pique
piss
pit
pitch
pith
place
plait
plan
plane
plank
plant
plash
plat
plate
play
pleach
plead
please
pleat
pledge
plink
plod
plop
plot
plotz
plough
plow
pluck
plum
plumb
plume
plump
plunge
plunk
ply
poach
pod
point
poise
poke
pole
poll
pond
pong
poof
pool
poop
poor
pop
pore
port
pose
post
pot
pouch
pounce
pound
pour
pout
praise
prance
prang
prank
prate
prawn
pray
preach
preen
prep
press
prey
price
prick
pride
prim
prime
primp
prink
prize
probe
prod
prompt
prong
proof
prop
prose
prove
prowl
prune
pry
psych
pub
puff
pug
pule
pull
pulp
pulse
pump
pun
punch
punt
pup
purge
purl
purr
purse
push
put
putt
quack
quail
quake
quash
quell
quench
queue
quilt
quip
quirt
quit
quiz
quoin
quoit
quote
race
rack
raft
rag
rage
raid
rail
rain
raise
rake
ralph
ram
ramp
ran
ranch
rand
range
rank
rant
rap
rape
rasp
rat
rate
rave
ray
raze
razz
reach
read
ream
reap
rear
reave
reef
reek
reel
reeve
reign
rein
rend
rent
rest
retch
rete
rhyme
rib
rick
rid
ride
ridge
rif
riff
rift
rig
right
rim
rime
ring
rinse
rip
rise
risk
ritz
rive
roach
roam
roar
roast
rob
robe
rock
rolf
roll
romp
roof
rook
room
roost
root
rope
rot
rough
round
rouse
roust
rout
route
rove
row
rub
ruck
rue
ruff
ruin
rule
run
rush
rust
rut
sack
sag
sail
salt
salve
sand
sap
sash
sate
sauce
save
saw
say
scab
scald
scale
scalp
scam
scamp
scan
scant
scar
scare
scarf
scarp
scat
scent
scheme
scoff
scold
scoop
scoot
scope
scorch
score
scout
scowl
scram
scrap
scrape
scrawl
screen
screw
scrimp
scrounge
scrub
scrum
scuff
scull
seal
seam
sear
search
seat
see
seed
seek
seem
seep
seethe
seize
sell
send
sense
serve
set
sew
sex
shack
shade
shaft
shag
shake
shall
sham
shame
shank
shape
share
sharp
shave
sheaf
shear
sheath
shed
sheer
sheet
shelf
shell
shield
shift
shill
shim
shin
shine
ship
shirk
shirr
shiv
shoal
shock
shoe
shoo
shoot
shop
shore
short
shot
shout
shove
show
shred
shriek
shrink
shrug
shuck
shun
shunt
shush
shut
side
siege
sieve
sift
sigh
sight
sign
silk
silt
sin
sing
singe
sink
sip
sit
site
size
skate
skeet
sketch
skew
ski
skid
skim
skimp
skin
skip
skirl
skirt
skive
skulk
skunk
sky
slab
slack
slag
slake
slam
slang
slant
slap
slash
slat
slate
slave
slay
sleave
sled
sledge
sleek
sleep
sleet
sleeve
sleigh
sleuth
slice
slick
slide
slight
slim
slime
sling
slink
slip
slit
slog
slop
slope
slosh
slot
slouch
slough
slow
slue
slug
sluice
slum
slump
slur
slurp
slush
smack
smarm
smart
smash
smear
smell
smelt
smirk
smite
smith
smock
smoke
snack
snag
snake
snap
snare
snarl
sneak
sneer
snick
sniff
snip
snipe
snoop
snoot
snore
snort
snow
snub
snuff
snug
soak
soap
soar
sob
sock
sod
sole
solve
soot
soothe
sop
sorb
sort
sough
sought
souk
soul
sound
soup
souse
south
sow
space
spade
spall
spam
span
spank
spar
spare
spark
spawn
spay
spaz
speak
spear
speck
speed
spell
spend
spew
sphere
spice
spiff
spike
spill
spin
spit
spite
splash
splay
splice
spline
splint
split
splore
splosh
splurge
sponge
spoof
spook
spool
spoon
spoor
spore
sport
spot
spout
sprain
sprawl
spray
spread
sprig
spring
sprint
spritz
sprout
spruce
spruik
spume
spur
spurn
spurt
spy
squad
square
squash
squat
squelch
squib
squid
stab
stack
staff
stage
stain
stake
stale
stalk
stall
stamp
stanch
stand
star
starch
stare
stark
start
stash
state
stave
stay
steal
steam
steel
steep
steer
steeve
stem
step
stew
stick
stiff
still
stilt
sting
stink
stint
stir
stitch
stock
stodge
stoke
stomp
stone
stool
stoop
stop
store
storm
stot
stow
strafe
strain
strand
strap
stray
streak
stream
streek
stress
stretch
strew
stride
strike
string
strip
stripe
strive
strobe
stroke
stroll
strop
strum
strut
stub
stud
stuff
stump
stun
stunt
sty
sub
suck
sue
suede
suit
sulk
sum
sun
surf
surge
swab
swag
swage
swamp
swap
sward
swarm
swash
swat
swathe
sway
swear
sweat
sweep
swell
swerve
swig
swill
swim
swing
swinge
swipe
swirl
swish
switch
swoon
swoop
swoosh
synch
tab
tack
tag
tail
taint
take
talk
tame
tamp
tan
tank
tap
tape
tar
tare
tart
task
taste
tat
taunt
taw
tax
teach
team
tear
tease
tee
teem
tell
temp
tempt
tend
tense
tent
term
test
text
thank
thaw
thin
think
thirst
thread
thrive
throb
throw
thrum
thrust
thud
thumb
thump
thwart
tick
tide
tie
tier
tiff
till
tilt
time
tin
tinge
tint
tip
tithe
toast
toe
tog
toke
toll
tone
tool
toot
tooth
top
tope
torch
tosh
toss
tote
touch
tough
tour
tout
tow
toy
trace
track
trade
trail
train
traipse
tramp
tranche
trap
trash
trawl
tread
treat
tree
trek
trench
trend
tress
trice
trick
trill
trim
trip
trod
troll
tromp
troop
trot
trounce
troupe
truck
trudge
true
trump
truss
trust
try
tube
tuck
tuft
tug
tulle
tune
turf
turn
tusk
twang
tweak
tweet
twill
twin
twine
twirl
twist
twit
twitch
type
up
urge
use
vamp
vat
vault
vaunt
veer
veil
vein
vend
vent
verge
verse
vest
vet
vex
vie
view
vise
voice
void
vote
vouch
vow
wad
wade
waft
wag
wage
wail
wait
waive
wake
wale
walk
wall
waltz
wan
wane
want
war
ward
ware
warm
warn
warp
wash
waste
watch
wave
wax
wean
wear
weave
web
wed
wedge
weed
weep
weigh
weight
welch
weld
well
welt
wench
wend
wet
whack
whale
wheel
wheeze
whelm
whelp
whet
whiff
whine
whinge
whip
whir
whirl
whish
whisk
white
whiz
whoop
whop
whore
whump
wick
wield
wig
will
wilt
wimp
win
wince
winch
wind
wine
wing
wink
wipe
wise
wish
wisp
witch
withe
wolf
wont
woo
wood
woof
wool
word
work
worm
worst
would
wound
wow
wrack
wrap
wreak
wreck
wrench
wrest
wring
write
writhe
wrong
yak
yank
yap
yard
yarn
yaw
yawn
yawp
yean
yearn
yell
yelp
yield
yip
yoke
yowl
yuk
zag
zap
zest
zing
zip
zone
zonk
zoom
zoon