Strong Verbs – A Guide To Using Powerful Verbs

Strong verbs are important for showing and not telling in order to hook the reader to better convey the message and to create a stronger visual or mood for the plot. Strong verbs add precise language to the text.

A verb is a word that describes an action or state of being. Many verbs can describe a particular type of action some are generic and others specific. Words that describe similar actions can be split into two groups: weak verbs and strong verbs.

Definition of a strong verb
A strong verb is a specific, descriptive verb used to make writing better and to the point.

For example, Run, Sprint, Jog, Bolt are all verbs that describe similar actions but the word Run is classed as a weak verb of the action verbs set while Sprint, Jog, and Bolt are classed as the strong verbs in this set of verbs.

The strong verbs provide a much better description, are specific, and create a stronger visual than the weak verb of the same family of verbs.

What is a weak verb?

Weak verbs are the basic forms of the verbs and do not provide specific information about the action. A weak verb is abstract and generic. A weak verb fails to stimulate the senses to create visual imagery in the reader’s mind. They usually tend to tell what that action has been taken.

For example, walking or running are weak verbs. Both are a broader form of the action performed and do not provide details of how the subject was performing the action verbs i.e. walking or running.

The verb bolted on the other hand is a specific form of the running action. The advice is to use strong verbs most of the time.

Weak verbs tell you the what not the how. Like what the subject did, in this case, running but not how the subject did it, in this case, bolted. Both are verbs but one gives you generic information while the other verb gives you specific information. In other words, weak verbs are not specific.

What is a strong verb?

A strong verb is a descriptive verb that provides a better description of the action being performed. Strong verbs are specific so they create vivid imagery in the readers’ minds and thus helps to hook the reader. Using strong verbs creates a better impact on the reader than using a weak verb. A strong verb is more specific to the type of action being performed. Strong verbs engage your senses, help the reader picture the scene, and visualise actions.

Examples of weak verbs and the relevant strong verbs,

1. Weak verbs: Run
   Strong verbs: Bolt, sprint, jog
   
2. Weak verbs: Walk
   Strong verbs: Slink, trot, mope
   
3. Weak verbs: Make
   Strong verbs: Create, forge, foster, brew
   
4. Weak verbs: Say
   Strong verbs: Speak, voice, purr, mutter

What type of verbs to avoid or replace?

In order to lift your writing, spot the flabby verbs and replace them with vibrant ones to make your writing much more effective. Powerful verbs make your writing vivid and visual.

1. Replace to-be verbs or state-of-being verbs with strong verbs

The to-be verbs are the verbs that describe a state of being and these include: is, am, are, was were, be, being, been.

For example, She was walking through the forest. In this sentence, was is a verb that describes the state of walking.

To-be verbs are considered weak verbs and make the writing clunky. These verbs should be avoided to push up the writing quality and instead, you should use strong verbs.

“She was walking through the forest.” can be re-written as “She walked through the forest.“

But the word walked is also a weak form of the verb and can be replaced with a better strong verb (i.e. powerful verb).

Like, “She strolled through the forest.“

More examples of how to replace a weak verb with a strong verb,

1. Conrad is afraid of the dark.
   Conrad fears the dark.
   Conrad cowers from the darkness.
   
2. I was being chased by someone I didn’t know.
   I was chased by someone I didn’t know.
   Someone I didn’t know chased after me.
   
3. I was wanting to visit this forest for as long as I can remember.
   I wanted to visit this forest for as long as I can remember.
   I longed to visit this forest for as long as I can remember.

2. Replace the verbs that use adverbs with strong verbs

Verbs should descriptive enough to have a stronger impact on the readers without requiring any additional support from adverbs. Replace verbs that use adverbs with strong or powerful verbs.

Examples of sentences with weak verbs with adverbs

I walked leisurely into the garden.
I sauntered into the garden.

The young boy drank the apple juice noisily.
The young boy slurped the apple juice.

He was so hungry that he ate the pie hungrily.
He was so hungry that he devoured the pie.

3. Replace verbs that end with -ing with strong verbs

Usually, the verbs that end with -ing accompany to-be verbs or weak verbs. In either case, they should be replaced with a more descriptive and precise form of the verb.

Example sentence with verbs ending in -ing suffix

Weak: He was walking…
Strong: He walked…

Weak: She was loving the idea of…
Strong: She loved the idea of…

Weak: The family was starting to gather…
Strong: The family started to gather…

How strong verbs improve your writing?

1. Stronger Visuals

One of the primary objectives of a writer is to invoke a mind-movie for the readers with precise visuals. A reader who gets an immersive experience is going to get hooked to the writing.

Strong verbs provide precise imagery to the readers and facilitate the imagination.

Take these strong verbs descriptions for example:

• Jennifer closed the door as it was getting late.
• Jennifer latched the door as it was getting late.

Each of these sentences is extremely similar in what they tell you and that is Jennifer shut the door.

But changing the verb from “closed” (a weak verb) to “latched” (a strong verb) alters the way in which she shut the door.

It tells you the how.

2. Impactful emotions

Great writing can evoke emotions and make the readers feel something. A writer’s objective is to stir the emotions in the reader’s mind with the intention to hook the reader. User strong verbs to create a stronger reaction.

Here’s an example of creating more anxiety or anticipation in your readers:

• My hand was paining so badly that it had an effect on my brain.
• The gnawing pain in my hand engendered a dizzying sensation in my brain.

The second sentence gives a clearer picture of the anxiety that must be felt.

3. Show not tell

Strong verbs help to create visuals and as a result, the reader feels a stronger connection with the story. Strong verbs help you show instead of telling the readers what happened.

Tell: “I could see the smoke coming from the factory.”

Show: “Rings of acrid fumes wafted in from the factory and hovered over our heads menacingly.”

Strong vs Weak Verbs Examples

Don’t say: Looking forward
Say: anticipated

Don’t say: drove around
Say: chauffered

Don’t say: took control
Say: conducted

Don’t say: sent away
Say: ejected

Don’t say: fooled
Say: outwitted

Don’t say: walked
Say: pitter-pattered

Don’t say: off the hook
Say: vindicated

Don’t say: shot
Say: blasted

Don’t say: giggled
Say: chuckled

Don’t say: ate
Say: devoured

Don’t say: confused
Say: mystified

Don’t say: went away
Say: evaporated

List of powerful verbs

External References

Comprehensive list of adjectives for kids
351 Strong Verbs to Make Your Content Pop, Fizz and Sparkle