Stronger Verbs for Cleaner Writing
Adverbs aren't inherently bad, but they often signal a missed opportunity. "Walked slowly" could be improved by using stronger verbs such as "ambled," "strolled," or "shuffled." Replacing weak verbs + adverb pairs with stronger verbs helps to paint a more vivid picture, all while tightening your prose.
The combinations below are common in first drafts. Explore stronger alternatives listed here, or try our tool with your own.
Movement
Movement verbs are the most common offenders. Instead of modifying generic verbs like "walk" or "run," find the verb that captures both the action and its quality.
- walk slowly → amble, stroll, saunter, mosey
- run quickly → sprint, dash, bolt, race
- move quietly → creep, sneak, tiptoe, slink
- walk quickly → stride, march, hustle
- run slowly → jog, trot, lope
- go slowly → crawl, creep, inch, plod
Speech
Dialogue tags like "said quietly" or "said angrily" tell readers how something was said instead of showing it. A precise verb lets the manner speak for itself.
- say quietly → whisper, murmur, mutter
- say loudly → shout, yell, bellow, roar
- say angrily → snap, snarl, bark, growl
- laugh quietly → chuckle, giggle, snicker
- laugh loudly → guffaw, roar, cackle
- cry loudly → wail, sob, bawl, howl
Looking
How a character looks at something reveals their state of mind. "Glanced" suggests haste or disinterest; "glared" implies hostility. Choose the verb that does the emotional work.
- look quickly → glance, peek, glimpse
- look angrily → glare, scowl, glower
- look closely → examine, inspect, scrutinize
- look longingly → gaze, stare, ogle
Physical Actions
Action scenes lose impact when verbs need adverbs to convey force. "Slammed" hits harder than "closed loudly."
- hit hard → slam, smash, pound, pummel
- hold tightly → grip, clutch, grasp, clench
- throw hard → hurl, fling, launch, heave
- pull hard → yank, wrench, tug, jerk
- close loudly → slam, bang
Eating & Drinking
The way characters eat and drink reveals personality and mood. Someone who "gobbles" their food is different from someone who "savors" it.
- eat quickly → devour, gobble, wolf, scarf
- eat greedily → gorge, stuff, binge
- drink quickly → gulp, guzzle, swig, chug
- drink slowly → sip, nurse, savor
Emotion & Desire
Emotional intensity is better conveyed through verb choice than adverb stacking. "Craved" is more visceral than "wanted badly."
- want badly → crave, yearn, desire, covet
- like greatly → love, adore, cherish
- hate strongly → loathe, despise, detest, abhor
- think deeply → ponder, contemplate, reflect