| beamed |
| blew out a breath |
| blinked |
| blushed |
| brushed (as in hands through hair) |
| chuckled |
| clenched (jaw/fists) |
| cocked (head) |
| complained |
| crossed (arms) |
| doubled back |
| exhaled |
| eyebrow tilt |
| eye-rolled |
| eyes widened |
| faltered |
| fidgeted |
| flushed |
| focused |
| folded (arms) |
| froze |
| gasped |
| gazed |
| giggled |
| glanced |
| glared |
| glowered |
| grinned |
| gritted (teeth) |
| groaned |
| grumbled |
| guffawed |
| head tilt |
| heaved a sigh |
| hesitated |
| huffed |
| inhaled |
| jaw dropped |
| laughed |
| leered |
| lip biting |
| locks (eyes on) |
| looked |
| managed |
| moaned |
| mocked |
| mumbled |
| muttered |
| narrowed |
| nodded |
| paled |
| pursed (lips) |
| ran (hand through hair) |
| retorted |
| scoffed |
| scowled |
| scrunched (nose) |
| shifts (gaze, weight) |
| shivered |
| shook (head) |
| shrugged |
| shuddered |
| sighed |
| skates |
| smiled |
| smirked |
| sneered |
| snicker |
| snorted |
| squawked |
| squeaked |
| squealed |
| squinted |
| stared |
| started |
| stepped (back/forward/sideways/closer) |
| stomped |
| swallowed |
| tapped (fingers on table, etc) |
| tapped (foot/toe) |
| took in |
| trembled |
| turned |
| ventured |
| whined |
| whirled |
| whispered |
| wrinkled (forehead/nose) |
***originally published at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there.***
There's a writing book "Building Believable Characters" that is filled with dozens more examples, and most of them are strong verbs.
ReplyDeleteThen it has chapters for personality types and facial expressions, occupations, last names...
I paid $7 for my copy and it's paid for itself a dozen times over.
That sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Delete