ACTIONS/ TACTICS

An Actor’s Tools of the Trade

TYPE 1: Transitive Verbs; i.e. Things one might DO (figuratively and/or maybe
literally) to another to get what he/she wants.
(Should fit in this example: “I will __________ you.”

Badger Propose Torture

Attack Curse Frighten
Unburden Hurt Disgrace
Berate Lead Challenge
Trouble Humiliate Devastate
Annoy Seduce Charm
Notify Cheat Delight
Coerce Humble Entertain
Inform Blame Sanctify
Summon Nag Lecture
Bribe Help Coax
Tease Befuddle Warn
Confound Slander Dominate
Incarcerate Goad Declaim
Belittle Discourage Torment
Distress Reiterate Denigrate
Vilify Dissuade Define
Defame Suppress Tantalize
Evade Deny Fillet
Notify Release Urge
Defile Surprise Hypnotize
Invite Titillate Inspire
Verify Obliterate Soothe
Defend Humor Scold
Entice Rally Enflame
Dare Censure Oppose
Entreat Anger Engross
Abuse Reject Alarm
Prompt Terrify Ensnare
Teach Bewitch Please
Arouse Nauseate Engulf
Stir Repel Patronize
Confuse Induce Propagandize
Mislead Endear Cajole
Command Pursue Interview
Deceive Conceal Facilitate
Antagonize Entreat Adjudicate
Trick Pamper Affront
Beseech Entrap Offend
Promise Con Snare
Hassle Manipulate Orient

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 ACTIONS/ TACTICS
An Actor’s Tools of the Trade
Frustrate Masticate Sting
Tolerate Prevent Shatter
Judge Pacify Stalk
Eradicate Placate Tempt
Lampoon Pump-up Trounce
Lambaste Pardon Waive
Imitate Rob Zap
Sedate Rivet Execrate
Mystify Recruit Pounce (on)
Ratify Spy (on) Command
Beg Suck Oblige
Delude Startle Venerate
Promote Scald Besmirch
Allure Crush Besiege
Suggest Digest Identify
Vindicate Derail Idolize
Abolish Debauch Christen
Administrate Exhume Vibrate
Appetize Erase Battle
Afflict Glamorize Saturate
Admonish Harass Cultivate
Aggravate Hamper Cuddle
Alienate Maim Alchemize
Bemoan Melt Baffle
Clutch Prod Rouse
Chastise Pummel Authenticate
Conduct Puzzle Unsaddle
Contain Rattle Defame
Cleanse Renovate Milk
Drain Suffocate Equate
Discipline Spoon Feed Awaken
Edit Stifle Ventilate
Enamor Stimulate Traduce
Entrance Crucify Horrify
Electrify Condescend (to) Skewer
Exile Castrate Buoy
Eye Disclaim Blitz
Fry Drill Thaw
Flush Dumbfound Transpose
Gorge Harangue Treasure
Jilt Knead Bombard
Lull Mollify Bluster
Mock Molest Thrill
Mummify Paralyze Temper
Mortify Profess Elevate
Mediate Pester Emancipate

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 ACTIONS/ TACTICS
An Actor’s Tools of the Trade
Elude Cure Despise
Boggle Simulate Deter
Misguide Wrangle Obligate
Lavish Beatify Harvest
Idealize Beautify Hatch
Ice Galumph Relinquish
Cushion Detain Vex
Bamboozle Lather Stroke
Canonize Mire Resist
Cheapen Nauseate Shock
Defy Negate Devour
Guarantee Nestle Pierce
Impale Scour Drown
Kick Tilt Wreck
Mimic Topple Impede
Mold Vacate Disembowel
Overbear Excrete Evaporate
Poison Penetrate Squelch
Proselytize Baste Raze
Pulverize Coddle Shave
Punch Intoxicate Annihilate
Rape Fist Zonk
Sanctify Belittle Yoke
Slap Solder Yank
Stomp Chisel Wring
Thrash Finger Grip
Violate Lick Sanitize
Vivisect Engulf Omit
Stretch Finger-bang Freak
Loosen Compel Swindle
Corral Sweat Scramble
Gulp Pigeon-hole Salute
Fondle Dub Oil/Lubricate
Nibble Sensitize Season
Knead Parody Transmogrify
Distill Devour Truncate
Buckle Nail to the Wall Gore
Bulldoze Dissect Reduce
Bury Open eyes Corner
Circumcise Crucify Juice
Daze Rip Apart Ground
Dazzle Eviscerate Grind
Deactivate Emasculate Trounce
Debug Blow Mind Smother
Backhand Best Mince
Desiccate Envelop Flick

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 ACTIONS/ TACTICS
An Actor’s Tools of the Trade
Drain Felicitate Shrink
Pet Manhandle Inseminate
Liquefy Terrify Demobilize
Swarm Pickle Cull
Violate Read Slash
Jar Saddle Savor
Rock Skim Paralyze
Divorce Smelt Mesh
Renounce Cloud Enmesh
Shelve Fatten Illuminate
Behead Preen Layer
Puncture Refract Laud
Amend Engird Jump start
Bash Adorn Dizzy
Capture Bobble(trans/intrans.)
Fortify Callous
Counterplot Choke
Macerate Meliorate
Vituperate

TYPE 2: Intransitive verbs; i.e. Verbs that require the help of a preposition in order
for one to DO something to another.

Scheme (with, etc.) Carouse (with)

Negotiate (with) Attest (to/for)
Pontificate (to) Embark (on)
Confide (in) Pledge (to/for)
Simplify (to) Vault (over/ to)
Clarify (for) Hawk (with)
Inquire (to/of) Veer (into)
Rectify (for) Remit (to)
Renege (on) Fixate (on)
Deduce (about) Toy (with)
Pray (for/to) Orbit (around)
Rejoin (to) Clamber (up)
Elaborate (for) Veer (from)
Concede (to) Bestow (upon)
Fish (for) Riposte (to/ against)
Fraternize (with) Wrest (from)
Vomit (on) Worm Our (of)
Yammer (to) Grovel (to)
Ooze (onto) Frolic (with)
Burrow (inside, etc) Separate (from)
Succumb (to) Peculate (from)

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 ACTIONS/ TACTICS
An Actor’s Tools of the Trade
TYPE 3: Personal Verbs; i.e. Verbs that cannot logically be applied to/against
another.
These are better for monologues, soliloquies, or to describe business/behavior.

Detest
Rave
Elicit
Rectify
Corroborate
Externalize
Earn
Redeem
Reciprocate
Blaspheme
Speculate
Prophesize
Illustrate
Extemporize
Twinkle
Rollick
Elucidate
Retort
Retract
Vamp
Revere
Philander
Toddle
Benefit
Creep
Grow
Feign
Postulate