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denigrate - To damage the good name or character of a person.

Political factions sometimes denigrate each other instead of focusing on real issues

noun

See verb

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jeer - Laughing or shouting insults at someone to show you have no respect for them.

The crowd let out a jeer at the politician when he talked about positions that were extremely unpopular with the public.

verb

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scold - To rebuke someone angrily, telling them what you think they did wrong.

When her dog tracked mud onto the carpet, Yvonne scolded him angrily.

noun

See verb

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ridicule - The subjection of someone or something to contemptuous and dismissive language or behavior

Tommy was the object of ridicule after he revealed an embarrassing secret.

verb

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malign - To speak harmful untruths about someone – to slander or defame, showing illwill.

She warned her friend not to malign others just to gain popularity.

verb

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berate - To criticize someone in an angry manner

When the private acted in an inappropriate way, his officer berated him to give him the message clearly not to act that way again.

adjective

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obnoxious - Extremely unpleasant

Jared simply wanted to motivate his employees, but he didn't realize yelling at them through a megaphone was extremely obnoxious.

verb

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shame - To publicly disgrace or dishonor someone, making them feel humiliated or guilty.

The media shamed the mayor when it revealed that he had accepted a bribe.

verb

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abandon - To leave someone or something behind permanently or without intending to return.

Beverly took the cat into her house when she realized that the cat had been abandoned.

verb

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antagonize - To cause someone to become hostile or angry.

When he met someone new, he was honest about his political point of view though he knew there was a risk it would antagonize the other person.

verb

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undermine - To weaken or damage something, especially gradually or secretly; to sabotage or erode the foundation or support.

Constant criticism from a parent or a boss can undermine a person's self-esteem.

adjective

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scathing - Witheringly scornful; severely critical

After receiving poor service and undercooked food, the critic wrote a scathing review of the restaurant.