RIZZO
For actors

Resources

Casting pages, background and stand-in groups, classes, and the working-actor cheat sheets I keep coming back to. Bookmark it, share it, use it.

Links 35Verbs 78Updated September 2026

Action Verbs

Play the verb, not the mood. Each entry is one playable action plus the neighbors that shade it. Type to filter.

VerbShades of it
Abusemistreat, harm, debauch, curse, revile, batter
Annoypester, irritate, plague, torment, harass, badger
Assuagemoderate, soften, relieve, qualify, satisfy
Begentreat, implore, beseech, plead, fall on one's knees
Belittleminimize, dwarf, underrate, undervalue, disparage, deprecate, degrade, debase, run down
Bendinfluence, direct, deviate, subdue, conquer
Blamecensure, accuse, curse
Bridleharness, restrain, hamper
Broadenincrease, enlarge, expand, widen
Castigatecriticize, punish, nail, reprimand
Chastisecorrect, penalize, punish
Clinchembrace, secure, cinch
Coachadvise, teach, drill, guide
Coercecompel, force, drive, impel
Commanddominate, govern, discipline, order, dictate, direct, instruct, rule, ordain, possess, hold, boss, monopolize, hog
Compelprompt, force
Conquervanquish, subdue, crush, subjugate, best, overcome, overpower, reduce, humble
Courtinvite, woo, flatter, fool
Cradlesupport, sustain, nurture, foster, suckle
Dazzleblind, confuse, astonish
Demoralizesully, defile, soil, drive to the dogs
Denyrefute, disclaim, reject, refuse, prohibit
Doctoradulterate, falsify, treat, repair
Dogpester, irritate, plague, torment, harass, badger
Dragooncoerce, intimidate
Drivecompel, move, animate, pry, thrust, push, shove, ram, force, prod, goad, coerce
Dupedeceive, victimize, beguile, trick, hoax, bamboozle, double-cross, bluff, hoodwink, cheat, swindle, defraud
Emboldenencourage, arouse, hearten, assure, inspire, serve, motivate, incite
Enslavesubjugate, enthrall, master, crush, quell
Evokeelicit, provoke, induce, prompt, summon, conjure
Gagsilence, restrain, muzzle
Guiltcatch at, penetrate, blame, censure, accuse, condemn
Harmhurt, impair, damage, worsen, break
Healdoctor, cure
Honorpraise, celebrate, distinguish, worship, respect
Hoodwinkdeceive, victimize, beguile, trick, hoax, gull
Induceelicit, persuade, coax
Infuseinspire, uplift, infect
Inspiregive hope, cheer, assure
Maulabuse, bruise, persecute
Mollifycalm, tranquilize, soften, pacify, relieve, soothe, lull, subdue
Mystifyperplex, baffle, confound
Nourishencourage, invite, abet, bolster
Nursesuckle, nurture, attend
Nurturefeed, train, encourage, cherish, treasure
Overpowerupset, surmount, trip up, overwhelm
Pay backretaliate, get even, strike back, avenge
Persecuteoppress, torment
Provokerile, induce, anger, excite, annoy
Punishchastise, chasten, penalize, discipline, nail, castigate, correct
Purifyrefine, cleanse, sanctify
Purloinsteal, swipe, pilfer, filch, swindle
Rallyencourage, hearten, inspire, arouse, motivate, stimulate
Reformconvert, remodel, regenerate, renew, turn over a new leaf
Rescuesave, free, deliver, release
Restrainhinder, confine, restrict, cloister
Reviverestore, recover, refresh
Robsteal, thieve, purloin, burglarize
Savereserve, rescue, prevent, preserve
Settleorganize, fix, establish, assure, resolve, defeat, arrange, punish
Shakerattle, unsettle, jolt, unnerve
Silencequiet, hush, gag, muzzle, still
Smitestrike, afflict, punish, chastise
Softenmoderate, muffle, persuade, besiege, encircle, beleaguer
Solicitimplore
Soothecalm, relieve
Sucklenurse, nurture, minister
Tamebreak, domesticate, subdue
Tantalizetempt, tease, attract, invite, titillate, pique
Tarnishdim, stain, taint, vilify, stigmatize
Teachtutor, coach, instruct, direct, enlighten
Tempermoderate, restrain, tone down, mitigate
Temptenamor, endear, charm, fascinate, attract, captivate, bewitch
Threatenmenace, bludgeon, denounce, warn, intimidate
Titillatetickle, interest, tempt, thrill, delight, amuse
Transformchange, convert, revamp
Vaporizesublimate, evaporate
Woundharm, injure, irritate, offend
Verbs and synonyms adapted from Actions: The Actors' Thesaurus by Marina Caldarone and Maggie Lloyd-Williams. Buy the book; this is the short list.

Never announce your moves before you make them. Move in silence and shock them with your success.