Bad / Aggressive

verb

1 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

wrangle - To have a long and complicated dispute

Even after a year, the senators wrangled over the health-care legislation.

verb

See noun

2 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

muzzle - Put a muzzle on (an animal)

The wild dog had to be muzzled so it wouldn't bite anybody.

verb

3 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

tussle - Engage in a vigorous struggle or scuffle

The two deer tussled by angrily locking horns with each other.

verb

4 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

thwart - To prevent someone from accomplishing something

Jim suspected that Fred his office mate said negative things about him in order to thwart Jim from advancing in the company.

noun

See verb

5 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

muzzle - A device, usually an arrangement of straps or wires, placed over an animal's mouth to prevent the animal from biting, eating, etc.

In addition to a strait jacket, Hannibal Lecter was forced to wear a muzzle so he wouldn't eat people.

verb

6 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

Url

preempt - To take the place of something or someone by acting before they do.

He tried to preempt any objections by anticipating and addressing their concerns right away.

adjective

7 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

ferocious - Savagely fierce, cruel, or violent

As the king of the jungle, the lion is one of the most ferocious animals on Earth.

verb

8 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

instigate - To cause an event or situation to happen by starting some actions

Fred was a bully in the school yard, and he always seemed to be instigating a fight or some other kind of trouble.

noun

See verb

9 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

purge - The act of getting rid of undesirable things

During the great Purge of 1937-1938, Stalin killed about a million people he felt might threaten his leadership.

verb

10 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

Url

impinge - To have an effect or impact on someone; also to gradually take over an area belonging to someone else.

His constant use of the cell phone impinged on his family life.

verb

11 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

Url

vie - To compete intensely with others for superiority or a desired goal.

During the World Cup, the best soccer teams vie for the championship title.

verb

12 of 72

Bad / Aggressive

pester - To trouble or annoy someone with frequent or persistent requests or interruptions

Pete just wanted to stare at the sunset, but Lily kept pestering him and breaking his concentration.