Communication verbs list

assign a name or title to - designate , denominate assign a new name to - rename , name Many streets in the former East Germany were renamed in 1990 assign a new time and place for an event - reschedule , schedule We had to reschedule the doctor's appointment assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to - name , call , know as, be known as, call , label They named their son David, The new school was named after the famous Civil Rights leader assign authority to - mandate assign in incorrect name to - misname , miscall , call These misnamed philanthropists assist (somebody acting or reciting) by suggesting the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned - prompt , cue , remind , inform assure somebody of the truth of something with the intention of giving the listener confidence - assure , persuade I assured him that traveling to Cambodia was safe assure the success of - make , assure A good review by this critic will make your play! attach or append a legal verification to (a pleading or petition) - verify , confirm attack as false or wrong - impugn , challenge attack as if with claws - claw , attack The politician clawed his rival attack forcefully - whang , attack whang away at the school reform plan attack in speech or writing - attack , round , assail , lash-out , snipe , assault , criticize The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker attack strongly - rubbish , attack attack verbally with harsh criticism - belabor, belabour , criticize She was belabored by her fellow students attempt to anticipate or predict - second-guess, outguess, predict attempt to communicate - reach out I try to reach out to my daughter but she doesn't want to have anything to do with me attempt to find out in a systematically and scientific manner - research , investigate The student researched the history of that word attract strongly, as if with a magnet - magnetize , spellbind , mesmerize , mesmerise , magnetise , bewitch , charm She magnetized the audience with her tricks authenticate as a notary - notarize, notarise, certify We had to have the signature notarized authenticate, affirm to be true, genuine, or correct, as in an official capacity - attest , attest , affirm I attest this signature authorize by certificate - certificate , authorize avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of - shun , eschew , avoid avoid dealing with - shirk , avoid She shirks her duties avoid having to deal with some unpleasant task - shy-away-from , avoid I shy away from this task avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues) - hedge , evade , circumvent , dodge , fudge , put-off , parry , elude , skirt , duck , sidestep , avoid He dodged the issue, she skirted the problem, They tend to evade their responsibilities, he evaded the questions skillfully avoid something unpleasant or laborious - bypass , short-circuit , go around, get-around , avoid You cannot bypass these rules! bar from attention or consideration - dismiss , disregard , brush-off , brush-aside , discount , push-aside , ignore She dismissed his advances bark in a high-pitched tone - yelp , yip , yap , bark the puppies yelped bark with prolonged noises, of dogs - bay , quest , bark be a regular customer or client of - patronize , patronise , patronage , support , keep-going , foster We patronize this store, Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could be a sign or indication of - denote , denote , designate Her smile denoted that she agreed be a signal for or a symptom of - indicate , point , signal , bespeak , betoken , tell These symptoms indicate a serious illness, Her behavior points to a severe neurosis, The economic indicators signal that the euro is undervalued be a tutor to someone - tutor , teach She tutored me in Spanish be against - oppose , argue We oppose the ban on abortion be amazed at - wonder , marvel We marvelled at the child's linguistic abilities be broadcast - air This show will air Saturdays at 2 P.M. be called - go-by , go under She goes by her maiden name again be dared to do something and attempt it - take a dare, pick up the gauntlet be dared to do something and not attempt it - take a dare be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information - equivocate , tergiversate , prevaricate , palter , beat around the bush, misinform be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge - insist , take a firm stand I must insist! be engaged by a written agreement - sign , contract He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18, The soprano signed to sing the new opera be in accord - agree , concur , concord , hold , agree We agreed on the terms of the settlement, I can't agree with you!, I hold with those who say life is sacred, Both philosophers concord on this point be in agreement - see-eye-to-eye , agree We never saw eye to eye on this question be in command of - command The general commanded a huge army be in or establish communication with - get-through , contact , reach , get-hold-of , communicate Our advertisements reach millions, He never contacted his children after he emigrated to Australia be in verbal contact - communicate He and his sons haven't communicated for years, Do you communicate well with your advisor? be leaked - leak , leak-out , break The news leaked out despite his secrecy