Tasty Words: Verbs
by Alan Carl Nicoll
Copyright (c) 2018 by Alan Carl Nicoll
All Rights Reserved
I can’t explain what “tasty words” are or say what they’re good for, if anything. These are words that I found “tasty,” in meaning, sound, or printed appearance. Take a look, and think about how this list might be useful to you. Sometimes I find it interesting, for a while, to simply and casually read the list. So far, nothing productive has come of this except one poem, but I think it might stimulate more poems if I give it a chance.
Here’s a link to a five-column PDF version (which omits this introduction) for convenient printing and viewing.
A few of these words may be non-standard, coinages, or normally part of a phrase. There’s not much slang, alas, which reflects the dictionary I used to compile this list. I’d appreciate being informed of errors in spelling, etc. I notice that some nouns have crept in… At least one more list to follow. The PDF doesn’t include this introduction.
abhor abominate abscond addle amble ambush bamboozle beard befuddle begrudge bellyache besmirch bilk blabber blaspheme blather blither bloat blub bludgeon bluster bode boggle bonk boogie bray bristle bulldoze bumble burble burgeon cackle cadge cajole canoodle capsize catcall caterwaul cavort cheesed off (Br.) cherry-pick chivvy chortle chuck chuckle clamber clamor clangor curb-crawling dabble dawdle diddle dilly-dally dissect dither dodder dog doghouse doldrum dollop doodle dote doublespeak doublethink downshift drawl dribble drip-feed drizzle drool dumbfound eavesdrop ebb ensconce eschew eyeball faze festoon flabbergast flak flounce fluster foist foment frazzle fret frig frizz frogmarch frolic froth fumble gabble galumph gape garble gaslight gawk geek gibber glut goad grapple gobble goggle grimace grub guffaw headbutt hobble hobnob holler hoodwink hoof hunker immolate intone inveigh inveigle invoke irk jabber jangle jawbone jeer jiggle jink joggle judder juggle jump-start kickstart kneecap kowtow lampoon laze loll lollop maraud meddle miscast mishit mollycoddle morph molder mulct munch muse mutilate mutter mystify natter neigh nest nestle nettle nicker niggle nimble nudge nuzzle obfuscate ogle oink opt oust outclass overact paddle parrot pelt perch perplex pester pettifog phoebe (out) pickle pigeonhole piggybank pilfer pinball pinch ping-pong plague plaster pluck plunk pock pounce pout prance prate prattle prod projectile vomit prowl psych pucker pule pummel purge purr pussyfoot quaff quash quaver quell quench quiver rabble railroad ramble rankle ransack rant rasp rave ream reckon recoil reek relish retch riffle rile roost rubberneck ruffle rummage rut sandblast sashay saunter scamper scandalize scoff scold scorch scrabble scram scrawl screech scribble scrimp scrounge scrunch scud scupper scurry scuttle sear seep seethe seize shilly-shally shimmy shirk shriek shrivel shrug shudder shuffle sidle simmer simper singe sizzle skate skedaddle skewer skimp skirl skirmish skitter skulk skyrocket slag off (Br.) slam slash slather slaughter slaver slice slink slither slobber slog slop slosh slouch slow cook slurp smash smear smirch smooch smother smolder smudge snarl sneak sneer snicker sniffle snipe snivel snooker snoop snooze sore snort snub snuff snuffle snuggle soar sob soft-soap soothe spank spatter spawn speckle spew splatter splay splinter splosh splurge splutter sponge spoon-feed spread-eagle sprinkle sprint spritz spurn spurt sputter squander squash squawk squeak squeal squelch squint squirm squirt squish stagger stammer stave steamroll sterilize stew stifle sting stipple stomp stoop straddle strafe straggle strangle stray strew stride stroll struggle strum strut stub stultify stumble stump stun stupefy stutter stymie succumb suck sunbathe swagger swindle swipe swirl swish takeaway tamp tamper tantalize tattle taunt teeter thrash throb throttle thrum thwack thwart tinker tinkle tiptoe titillate toddle topple totter tousle traipse trample transfix trawl tremble trickle troll troop trounce trudge trundle tumble tussle tweak twiddle twine twinkle twirl twist twitter typecast usurp vacillate vamoose vaporize veer veil venerate veto vex vilify waddle waffle waft waggle wail wallop wallow wander wane wangle warble warp waver waylay wean wedge weld welter wend whack wham whap wheedle wheeze whet whimper whine whinny whipsaw whirl whirr whisk whisper whistle whittle whizz whomp whoop whoosh whop wield wiggle wilt wince wink winkle winnow wisecrack wither wobble womanize woof wound wrangle wreak wreathe wrench wrestle wriggle wring wrinkle writhe yak yammer yap yawn yawp yearn yell yelp yield yodel yowl yo-yo zap zing zip zonk zoom
