Mr. M.'s Website

Action Verbs

If you’re unable to find your handout with a list of action verbs, click here or peruse this website and look for a strong verb for your character. ​Remember: On stage, you cannot play a feeling or “be” or an emotion—you must commit to an action.
A
absolve
accept
accost
accuse
activate
address
admit
admonish
advertise
advise
affirm
alarm
allure
alter
amuse
animate
annihilate
announce
annoy
antagonize
anticipate
apologize
appeal
approve
argue
arouse
assault
atone
avow
awaken
B
badger
bait
balance
bang
barter
bash
bathe
bawl out
beat
beckon
bedazzle
befriend
befuddle
beg
beguile
belittle
bemoan
bend
berate
betray
bewitch
bicker
bind
bite
blab
blackmail
blame
blast
bless
block
blow
blurt
boast
bombard
boost
bop
bounce
brag
break
bribe
brood
bruise
bump
bury
butter
buy​
C
cajole
calm
captivate
capture
caress
carry
carve
castrate
catch
celebrate
chain
challenge
change
charm
chase
chastise
cheer
chew
chide
chill
chip
choke
chop
circle
circumvent
clarify
cling
clip
coax
codify
coerce
coil
comfort
command
commandeer
compare
compliment
compress
concede
conclude
concoct
condemn
condescend
confess
confide
confirm
confiscate
confront
conjure
connect
conquer
consider
console
conspire
contest
contradict
consume
control
convert
convince
cool
corrupt
cover
covet
crack
cradle
cram
crank
crave
criticize
crucify
crumple
crush
cuddle
curse
cut
D
dab
​
damn
dare
dazzle
debase
deceive
declare
decline
decorate
dedicate
defend
deflate
defy
degrade
demand
demean
demonstrate
demote
denounce
deny
depress
destabilize
destroy
detain
devalue
devastate
devour
dicker
dig
disapprove
disarm
disclaim
disclose
discover
dismiss
disown
dispute
disrobe
dissect
distract
dodge
dominate
drag
draw blood
draw out
drive
E
ease
edify
elate
eliminate
elude
embarrass
embrace
emphasize
employ
empower
emulsify
enchant
encourage
energize
enfeeble
enfold
engage
engulf
enlighten
enlist
enslave
ensnare
entangle
entertain
enthrall
enthuse
entice
eradicate
evade
eviscerate
exalt
examine
exasperate
excite
exclaim
exclude
explode
explore
expose
F
fan
fantasize
fascinate
feed
flatten
flatter
flick
flirt
fondle
forbid
force
forgive
fortify
foster
freak out
freeze
fret
frighten
frolic
G
gag
galvanize
​gaslight
gauge
gloat
gloss
gnaw
goad
gossip
gouge
grab
grasp
gratify
grieve
grill
grind
grip
grope
guide
guilt
H
h​ack
haggle
hammer
hang
harass
hassle
heal
hint
hit
hold
hope
hug
humiliate
humor
hypnotize
I
i​gnite
ignore
illuminate
immerse
impel
implode
implore
impress
incite
indulge
inflame
inflate
infuse
inquire
insist
inspect
inspire
instill
instruct
insult
interlock
interrogate
intimidate
intoxicate
intrigue
invigorate
invite
invoke
involve
iron
irritate
J
j​ab
jeer
jerk
joke
jolt
josh
judge
juice
justify
K
keep
kick
kill
kindle
kiss
knot
L
l​ampoon
lash
lather
lead
lecture
let
level
lick
lift
lighten
list
loosen-up
lull
lure
M
manipulate
marshal
mash
mask
massage
masticate
melt
menace
mess with
mimic
mislead
mock
mold
mope
mother
motivate
mount
mourn
move
mystify
N
n​ag
nail
nauseate
needle
negotiate
nibble
nip
nourish
nudge
nurse
nurture
O
o​bliterate
obscure
offer
oil
open
oppress
order
ostracize
overrun
overthrow
overwhelm
P
p​acify
paddle
parry
pat
patronize
paw
peck
penetrate
perforate
perk up
permit
persuade
pet
petrify
pick
pierce
pinch
pine
placate
plan
play
plead
please
pluck
poison
poke
polish
ponder
pop
possess
pounce
pound
praise
pray
prepare
prescribe
press
prey
prick
prime
probe
proclaim
prod
prohibit
promise
prompt
propose
protect
protest
provoke
psyche-up
pull
pup
punch
punish
purge
pursue
push
Q
q​ualify
quell
question
R
rank
r​ape
rationalize
realize
ream
reason
reassure
recall
recover
refuse
refute
regret
rehash
reiterate
reject
relax
relent
relieve
remember
remind
renounce
repent
repress
reprimand
reprove
retreat
reveal
revel
rib
ride
ridicule
rip
rob
rock
roll
rouse
rub
S
s​ap
savor
scar
scare
scatter
scheme
scold
scratch
screw
scrutinize
search
seduce
seize
sell
serenade
serve
shackle
shake
shame
shed
shine
shock
shove
shut
slap
slash
slaughter
slice
slug
smarten
smash
smear
smile
smooth
smother
smush
sub
soak
soften
soil
soothe
split
spoil
squash
squeeze
stab
stall
stamp
state
steer
stick
stimulate
stir
stomp
stoop
stop
storm
strangle
strengthen
strike
strip
stroke
subdue
submit
subvert
succor
succumb
suffocate
summon
support
suppress
surmount
surrender
suspect
swallow
swing
T
t​angle
tantalize
tap
taste
tattle
taunt
teach
tear
tease
tempt
terrify
test
thank
threaten
throw
tickle
tiptoe
titillate
tolerate
torment
toss
touch
toy
trade
train
trample
transcend
trap
trick
trip
turn
twirl
twist
U
u​nbend
unburden
uncover
undress
unite
uplift
urge
V
vamp
validate
vent
veto
violate
vow
W
wail
wait
wake
warn
warp
wash
weigh
wheedle
whip
whisper
wiggle
win
wind-up
withhold
woo
worship
wrestle
wring
X
x-ray (?)
(Because to ‘xylophone’ isn’t a word!)
Y
yank
yearn
yield
Z
zap
zing
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