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100 Words Every Novelist Should Know

July 4, 2026

100 Words Every Novelist Should Know

No. Item Definition
1. abide to endure or accept
2. abrupt sudden and sharp
3. allure to attract strongly
4. ashen pale gray
5. barren empty and unproductive
6. beckon to signal invitingly
7. blanch to grow pale
8. bristle to react angrily
9. brood to think gloomily
10. clatter a harsh rattling sound
11. clench to close tightly
12. coax to persuade gently
13. cower to shrink in fear
14. cradle to hold gently
15. dappled marked with spots
16. dread great fear
17. drench to soak completely
18. drift to move aimlessly
19. dwell to live or linger
20. eerie strange and frightening
21. elude to escape notice
22. ember a glowing coal
23. evoke to call forth
24. falter to hesitate weakly
25. fathom to understand fully
26. flicker to waver unsteadily
27. flinch to shrink back
28. furtive secretive and sly
29. gaunt thin and haggard
30. gaze a steady look
31. glimpse a brief look
32. gloom deep darkness or sadness
33. gnarled twisted and rough
34. grit courage and resolve
35. harrow to distress deeply
36. heave to lift with effort
37. hinder to obstruct
38. hushed very quiet
39. imbue to fill deeply
40. incite to stir up
41. irk to annoy
42. jaded worn out by overuse
43. jolt a sudden shock
44. keen sharp or intense
45. kindle to ignite or inspire
46. knit to draw together
47. lament to mourn aloud
48. lilt a light rhythmic swing
49. linger to stay longer
50. luminous softly glowing
51. lurk to wait hidden
52. meager too small or scant
53. mottle to mark unevenly
54. murmur a soft, low sound
55. muse to think deeply
56. nettle to irritate
57. numb without feeling
58. opaque not transparent or clear
59. outlast to endure longer
60. pensive thoughtfully sad
61. pierce to penetrate sharply
62. plaintive sadly expressive
63. plunge to dive suddenly
64. pry to inquire nosily
65. quell to put down
66. quiver to shake lightly
67. ravage to destroy severely
68. ravenous extremely hungry
69. recoil to shrink back
70. revere to honor deeply
71. ripple a small wave
72. rue to regret
73. savor to enjoy fully
74. shudder to tremble suddenly
75. slink to move stealthily
76. smolder to burn slowly
77. stark severe and bare
78. surge a sudden rise
79. taut tight and tense
80. teeter to sway unsteadily
81. tether to tie or limit
82. thrum to vibrate steadily
83. thwart to prevent success
84. tremor a slight shaking
85. uncanny strangely unsettling
86. unmoor to set adrift
87. unravel to come apart
88. upend to overturn
89. vanish to disappear
90. veer to change direction suddenly
91. vex to annoy or puzzle
92. vivid clear and striking
93. wane to decrease gradually
94. weary very tired
95. wince to flinch slightly
96. wistful sadly longing
97. writhe to twist in pain
98. wry dryly ironic
99. yearn to long deeply
100. yield to give way
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