100+ POWER VERBS

101+ Power (Active) Verbs to Use in Writing

1. Accommodates: to make fit, suitable, or congruous: to bring into agreement or concord : RECONCILE: to provide with something desired, needed, or suited (as a helpful service, a loan, or lodgings): to make room for: to hold without crowding or inconvenience: to give consideration to : allow for *accommodate the special interests of various groups*ADAPT, CONTAIN

2. Accepts

3. Acknowledges

4. Answers

5. Achieves: to carry out successfully : ACCOMPLISH *achieve a gradual increase in production*: to get or attain: REACH *achieved a high degree of skill* *achieved greatness*: to attain a desired end or aim : become successful: PERFORM

6. Acquires: to get as one's own: to come into possession or control of often by unspecified means: to come to have as a new or added characteristic, trait, or ability (as by sustained effort or natural selection) *acquire fluency in French* *bacteria that acquire tolerance to antibiotics*: to locate and hold (a desired object) in a detector *acquire a target by radar*

7. Adapts: to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification: to ADJUST, ACCOMMODATE, CONFORM, RECONCILE. ADAPT implies a modification according to changing circumstances *adapted themselves to the warmer climate

8. Affects: to produce an effect upon: to produce a material influence upon or alteration in *paralysis affected his limbs*: to act upon (as a person or a person's mind or feelings) so as to effect a response : INFLUENCE

9. Affirms: VALIDATE, CONFIRM: to state positively: to assert (as a judgment or decree) as valid or confirmed: to express dedication to: to testify or declare by affirmation as distinguished from swearing an oath. Conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith.

10. Alters: to make different without changing into something else: to become different :CHANGE

11. Analyzes: to study or determine the nature and relationship of the parts of by analysis *analyze a traffic pattern* DISSECT, BREAK DOWN

12. Anticipates: to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to: to meet (an obligation) before a due date: to foresee and deal with in advance : FORESTALL: to act before (another) often so as to check or counter: to look forward to as certain : EXPECT: FORESEE

13. Argues

14. Asserts: to state or declare positively and often forcefully or aggressively: to demonstrate the existence of : DECLARE, AFFIRM,

15. Believes

16. Benefits: to be useful or profitable to: to receive benefit

17. Categorizes

18. Cautions

19. Ceases: : to cause to come to an end especially gradually : no longer continue: to come to an end: to bring an activity or action to an end : DISCONTINUE: to become extinct : DIE OUT: STOP

20. Challenges:  to dare, to protest, to provoke, to stimulate, to question

21. Characterizes: to describe the character or quality of *characterizes him as ambitious*: to be a characteristic of : DISTINGUISH *an era characterized by greed*

22. Claims

23. Clarifies: to free of confusion: to make understandable: to become clear

24. Coincides: to occupy the same place in space or time: : to correspond in nature, character, or function: to be in accord or agreement : CONCUR: AGREE

25. Compares

26. Compels: to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly: to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure: to drive together: FORCE

27. Compliments: to pay a compliment to: to present with a token of esteem

28. Concludes

29. Condemns: to declare to be reprehensible, wrong, or evil usually after weighing evidence and without reservation: to pronounce guilty : CONVICT  b : SENTENCE, DOOM: to adjudge unfit for use or consumption: CRITICIZE

30. Conflates

31. Confirms: to give approval to : RATIFY: to make firm or firmer: STRENGTHEN: to give new assurance of the validity of : remove doubt about by authoritative act or indisputable fact: CORROBORATE, SUBSTANTIATE, VERIFY, AUTHENTICATE, VALIDATE

32. Conforms: to give the same shape, outline, or contour to : bring into harmony or accord *conform furrows to the slope of the land* : to be similar or identical : to be in agreement or harmony   used with to or with: to be obedient or compliant: to act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs: ADAPT

33. Confronts: to face especially in challenge : OPPOSE: to cause to meet : bring face-to-face *confront a reader with statistics*  b : to meet face-to-face : ENCOUNTER *confronted the possibility of failure*

34. Considers

35. Consoles: to alleviate the grief, sense of loss, or trouble of : COMFORT *console a widow*

36. Contemplates: to view or consider with continued attention : meditate on: to view as contingent or probable or as an end or intention: to PONDER, MEDITATE

37. Contradicts: to assert the contrary of : take issue with: to imply the opposite or a denial of *your actions contradict your words* DENY

38. Contrasts:  to set off in contrast : compare or appraise in respect to differences *contrast European and American manners*  to COMPARE

39. Contributes: to give or supply in common with others: to play a significant part in bringing about an end or result

40. Convinces

41. Covets: to wish for enviously: to desire what belongs to another

42. Criticizes: to consider the merits and demerits of and judge accordingly : EVALUATE: to find fault with : point out the faults of: REPREHEND, CENSURE, REPROBATE, CONDEMN, DENOUNCE

43. Declares: to make known formally, officially, or explicitly: to make clear: to make evident : SHOW: to state emphatically : AFFIRM *declares his innocence*: to make a full statement of (one's taxable or dutiable property): to announce (as a trump suit) in a card

44. Defends: to maintain or support in the face of argument, to drive danger or attack away from, to prevent, to contest, to take action against or challenge, to PROTECT, SHIELD, GUARD

45. Defies

46. Demands

47. Demonstrates: to show clearly: to prove or make clear by reasoning or evidence: to illustrate and explain especially with many examples: to SHOW

48. Denounces: to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil: PROCLAIM: to announce threateningly: to inform against : ACCUSE: CRITICIZE

49. Denies

50. Depicts: to represent by or as if by a picture: DESCRIBE

51. Describes

52. Desires: to long or hope for : exhibit or feel desire for: to express a wish for : REQUEST: to express a wish to : WISH, WANT, CRAVE, COVET. DESIRE stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim *desires to start a new life*

53. Determines

54. Diminishes

55. Discloses: to open up: to expose to view: to make known or public *demands that politicians disclose the sources of their income*:REVEAL

56. Discusses

57. Displaces: to remove from the usual or proper place: to expel or force to flee from home or homeland: to remove from an office, status, or job: to drive out : BANISH: to move physically out of position *a floating object displaces water*  b : to take the place of (as in a chemical reaction) : REPLACE

58. Displays: to show

59. Disputes

60. Disregards

61. Distinguishes: to perceive a difference in : mentally separate *so alike they could not be distinguished*: to mark as separate or different: to separate into kinds, classes, or categories: to give prominence or distinction to *distinguished themselves in music*: CHARACTERIZE: DISCERN *distinguished a light in the distance*: to single out : take special notice of

62. Dominates: RULE, CONTROL: to exert the supreme determining or guiding influence on: to overlook from a superior elevation or command because of superior height or position: to have or exert mastery, control, or preeminence

63. Elates: to fill with joy or pride

64. Elevates: to lift up : RAISE : to raise in rank or status : EXALT: to improve morally, intellectually, or culturally: to raise the spirits of : ELATE

65. Eliminates: to cast out or get rid of, to REMOVE, ERADICATE.

66. Embodies: to give a body to (a spirit) : to make concrete and perceptible: to cause to become a body or part of a body : INCORPORATE: to represent in human or animal form : PERSONIFY *men who greatly embodied the idealism of American life A. M. Schlesinger b1917*

67. Embraces: to clasp in the arms : HUG: CHERISH, LOVE: ENCIRCLE, ENCLOSE: to take up especially readily or gladly *embrace a cause*:WELCOME *embraced the opportunity to study further*: to take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole *charity embraces all acts that contribute to human welfare*ADOPT, INCLUDE

68. Emerges: to become manifest: to rise from: come out into view: to rise from an obscure or inferior position or condition

69. Emits: to throw or give off or out (as light) : to send out : EJECT: to issue with authority: to give utterance or voice to *emitted a groan*

70. Encounters: to meet, to engage, to come upon face to face.

71. Endorses

72. Enhances: RAISE: HEIGHTEN, INCREASE: to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness

73. Emphasizes: to place emphasis on : STRESS *emphasized the need for reform*

74. Enlightens: : ILLUMINATE: to furnish knowledge to : INSTRUCT: to give spiritual insight to

75. Enriches: : to make rich or richer especially by the addition or increase of some desirable quality or attribute *the experience will enrich your life*: to add beauty to : ADORN  b : to enhance d : to improve

76. Enumerates

77. Evokes: to call forth or up : CONJURE *evoke evil spirits*: to cite especially with approval or for support : INVOKE: to bring to mind or recollection *this place evokes memories*: to recreate imaginatively

78. Evolves: EMIT: DERIVE, EDUCE: to produce by natural evolutionary processes: DEVELOP, WORK OUT

79. Exceeds: to extend outside of *the river will exceed its banks*: to be greater than or superior to: to go beyond a limit set by *exceeded his authority*: OVERDO, SURPASS, TRANSCEND, EXCEL, OUTDO, OUTSTRIP mean to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree. EXCEED implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement *exceed the speed limit*.

80. Excludes: to prevent or restrict the entrance of  : to bar from participation, consideration, or inclusion: to expel or bar especially from a place or position previously occupied

81. Exemplifies: to show or illustrate by example : to make an attested copy or transcript of (a document) under seal: to be an instance of or serve as an example : EMBODY  b : to be typical of

82. Expresses: DELINEATE, DEPICT  b : to represent in words : STATE  c : to give or convey a true impression of : SHOW, REFLECT  d : to make known the opinions or feelings of (oneself)  e : to give expression to the artistic or creative impulses or abilities of (oneself)  f : to represent by a sign or symbol : SYMBOLIZE

83. Exaggerates

84. Experiences

85. Explains

86. Explores

87. Expounds

88. Facilitates

89. Formulates

90. Grants

91. Guides

92. Hesitates

93. Highlights: to center attention on, to ILLUMINATE, something of major importance.

94. Hints

95. Hypothesizes

96. Identifies : to cause to be or become identical: to conceive as united (as in spirit, outlook, or principle) *groups that are identified with conservation*: to establish the identity of

97. Illuminates

98. Illustrates: a : ENLIGHTEN  b : to light up : to make illustrious (1) : to make bright (2) : ADORN 3 a : to make clear : CLARIFY  b : to make clear by giving or by serving as an example or instance  c : to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate *illustrate a book*4 : to show clearly : DEMONSTRATE: to give an example

99. Imitates: to follow as a pattern, model, or example: to be or appear like : RESEMBLE: to produce a copy of : REPRODUCE: MIMIC, COUNTERFEIT *can imitate his father's booming voice*: COPY

100. Implies: to involve or indicate by inference, association, or necessary consequence rather than by direct statement *rights imply obligations*: to contain potentially: to express indirectly *his silence implied consent*: SUGGEST

101. Impresses: to produce a vivid impression of : to affect especially forcibly or deeply : INFLUENCE

102. Infers

103. Informs

104. Initiates

105. Influences: the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways : SWAY: to have an effect on the condition or development of : MODIFY: AFFECT

106. Indicates: to point out or point to: to be a sign, symptom, or index of *the high fever indicates a serious condition*: to demonstrate or suggest the necessity or advisability of *indicated the need for a new school*: to state or express briefly *indicated a desire to cooperate*

107. Insinuates

108. Insists

109. Interacts: to act upon or among, to socialize.

110. Interprets: to explain or tell the meaning of : present in understandable terms: to represent by means of art : bring to realization by performance or direction *interprets a role*

111. Intervenes: to occur, fall, or come between points of time or events: to come in or between by way of hindrance or modification *intervene to stop a fight*: to interfere usually by force or threat of force in another nation's internal affairs especially to compel or prevent an action: INTERPOSE

112. Justifies: to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable  b (1) : to show to have had a sufficient legal reason (2) : to qualify (oneself)

113. Lists

114. Maintains: to keep in an existing state (as of repair, efficiency, or validity) : preserve from failure or decline *maintain machinery*: to sustain against opposition or danger : uphold and defend *maintain a position*: to continue or persevere in : CARRY ON, KEEP UP *couldn't maintain his composure*: to support or provide for *has a family to maintain*  b : SUSTAIN *enough food to maintain life*

115. Modifies: to make minor changes in: to make basic or fundamental changes in often to give a new orientation to or to serve a new end *the wing of a bird is an arm modified for flying*: to undergo change

116. Motivates: to cause to move, to drive someone to action, to spur someone on.

117. Narrates

118. Negates

119. Obliges: to constrain by physical, moral, or legal force or by the exigencies of circumstance *obliged to find a job* : to put in one's debt by a favor or service *we are much obliged for your help*: to do a favor for *always ready to oblige a friend*

120. Observes

121. Obtains: to gain or attain usually by planned action or effort

122. Opposes: to place opposite or against something: to place over against something so as to provide resistance, counterbalance, or contrast: to offer resistance to: COMBAT, RESIST, WITHSTAND

123. Outlines

124. Parses

125. Participates: to possess some of the attributes of a person, thing, or quality: to take part *always tried to participate in class discussions*  b : to have a part or share in something: to SHARE

126. Persecutes: to harass in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict. To cause to suffer because of a belief.

127. Perceives: to attain awareness or understanding of: to regard as being such *perceived threats* *was perceived as a loser*: to become aware of through the senses: SEE, OBSERVE

128. Persists

129. Persuades

130. Pleads

131. Points Out

132. Postulates

133. Praises

134. Proposes

135. Provides

136. Perseveres: the action or condition or an instance of persevering : STEADFASTNESS. Persevere: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counter-influences, opposition, or discouragement

137. Ponders: to weigh in the mind *pondered their chances of success*: to think about : reflect on *pondered the events of the day*: to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply

138. Portrays: to make a picture of : DEPICT: to describe in words  b : to play the role of : ENACT: to show

139. Prevents: to keep from happening or existing *steps to prevent war*: to hold or keep back : HINDER, STOP 

140. Prohibits: to forbid by authority: to prevent from doing something: PRECLUDE: FORBID

141. Projects: to devise in the mind : DESIGN: to plan, figure, or estimate for the future *project expenditures for the coming year*: to throw or cast forward : THRUST: to put or set forth : present for consideration: to attribute (one's own ideas, feelings, or characteristics) to other people or to objects *a nation is an entity on which one can project many of the worst of one's instincts

142. Promotes: to advance in station, rank, or honor : RAISE: to advance (a student) from one grade to the next higher grade: to contribute to the growth or prosperity of : FURTHER *promote international understanding*: to help bring (as an enterprise) into being : LAUNCH:ADVANCE

143. Qualifies

144. Quotes

145. Ratifies

146. Reconsiders

147. Rebels: : opposing or taking arms against a government or ruler: DISOBEDIENT, REBELLIOUS

148. Reconciles: to restore to friendship or harmony *reconciled the factions* : SETTLE, RESOLVE *reconcile differences*

149. Reflects: to give back or exhibit as an image, likeness, or outline : MIRROR *the clouds were reflected in the water*: to bring or cast as a result *his attitude reflects little credit on his judgment*: to make manifest or apparent : SHOW *the pulse reflects the condition of the heart*: REALIZE, CONSIDER: to think quietly and calmly  b : to express a thought or opinion resulting from reflection

150. Refines

151. Regards

152. Rejects

153. Relinquishes

154. Reminds

155. Reinforces: to strengthen or increase by fresh additions *reinforce our troops* *were reinforcing their pitching staff*: to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support : make stronger or more pronounced *reinforce levees* *reinforce ideas* : to encourage (a response) with a reinforcer: to seek or get reinforcements

156. Repudiates

157. Renders: to transmit to another : DELIVER: GIVE UP, YIELD : to furnish for consideration, approval, or information: as (1) : to hand down (a legal judgment) (2) : to agree on and report (a verdict)(1) : GIVE BACK, RESTORE (2) : REFLECT, ECHO  c : to give in acknowledgment of dependence or obligation : PAY: to do (a service) for another:  MAKE : IMPART: DEPICT (2) : to give a performance of (3) : to produce a copy or version of *the documents are rendered in the original French* (4) : to execute the motions of *render a salute*: to direct the execution of : ADMINISTER

158. Resolves: to cause resolution of (a pathological state): to deal with successfully : clear up *resolve doubts* *resolve a dispute*: to find an answer to: to make clear or understandable: to find a mathematical solution of : to reach a firm decision about *resolve to get more sleep* *resolve disputed points in a text*: to work out the resolution of

159. Responds

160. Retorts

161. Restores: GIVE BACK, RETURN: to put or bring back into existence or use : to bring back to or put back into a former or original state : RENEW

162. Reveals: to make known through divine inspiration: to make (something secret or hidden) publicly or generally known *reveal a secret*: to open up to view : DISPLAY *the uncurtained window revealed a cluttered room*DISCLOSE, DIVULGE, TELL

163. Reviews

164. Revolutionizes: to overthrow the established government: to change fundamentally or completely

165. Seeks

166. Shares

167. Shows

168. Simplifies

169. Signifies : the quality of being important : Signify (signifies) - to be a sign of : MEAN: IMPLY: to show

170. Simulates: to give or assume the appearance or effect of often with the intent to deceive : IMITATE: to make a simulation of (as a physical system)

171. States

172. Stimulates: to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity : ANIMATE, AROUSE: PROVOKE

173. Strengthens: to make stronger

174. Stresses

175. Suggests

176. Summarizes

177. Supplements

178. Supplies

179. Supports

180. Surpasses: to become better, greater, or stronger than : EXCEED: to go beyond : OVERSTEP: to transcend the reach, capacity, or powers of EXCEED

181. Sustains: to give support or relief to : to supply with sustenance : NOURISH : KEEP UP, PROLONG: to support the weight of  : to carry or withstand (a weight or pressure): to buoy up *sustained by hope*: to bear up under: SUFFER, UNDERGO *sustained heavy losses* : to support as true, legal, or just: to allow or admit as valid *the court sustained the motion* : to support by adequate proof : CONFIRM

182. Symbolizes: to serve as a symbol of: to represent, express, or identify by a symbol

183. Transcends: : to rise above or go beyond the limits of: to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects of : OVERCOME: to be prior to, beyond, and above (the universe or material existence): to outstrip or outdo in some attribute, quality, or power: EXCEED

184. Transforms: to change in composition or structure: to change the outward form or appearance of : to change in character or condition

185. Transmits: : to send or convey from one person or place to another: to cause or allow to spread

186. Undermines: to wash away supporting material from under: to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly: WEAKEN

187. Unifies: to make into a unit or a coherent whole : UNITE

188. Utilizes: to make use of : turn to practical use or account

189. Verifies: to confirm or substantiate in law by oath: to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of: CONFIRM