galvanize

GAL-vuh-nahyz, verb

To shock or spur into sudden action.

“One bad review galvanized the kitchen like nothing else had.”

Where galvanize comes from

Named for Luigi Galvani, who made dead frogs’ legs twitch with electricity.

Difficulty: intermediate. One of 440 entries written and checked by hand.

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pragmatic Dealing with things in a practical way rather than by theory or ideals.
tenacious Holding firmly to a goal or position; persistent and not easily discouraged.
ambivalent Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something.
benevolent Kind and generous, wishing to do good for others.
coherent Logical and consistent; holding together as a clear whole.
elusive Difficult to find, catch, or pin down.
frugal Careful with money or resources; avoiding waste.