List of Strong Verbs: 300 Powerhouse Words for Nonfiction Writers

You know the feeling–you’re working on a piece and the words just seem flat. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Have you ever wondered how to inject some excitement into your prose without going overboard?

One of the secrets to making your writing more engaging is using strong verbs. They add vigor and clarity, transforming your work into a captivating read.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve compiled a list of 300 strong verbs divided into six groups to punch up your work. But we won’t stop there. We’ll also provide tips on how to use them effectively so you can make the most of their power.

Our goal is to help you create more engaging, dynamic, and vivid pieces that will leave your nonfiction readers feeling both informed and entertained.

So, buckle up and get ready to dive into the world of strong verbs. By the time you’re done with this post, you’ll have a treasure trove of linguistic gems to enhance your nonfiction writing.

Let’s go!

300 Strong Verbs to Elevate Your Nonfiction Writing

As a nonfiction writer, your choice of verbs can make all the difference in the world. Strong verbs not only help you convey your message more effectively, but they also add precision to your writing.

Below, I’ve compiled a list of 300 strong verbs, divided into six groups, that’ll take your nonfiction writing to new heights. They’ll help you add depth and dimension to your writing:

Action Verbs

Action verbs are your best friends when it comes to keeping your reader’s attention. They help you convey movement and energy–making your writing more dynamic.

By incorporating these verbs into your nonfiction work, you’ll create a stronger connection with your readers and invite them to experience the action alongside you.

Whether you’re writing about a historical event, a scientific discovery, or a personal experience, action verbs can are particularly useful when you want to add pace and urgency to your writing, making your narrative more gripping and exciting.

Here’s are some action-packed verbs that’ll take your nonfiction writing to the next level:

1. Accelerate
2. Advance
3. Amble
4. Bolt
5. Bounce
6. Bound
7. Capture
8. Charge
9. Climb
10. Dash
11. Devour
12. Dive
13. Emerge
14. Evolve
15. Extinguish
16. Flee
17. Flinch
18. Forge
19. Glide
20. Grapple
21. Hover
22. Hurdle
23. Hustle
24. Ignite
25. Inflate
26. Invigorate
27. Jolt
28. Juggle
29. Jump
30. Kindle
31. Knock
32. Leap
33. Lunge
34. March
35. Muster
36. Navigate
37. Nurture
38. Oscillate
39. Outrun
40. Plunge
41. Propel
42. Quicken
43. Quiver
44. Race
45. Revolve
46. Surge
47. Swerve
48. Thrive
49. Traverse
50. Unleash
51. Uproot
52. Vanish
53. Vault
54. Whirl
55. Wrestle
56. X-ray (as in examining)
57. Yield
58. Zigzag
59. Zip
60. Zoom

Descriptive Verbs

Descriptive verbs play a crucial role in making your nonfiction writing come alive. They help you paint a vivid picture in your reader’s mind, allowing them to fully grasp the essence of your message.

When you use descriptive verbs effectively, your readers will feel like they’re right there with you, experiencing your story firsthand.

These verbs add depth, clarity, and engagement to your writing, making it more relatable and appealing. They can turn a mundane description into a captivating one, capturing your reader’s imagination and holding their interest.

The following descriptive verbs are perfect for when you want to showcase the finer details or create an immersive atmosphere:

1. Absorb
2. Adorn
3. Billow
4. Blossom
5. Blur
6. Cascade
7. Churn
8. Crumble
9. Dapple
10. Disperse
11. Drizzle
12. Emanate
13. Engulf
14. Flare
15. Flicker
16. Flutter
17. Glint
18. Glisten
19. Gnarl
20. Hiss
21. Hover
22. Illuminate
23. Infuse
24. Intertwine
25. Jostle
26. Jumble
27. Jumble
28. Kindle
29. Knot
30. Linger
31. Loom
32. Melt
33. Murmur
34. Nourish
35. Nudge
36. Ooze
37. Oscillate
38. Permeate
39. Pulsate
40. Quake
41. Quench
42. Radiate
43. Ripple
44. Saturate
45. Shimmer
46. Swirl
47. Tangle
48. Throb
49. Undulate
50. Unfurl
51. Veer
52. Vibrate
53. Waver
54. Wither
55. Wobble
56. Wrinkle
57. Xerox (as in duplicate)
58. Yield
59. Zest
60. Zigzag

Persuasive Verbs

Persuasive verbs are the secret sauce that can elevate your nonfiction writing from good to great. They’re the key to convincing your readers, swaying their opinions, and inspiring them to take action.

By using persuasive verbs effectively, you’ll be able to make a compelling case for your ideas, while also adding credibility and authority to your work.

Whether you’re writing a persuasive essay, an op-ed piece, or a call-to-action, these verbs will help you communicate your message in a powerful and influential manner.

They can also be used subtly in your writing to emphasize specific points or to steer your readers towards a particular conclusion.

Here’s a collection of persuasive verbs that will help get there quickly:

1. Advocate
2. Affirm
3. Amplify
4. Augment
5. Bolster
6. Buttress
7. Champion
8. Coax
9. Compel
10. Convince
11. Corroborate
12. Counter
13. Debunk
14. Defend
15. Demystify
16. Emphasize
17. Endorse
18. Enlist
19. Foment
20. Fortify
21. Foster
22. Galvanize
23. Garner
24. Generate
25. Highlight
26. Hone
27. Illustrate
28. Implore
29. Inspire
30. Instigate
31. Justify
32. Kindle
33. Lend
34. Magnify
35. Mobilize
36. Motivate
37. Negotiate
38. Nudge
39. Nurture
40. Optimize
41. Overcome
42. Persuade
43. Pledge
44. Propel
45. Quash
46. Quell
47. Rally
48. Reassure
49. Refute
50. Reinforce
51. Steer
52. Stimulate
53. Sway
54. Tackle
55. Tout
56. Uncover
57. Underscore
58. Validate
59. Verify
60. Vouch

Emotional Verbs

Emotional verbs hold the power to evoke deep feelings and emotions in your readers. They can make your nonfiction writing more relatable and memorable.

When used effectively, emotional verbs help you connect with your readers on a deeper level, drawing them into your story and making them care about the outcome.

These verbs are particularly useful in personal essays, memoirs, or any nonfiction writing where you want to convey the emotional landscape of your story. They can also be used to create empathy, build tension, or provide insight into your inner thoughts and feelings:

1. Abhor
2. Adore
3. Alleviate
4. Bewilder
5. Blush
6. Cherish
7. Commiserate
8. Console
9. Crave
10. Delight
11. Despair
12. Dread
13. Enamor
14. Enthral
15. Exasperate
16. Fascinate
17. Fret
18. Fume
19. Grieve
20. Grumble
21. Hesitate
22. Hope
23. Infatuate
24. Inspire
25. Intrigue
26. Jeer
27. Jolt
28. Kindle
29. Lament
30. Loathe
31. Marvel
32. Mollify
33. Mourn
34. Nourish
35. Nurture
36. Nuzzle
37. Obsess
38. Overwhelm
39. Panic
40. Placate
41. Provoke
42. Quell
43. Quicken
44. Rejoice
45. Relish
46. Resent
47. Savor
48. Seethe
49. Soothe
50. Taunt
51. Tremble
52. Unnerve
53. Uplift
54. Venerate
55. Vex
56. Wince
57. Worship
58. Yawn
59. Yearn
60. Zeal

Verbs for Comparison and Contrast

Verbs for comparison and contrast are essential tools for nonfiction writers. These verbs allow you to highlight similarities and differences between ideas, objects, or situations–making your writing more insightful and engaging.

Comparison and contrast verbs are particularly useful in essays, articles, and other nonfiction writing where you need to analyze, evaluate, or make connections between different aspects of your topic.

They can be used to present contrasting viewpoints, emphasize key points, or simply to illustrate the complexity of an issue.

Here’s a list of verbs for comparison and contrast to help you make your nonfiction writing more analytical and thought-provoking:

1. Align
2. Approximate
3. Balance
4. Blend
5. Coincide
6. Commensurate
7. Compare
8. Conform
9. Congruent
10. Connect
11. Contest
12. Contrast
13. Converge
14. Coordinate
15. Correlate
16. Counteract
17. Deviate
18. Differentiate
19. Discriminate
20. Disparage
21. Distinct
22. Diverge
23. Divert
24. Dominate
25. Dwarf
26. Echo
27. Eclipse
28. Elapse
29. Emanate
30. Emphasize
31. Emulate
32. Enhance
33. Equal
34. Escalate
35. Exceed
36. Impinge
37. Integrate
38. Intersect
39. Merge
40. Mimic
41. Offset
42. Oppose
43. Outperform
44. Outshine
45. Overlap
46. Overshadow
47. Parallels
48. Resemble
49. Rival
50. Shadow
51. Simulate
52. Supersede
53. Surpass
54. Synchronize
55. Tally
56. Transcend
57. Trump
58. Undermine
59. Unify
60. Vie

Verbs for Analysis and Explanation

Verbs for analysis and explanation also play a crucial role in nonfiction writing. They help you present complex ideas, arguments, or data in a clear and easily understandable manner.

These verbs allow you to dig deep into your topic, offering your readers a more detailed and nuanced understanding of your subject.

Using these verbs will enable you to effectively break down concepts, interpret information, and communicate your findings to your readers. They’ll also contribute to the overall clarity and coherence of your writing–making it more enjoyable to read and easier to follow:

1. Analyze
2. Articulate
3. Ascertain
4. Assess
5. Attribute
6. Authenticate
7. Break down
8. Categorize
9. Clarify
10. Classify
11. Comprehend
12. Consolidate
13. Contemplate
14. Convey
15. Decode
16. Deduce
17. Define
18. Delve
19. Demystify
20. Describe
21. Dissect
22. Distinguish
23. Divide
24. Elaborate
25. Elicit
26. Elucidate
27. Enumerate
28. Establish
29. Evaluate
30. Examine
31. Explain
32. Expound
33. Extrapolate
34. Ferret out
35. Identify
36. Illuminate
37. Illustrate
38. Infer
39. Interpret
40. Investigate
41. Isolate
42. Itemize
43. Outline
44. Parse
45. Pinpoint
46. Plumb
47. Ponder
48. Postulate
49. Probe
50. Reflect
51. Resolve
52. Reveal
53. Review
54. Scrutinize
55. Separate
56. Specify
57. Synthesize
58. Systematize
59. Theorize
60. Unravel

7 Tips for Using Strong Verbs in Nonfiction Writing

Now that you’ve got a hefty list of strong verbs, here are some tips for using them effectively:

1. Choose the right verb for the context. Strong verbs can’t work their magic if they don’t fit the situation.
2. Balance strong verbs with other language elements. Your writing should have a nice mix of strong verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech.
3. Avoid overusing strong verbs. While they’re great, too many strong verbs can make your writing feel overwhelming.
4. Use strong verbs to create vivid imagery. By choosing verbs that evoke specific images in your readers’ minds, you can make your nonfiction writing more engaging and memorable.
5. Replace weak or generic verbs with more precise ones. If you find yourself using plain-sounding words like “do,” “make,” or “go,” consider whether a stronger, more specific verb might better convey your meaning.
6. Vary your verbs throughout your writing–using a diverse range of strong verbs helps maintain your readers’ interest and prevents your writing from becoming monotonous.
7. Consider the tone and style of your writing. While strong verbs are generally a good choice, make sure they align with the overall tone and style you’re aiming for in your nonfiction piece. Some verbs may be too informal or jarring for certain contexts.

In Conclusion

And there you have it–300 strong verbs to spice up your nonfiction writing. By now, you should have a solid understanding of the power that strong verbs hold in nonfiction writing.

With these versatile verbs at your disposal, you’ll be equipped to breathe new life into your work and create pieces that are engaging, dynamic, and vivid.

But don’t forget, using strong verbs effectively is an art in itself. Make sure to choose the right verb for the context, balance strong verbs with other language elements, and avoid overusing them.

As a nonfiction writer, your mission is to inform, educate, and inspire your readers. By incorporating strong verbs into your writing, you’ll not only make your prose more captivating but also build trust and credibility with your audience.

So, go ahead, experiment with these linguistic gems, and watch as your writing gets transformed!

Harry Wallett is the Managing Director of Cascadia Author Services. He has a decade of experience as the Founder and Managing Director of Relay Publishing, which has sold over 3 million copies of books in all genres for its authors, and looks after a team of 50+ industry professionals working across the world.

Harry is inspired by the process of book creation and is passionate about the stories and characters behind the prose. He loves working with the writers and has shepherded 1000s of titles to publication over the years. He knows first-hand what it takes to not only create an unputdownable book, but also how to get it into the hands of the right readers for success.

Books are still one of the most powerful mediums to communicate ideas and establish indisputable authority in a field, boosting your reach and stature. But publishing isn’t a quick and easy process—nor should it be, or everyone would do it!