HURL
/hɜːl/

In a fit of temper he hurled the book across the room.
Youths hurled stones at the soldiers.

EXPEND
/ɪkˈspend/

You expend so much effort for so little return.
Governments expend a lot of resources on war.

VEX
/veks/

This issue looks likely to continue to vex the government.
The question that vexes Ben the most is, "Why me?"

ASSERT
/əˈsɜːt/

He asserts that she stole money from him.

The companies have asserted that everything they did was appropriate.

DUB
/dʌb/

She was dubbed by the newspapers "the Angel of Death".
At age 21 Ella Fitzgerald was dubbed "The First Lady of Swing."

EVOKE
/ɪˈvəʊk/

That smell always evokes memories of my old school.

SIDETRACK
/ˈsaɪd.træk/

1. The students sidetracked their teacher into talking about her hobby.

2. I'm sorry I'm late - I got sidetracked.

INFLUENCE
/ˈɪn.flu.əns/

Some people believe your biorhythms can influence your moods and behaviour.
People's voting habits are influenced by political, social and economic factors.

RETAIN
/rɪˈteɪn/

She has lost her battle to retain control of the company.
She succeeded in retaining her lead in the second half of the race.
I have a good memory and am able to retain (= remember) facts easily.

CONFINE
/kənˈfaɪn/
1. Let's confine our discussion to the matter in question, please!
Please confine your use of the phone to business calls.
2. We know that the illness is not confined to any one group in society.

ABOLISH
/əˈbɒl.ɪʃ/

The government is planning to abolish subsidies to farmers.
Slavery was abolished in the USA in the 19th century.
Inheritance tax in Bulgaria was abolished in 2005.

ATONE
/əˈtəʊn/

The director of the company has expressed a wish to atone for her past sins.

HONE
/həʊn/
1. The hook should be honed to a needle-sharp point.
2. She honed her debating skills at college.
His body was honed to perfection.

FAVOUR
/ˈfeɪvə/
1. These are the holidays most favoured by its clients in previous years.
2. Critics argued that the policy favoured the private sector.
3. Natural selection has favoured bats.

FUME
(at/over/about somebody/something)
/fjuːm/

She sat in the car, silently fuming at the traffic jam.
Days after the argument, he was still fuming.

CRUMPLE
/ˈkrʌmpl/

She crumpled the letter up into a ball and threw it on the fire.
Her face crumpled up and she burst into tears.

ORCHESTRATE
/ˈɔː.kɪ.streɪt/

2. Their victory was largely a result of their brilliantly orchestrated election campaign.

FERRET
/ˈfer.ɪt/
1. I was just ferreting around in my drawer for my passport.
2. After a bit of ferreting, I managed to find his address.

CREASE
/kriːs/

1. Pack your suit carefully so that you don't crease it.
2. A frown creased her forehead.
Her face creased into a smile.

FLAUNT
/flɔːnt/

He's got a lot of money but he doesn't flaunt it.
Flavio was flaunting his tan in a pair of white trunks.

REGALE
/rɪˈɡeɪl/

Grandpa regaled us with tales of his small-town childhood.
The sailor regaled us all night with stories of his adventures.

FLINCH
/flɪntʃ/

He didn't even flinch when the nurse cleaned the wound.

REBUFF
/rɪˈbʌf/

They rebuffed her request for help.
She rebuffed all suggestions that she should resign.

CLOAK
/kləʊk/

He has always kept his love affairs cloaked in secrecy.
The river is often cloaked in mist in the early morning.

SCOUR
/skaʊər/

The police are scouring the area for the missing child.
I scoured the shops for a blue and white shirt, but I couldn't find one anywhere.

DESICCATE
/ˈdes.ɪ.keɪt/

Intensive farming has desiccated the land.

DISPEL
/dɪˈspɛl/

Such doubts should be dispelled as soon as possible.
Actually listening to the record does little to dispel these feelings of disappointment.

COIL

He coiled the rope up tightly and put it away.
Her hair was neatly coiled into a bun.
The snake coiled itself around a branch.
He coiled the rope into a loop.

EXULT
/ɪɡˈzʌlt/

They exulted over their victory.

I've had it all,’ she exulted after her first book became a bestseller.

AGGRAVATE
/ˈæɡ.rə.veɪt/

1. Road repair work has aggravated the problem of traffic congestion.
Pollution can aggravate asthma.

2. What really aggravates me is the way she won't listen.
John claimed Susan did things just to aggravate him.

FLUSTER
/ˈflʌs.tər/

The prince was rather flustered, his mind swirling as he tried to decide who would be his bride.

SUFFOCATE
/ˈsʌfəkeɪt/

Many dogs have suffocated in hot cars.

She felt suffocated by all the rules and regulations.

WAVER
/ˈweɪvə(r)/
1. His voice wavered with emotion.
Her smile wavered and she began to cry.

2. She's wavering between buying a house in the city or moving away.

REJOICE
/rɪˈdʒɔɪs/

Everyone rejoiced at the news of his safe return.
She rejoiced in her good fortune.

SQUEAL
/skwiːl/
1. Children were running around squealing with excitement.
The tires squealed as I sped away.
2. The train ground to a halt with a squeal of brakes.