Acting Words - Actions

Script analysis breaks down individual bits of dialogue into beats with attached actions. The below list of actions will help you more quickly come up with a word for what your character is doing and thus direct stage business and inflection to better achieve the character's goals. Though actions are sometimes the same as objectives in name, often the action is not the same as the desired result.
accuse adhere to admit (something) advise advocate aggravate agitate agree aid amaze analyze anger announce annoy appeal to appease appraise apprise approve argue assail assault assess assist assuage astonish astound attack authorize avoid awaken bad-mouth badger baffle bait beat down beg belittle berate blast bolster bombard bother brag break down browbeat bruise bug bully cajole castigate chafe challenge change change the mood characterize charm chastise cheer up chide clarify classify clear up coach coax coerce comfort command commend commiserate with compare complain compliment conclude confound confuse connect with console construct contradict contrast convert convince cooperate correct counsel count court create criticize cross-examine dawdle dazzle debate deduce defend define delegate delight demand demonstrate demoralize describe determine develop (rapport) diagnose differentiate direct disclose discourage discriminate discuss disenchant dishearten disillusion dismay disparage distress disturb divert dramatize draw the line evaluate examine explain educate elaborate elicit (help, advice) eliminate elucidate embarrass embolden emphasize encourage enforce enhance enlighten enrage ensure entertain entice establish estimate evade evaluate examine exasperate excite excoriate explain explicate extract
fabricate face up to facilitate familiarize feign (interest, attention) flabbergast flatter flirt follow fool force forgive fortify freezeout frustrate generalize generate give (offer) myself gladden glorify goad guide hail harangue harass hassle haul over the coals have fun heal heckle heighten help hide true feelings hinder hint honor hurt hypnotize identify ignore illustrate impale implore imply impress improve incense incite induce inflame inform infuriate inhibit initiate injure insist inspect inspire instill institute instruct interpret interrupt invent invite irk irritate jest judge justify kid knife label lambaste laud lead into a trap lead lecture level lie list lure maintain malign manipulate marshall match measure meddle mesmerize mimic mirror misinform mislead mock mollify mortify motivate nag nail name negotiate nullify nurture oblige obscure offend order organize outline outrage paraphrase peeve perform perplex persecute persuade perturb pester pick on pigeonhole pique placate plan play along play plead please praise predict prepare prescribe present prevent prioritize probe promote propose protect prove provide provoke pry punish push put down put on ice put yourself down quash question quiet quote
rank rate reach out reason reassure rebel against rebuke recall recite recommend recruit rectify refer refuse rejuvenate relate relate to/with relieve repair repel repent report reprimand resist respond restore review revise revitalize ridicule roast role-play romance rouse satisfy save (someone) scar screen scrutinize seduce select separate shape share shepherd shift shock show simplify (something) simulate slam slander smash snatch sneer at snub solicit (help, advice) solve (a problem) soothe sort (things) specify stab stabilize steer stem stimulate stir strengthen study stun stupefy subdue submit suck up to suggest summarize supplicate supply (info, comfort) support surprise sustain sympathize with teach tease tell tempt terrorize test threaten thwart tickle torment torture train trap trouble try tutor uncover uplift upset urge validate verify vex violate volunteer warn watch whisper woo worry wound write off yell