250 Power Words and Action Verbs for Your Resume

Power words grab attention and give your essay, resume, or story life.

We all have access to the same 26 letters in the alphabet and all the words in the dictionary. But few people bother to find the right words. 

Your words don’t have to be original, but they must be relevant, diverse, and engaging. With a few extra minutes of effort, you can leap ahead of the crowd.

Whether you’re writing a book, blog, essay, or resume, you need the right words for a persuasive argument. Choose your words wisely.

Resume Power Words 

Help your resume stand out and highlight your value and potential.

You Lead a Team or Project

1. Chaired
2. Controlled
3. Coordinated
4. Conducted
5. Delegated
6. Directed
7. Executed
8. Fostered
9. Guided
10. Headed
11. Mentored
12. Mobilized
13. Operated
14. Orchestrated
15. Organized
16. Oversaw
17. Piloted
18. Planned
19. Produced
20. Programmed
21. Spearheaded
22. Trained

You Brought a Project or Organization to Life (Creativity)

1. Administered
2. Assembled
3. Built
4. Charted
5. Crafted
6. Created
7. Designed
8. Developed
9. Devised
10. Determined
11. Drafted
12. Founded
13. Engineered
14. Established
15. Forged
16. Formalized
17. Formed
18. Formulated
19. Implemented
20. Incorporated
21. Initiated
22. Invented
23. Instituted
24. Introduced
25. Launched
26. Pioneered
27. Produced
28. Spearheaded

You Were Efficient

1. Conserved
2. Consolidated
3. Decreased
4. Deducted
5. Diagnosed
6. Lessened
7. Preserved
8. Reconciled
9. Reduced
10. Yielded

You Increased Sales or Efficiency

1. Accelerated
2. Achieved
3. Advanced
4. Amplified
5. Boosted
6. Capitalized
7. Charged
8. Delivered
9. Elevated
10. Enhanced
11. Expanded
12. Expedited
13. Furthered
14. Gained
15. Generated
16. Hastened
17. Ignited
18. Improved
19. Lifted
20. Maximized
21. Outpaced
22. Rallied
23. Stimulated
24. Sustained

You Improved or Changed Something

1. Accelerated
2. Advanced
3. Amended
4. Amplified
5. Boosted
6. Centralized
7. Clarified
8. Completed
9. Converted
10. Customized
11. Delivered
12. Enacted
13. Enhanced
14. Expanded
15. Expedited
16. Grew
17. Influenced
18. Integrated
19. Lifted
20. Maximized
21. Merged
22. Modernized
23. Modified
24. Overhauled
25. Polished
26. Raised
27. Redesigned
28. Refined
29. Refocused
30. Rehabilitated
31. Rejuvenated
32. Remodeled
33. Renovated
34. Reorganized
35. Replaced
36. Restored
37. Restructured
38. Revamped
39. Revised
40. Revitalized
41. Saved
42. Simplified
43. Standardized
44. Stimulated
45. Streamlined
46. Strengthened
47. Transformed
48. Updated
49. Upgraded

You Managed a Project or Team

1. Aligned
2. Coached
3. Counseled
4. Cultivated
5. Directed
6. Educated
7. Enabled
8. Facilitated
9. Fostered
10. Guided
11. Hired
12. Inspired
13. Mentored
14. Mobilized
15. Motivated
16. Primed
17. Recruited
18. Regulated
19. Shaped
20. Supervised
21. Supported
22. Taught
23. Trained
24. Unified
25. United

You Brought in Funding, Resources, or Partners

1. Acquired
2. Forged
3. Gathered
4. Navigated
5. Negotiated
6. Obtained
7. Partnered
8. Secured

You Helped Clients or Customers

1. Advised
2. Advocated
3. Alleviated
4. Arbitrated
5. Coached
6. Consulted
7. Educated
8. Fielded
9. Informed
10. Resolved

You Researched

1. Analyzed
2. Assessed
3. Assembled
4. Assessed
5. Audited
6. Calculated
7. Checked
8. Discovered
9. Evaluated
10. Examined
11. Explored
12. Identified
13. Inspected
14. Interpreted
15. Investigated
16. Mapped
17. Measured
18. Probed
19. Proved
20. Qualified
21. Quantified
22. Studied
23. Surveyed
24. Tested
25. Tracked

You Communicated

1. Advised
2. Advocated
3. Authored
4. Briefed
5. Campaigned
6. Clarified
7. Co-authored
8. Composed
9. Consulted
10. Conveyed
11. Convinced
12. Corresponded
13. Counseled
14. Critiqued
15. Defined
16. Documented
17. Edited
18. Explained
19. Fielded
20. Illustrated
21. Influenced
22. Informed
23. Lobbied
24. Mediated
25. Moderated
26. Negotiated
27. Persuaded
28. Promoted
29. Publicized
30. Published
31. Reviewed

You Were Responsible

1. Authorized
2. Blocked
3. Delegated
4. Dispatched
5. Enforced
6. Ensured
7. Inspected
8. Itemized
9. Monitored
10. Prevented
11. Screened
12. Scrutinized
13. Verified

You Were Successful

1. Achieved
2. Attained
3. Awarded
4. Completed
5. Demonstrated
6. Earned
7. Exceeded
8. Finished
9. Outperformed
10. Outpaced
11. Reached
12. Showcased
13. Succeeded
14. Surpassed
15. Targeted
16. Won

Power Words for Writing An Essay, Story, Article, Blog, or Book

Look for a word you want to use, like “improve,” and search for a relevant synonym. Look for a word that better illustrates your point and gives variety to your writing. Similar words can have the same meaning but create a more vivid picture in the reader’s mind.

People searching for an answer or a story to read want something relevant and interesting. Find the right word that will seize your reader’s attention.

Over a thousand words are in these lists, but some are cliché. I included them because they give context to similar but less common words you can pull for your writing.

Instant Action

Advance Amp Animate Bang Blast Boost Breakthrough Buoy Burn Bust Crack Create Dash Dispatch Drive Electrify Elevate Encourage Energize Exhilarate Expand Expedite Fire Flap Flare-up Galvanize Hasten Heave Heighten Hike Hit the ground running Hurry Ignite Inpatient Improve Inspire  Inspirit Jump Jumpstart Kickstart Kindle Launch Lead Lift Light Move-up Peal Promote Prompt Push Quick-start Rally Raise Revamp Revivify Roar Rush Slam Smash Speed Supercharge Smuggle Step-up Stir-up Thrust Trumpet Turbo-charge Unlock Up Upgrade Wail Wake up Wax Wham Whirl.

Improve

Advance Ameliorate Amend Augment Better Boost Civilize Come around Convalesce Correct Cultivate Develop Doctor up Edit Elevate Emend Enhance Gain ground Help Increase Lift Look up Make Strides Meliorate Mend Perk up Pick up Polish Progress Promote Purify Raise Rally Recover Rectify Recuperate Refine Reform Revamp Revise Rise Set right Shape up Sharpen Skyrocket Straighten out Take off Touch up Turn the corner Update Upgrade

Best

Absolute A-1 Ace Beyond Compare Boss Capital Champion Chief Choicest Coolest Excellent Finest First-class First-choice Flawless Foremost Greatest Highest Incomparable Inimitable Leading Marvelous Matchless Maximum Nonpareil Optimum Out-of-sight Outstanding Paramount Peerless Perfect Predominant Preeminent Premium Prevailing Prime Primo Principal Sans Pareil Second to none Sovereign Super Superb Supreme Surpassing Terrific Tap Top-drawer Towering Transcendent Ultimate Unequaled Unmatched Unparalleled Unrivaled Unsurpassed Utmost

Memorable

Amazing Bizarre Captivate Catchy Critical Crucial Curious Embarrassing Enduring Epic Eventful Exceptional Extraordinary Famous Genius Great Historic Illustrious  Important Impressive Inconceivable Indelible Interesting Major-league Marvelous Meaningful Memorable Mind-blowing Momentous Monumental Notable Odd Out of the ordinary Unbelievable Phenomenal Rare Red-letter Remarkable Strange Stunning Terrible Terrific Timeless Top-drawer Undeniable Unforgettable Unheard of Unimaginable Unique Unpopular Unthinkable Unusual Unprecedented Wicked

Happiness

Alive Blissful Contentment Delightful Ebullient Enchanting Euphoric Exhilarating Funny Gleeful Joyful Happy Healthy Heartwarming Inspiring Light Optimistic Peace of mind Playful Pleasing Profound Prosperous Seventh Heaven Well-being Zen

Prestigious

Authoritative Cachete Esteemed Dignified Expensive Glamorous Luxurious Status

Beauty

Adorable Alluring, Attractive Awe-Inspiring, Beautiful Blooming, Breathtaking Charming, Classy Dazzling, Delicate Elegant, Graceful Gorgeous, Polished Refined, Stylish Stunning, swoon-worthy

Lust

Begging Crave Decadent Delirious Fantasy Forbidden Irresistible Naked Provocative Seductive Sensual Sexy Sinful Tantalizing Satisfy

Indulgence

Excessive Extravagant Gratifying Guilt Guilt-free Hedonistic Indulgent Lazy Obsessed Pampering Permissive Pleasing Ravenous Spoiling Unnecessary

Excitement

Appealing Arousing Astonishing Bold Breathtaking Dangerous Dramatic Electrifying Exciting Exhilarating Eye-popping Fascinating Flashy Heady Hectic Impelling Impressive Interesting Intoxicating Intriguing Lively Mind-blowing Moving Overpowering Overwhelming Provocative Racy Rip-roaring Riveting Rousing Sensational Showy Spine-tingling Stimulating Stirring Tempting Thrilling Titillating Transforming Wild Zestful

Novelty

Challenge Change Crazy Creative Discover Extraordinary Fresh Hack Innovative Latest Life-changing Magic Miracle Modern Mutations New Novel Odd Oddball Original Recent Remarkable Revolutionary Sensational Shocking Spoiler Startling Strange Suddenly Surprising Uncommon Unexpected Unfamiliar Unique Unusual Weird

Simplicity

Basic Cheat-Sheet Child’s play Cinch Clean Easy Effortless Elementary Facile Incomplex Ingredients Intelligible Light Lucid Manageable Mild Minimalist No problem No sweat On-Demand Painless Picnic Piece of cake Plain Rules Savvy Simple Smooth Snap Straightforward Step-by-Step Stupid-simple Transparent Tricks Tweaks Uncomplicated Unmistakeable Untroublesome

Sadness

Alarming Anguish Blahs Crushing Dead Deceptive Dejection Demoralizing Devastating Despondent Dismal Dispirited Dolor Downer Dysphoric Excruciating Exposed Funk Gloom Grief Heartache Heartbreaking Heavy Heart Hopeless Letdown Listlessness Melancholy Misery Mopes Mourning Poignant Problem Sadly Shaming Sorrow Suffer Tribulation The blues The dumps Woe

Savage

Agonizing Apocalypse Archaic Armageddon Attack Barbarian Barbaric Battle Bestial Brutal Brute Crazy Corrupt Crude  Deadly Disgusting DyingFeral Ferocious Fierce Fight Frenzy Harsh Hate Hell Horribly Horrifying Insane Insult Loath Lunatic Menacing Painful Poison Primitive Rough Rustic Rowdy Rude Rugged Sabotaging Savage Sins Struggle Traumatized Treacherous  Uncontrollable Turbulent Uncivilized Uncultured Unrestrained  Vicious Violent Weak Wild

Completeness

All Best Better Completely Copy Deep Detailed Entire Essential Exhaustive Extremely Faultless Fulfilled Full Full-dress Hook line, and sinker, Impenetrable imperforate Intact Integral Integrated Lock stock and barrel Master Meticulous Organic Outright Overcome Packed Painstaking Perfect Plenary Practical Recreate Replete Replicate Relentless Step-by-Step Super The works Thorough Thoroughgoing Truly Ultimate Unabbreviated Unabridged Unbroken Uncondensed Uncut Undiminished Undivided Unexpurgated Unimpaired Unitary Unreduced Undocked Unlocked Whole Whole enchilada Whole nine yards Whole-hog Whole-length

Large

Behemothic Bulky Colossal Cosmic Cyclopean Elephantine Enormous Extensive Force Gargantuan Giant Gigantic Grave Great Gripping Heavy Huge Humongous Immeasurable  Immense Intense Jumbo Leviathan Lusty Magnificent Mammoth Massive Mighty Mondo Monstrous Mountainous Outsized Oversized Planetary Pressure Prodigious Seriously Severe Significant Stupendous Tall Titanic Towering Tremendous Vast Walloping Weight Whopping

For Important (Convincing Argument)

Big Critical Compelling Crucial Decisive Essential Extensive Far-reaching Great Imperative Influential Large Meaningful Necessary Paramount Pregnant Relevant Representative Rich Serious Significant Urgent Valid Vital Weighty

Significant

Cogent Compelling Convincing Denoting Eloquent Expressing Expressive Facund Forceful Heavy Indicative  Important Momentous Powerful Serious Symbolic

Greed

Acquisitiveness Affordable Avarice Avidity Bargain Barrage Bonus Budget Cheap Convert Covetousness Craving Cupidity Double Drive Eagerness Edacity Envy Esurience Excess Free Gluttony Gormandizing Graspingness Hunger Immediately Increase Indulgence Insatiable Instantly Intemperance Longing Lucrative Master Money Never Now Off-limits Overnight Rapacity Ravenousness Piggishness Profit Promote Sale Selfish Steal Swinish Today The gimmies Triple Unlimited Voracity.

Humor

Amusement Badinage Banter Clowning Comic Comedic Farce Flippant Fun Funniest Gag High spirits Hilarious Jesting Joke Joyful Kidding Laugh Playful  Ridiculous Whimsy Wisecrack Witticisms Witty

Authority

Absolute Ascendancy All-Inclusive Authentic Authoritative Authority Backed Beef Bona fide Charge Clout Command Complete Comprehensive Conclusive Credit Definitive Document Domination Dominion Edge Esteem Expert Final Force Formula Genuine Goods Government Guaranteed Guts Honest Influence Iron-clad Juice Jump License Jurisdiction Legitimate Literally Masterclass Mastery Might Muscle Official Permission Permit Pizzazz Pow Powerful Powerhouse Prerogative Prestige  Proven Psychological Punch Reliable Report Research Results Right Ropes Rule Say Say-so Solution Steam Strategy Strength Studies Stuff Supremacy Surefire Sway Validate Warrant Weight Word Zap Leg up Might and main Strong arm Upper hand What it takes Whip hand

Exclusive

Absolute Admit Aloof Aristocratic Breaking Chic Choice Chosen Circumscribed Classy Cliquish Closed Complete Confess Confined Confession Discriminative  Divulge Elegant Elite Emerging Entire Exclusive Fashionable First Full Hidden Independent Insider Licensed Little-known Limited Narrow New Only Particular Peculiar Preferential Popular Posh Priceless Private Privileged Prohibitive Rare Release Restrictive Reveal Ritzy Secret Segregated Selective Single Sly Sneak-Peek Sneaky Snobbish Socially correct Sole Special Stealthy Swank Total Trend Truth Unadulterated Unconventional Uncovered Undercover Underused Unique Unseen Undivided Untapped Upper crust Whole

Pride

Absurd Achieve Awkward Blunder Clueless Cringeworthy Delight Dignity Dumb Fail Ego Egotistic Face Fail-Proof Failure Faux Pas Fool Foolish Gratification Happiness Honor  Idiot Joy Lame Last Mediocre Mistake Obvious Pitiful Pleasure Pridefulness Reject Repletion Rookie Ruin Satisfaction Self-confidence Self-love Self-regard Self-respect Self-satisfaction Self-sufficiency Self-trust  Self-worth Senseless Shameful Silly Stupid Success Sufficiency Threaten

Mind-blowing

Alarming Alluring Amazing Astonishing Astounding Awful Awesome Badass Beautiful Bomb Breathtaking Brilliant Catapulting Charming Consciousness-expanding Crazy Defying Delicious Delightful Dominant  Dreamy Electric Epic Explosive Exquisite Eye-opening Eye-popping Fascinating Fearsome Formidable Freaky Frightening Grand Great Hallucinatory Heavenly Horrifying Imposing Impressive Incredible Intimidating Jaw-dropping Kickass Legendary Magnetic Majestic Marvelous Mesmerizing Mind-altering Mind-bending Mind-blowing Mind-boggling Mind-changing Mouth-watering Overwhelming Prodigious Psychedelic Shocking Something else Spellbinding Startling Striking Stupefying Stunning Sublime Surprising Terrifying Triumphant Unbelievable Unleashed Wonderful Wondrous Zero cool

Mysterious

Abstruse Alchemistic Arcane Astrological Baffling Cabalistic Covert Cryptic Curious Dark Difficult Enigmatic Enigmatical Equivocal Esoteric Furtive Hidden Impenetrable Incomprehensible Inexplicable Inscrutable Insoluble Intriguing Magical Mystical Mystifying Necromantic Obscure Occult  Oracular Perplexing Puzzling Recondite Secretive Sphinxlike Spiritual Strange Subjective Symbolic Transcendental Uncanny Unfathomable Unknowable Unknown Unnatural Veiled Weird

Rare

Attenuated Deficient Extraordinary Few Few and far between Flimsy Inconceivable Infrequent Isolated Light Limited Occasional Out of the ordinary Rarefied Recherché Scanty Scarce Scattered Seldom Semioccasional Short Singular Sparse Sporadic Strange Subtle Tenuous Thin Unheard of Unimaginable Unique Unlikely Unthinkable Unusual Unwonted

Badass Synonyms

agitator demagogue dissident fighter frondeur rebel renegade sparkplug

Crave Synonyms

Ache for Covet Cry out for Die for Dream Eat one’s heart out Fancy Give eyeteeth for Hunger for Itch for Long for Lust after Need Pine for Require Sigh for Spoil for Surprise Thirst for Want Yearn for Yen for

Forceful Synonyms

ball of fire bullish cogent coming on strong commanding compelling constraining convincing dominant dynamic electric elemental energetic forcible gutsy mighty persuasive pithy potent powerhouse puissant punch punchy steamroller stringent strong take-charge take-over telling titanic vehement vigorous violent virile weighty

Uncivilized Synonyms

Barbarian Barbaric Barbarous Boorish Brutish Churlich Coarse Crass Crude Discourteous Disrespectful Gross Ill-bred Impertinent Impolite Loutish Mannerless Outrageous Philistine Primitive Rude Rugged Savage Unconscionable Uncontrolled Uncouth Uncultured Uneducated Ungodly Unholy Unmannered Unpolished Unrefined Unsophisticated Vulgar Wicked

Books on Writing

• On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser is a good place to start if you want to write nonfiction. In it, you will learn to simplify your writing while still making a compelling argument. I reread this book once or twice a year to polish my writing skills.

• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King describes what it takes to be a writer. Writing is what you do every day. It is what you earn. He recommends reading within your niche and learning and practicing the rules of writing until they come naturally.

• The Elements of Style by William Strunk is a simple but thorough handbook that covers the principles of composition, grammar, and writing style. Learn and practice these rules if you want to be a serious writer.

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