During the election campaign, the press ___________ the mayor with accusations about his private life. It soon became clear he would never get reelected.

Tim's new office was so ___________ it depressed him. He decided to bring in some plants to brighten it up a bit.

When plans for a new highway were announced at the town meeting, local residents protested angrily. It was difficult to hear the chairperson because of all the ___________.

Security guards caught a young man trying to ___________ a video camera into the venue so he could illegally film the concert.

Zara demonstrated her athletic ___________ by becoming the youngest player ever to win a national tennis tournament.

A: I'd be happy to drive you to the airport tomorrow.
B: Well, if it's no ___________, I'll accept your offer. It would really help me out.

After one basketball player punched a player from the other team, players from both teams rushed onto the court and started a huge ___________ that officials had trouble stopping.

Brett was always ___________ about his appearance, so his co-workers were shocked when he showed up to work one day with messy hair and a wrinkled shirt.

A: Ms. Tanaka, do you have any suggestions for improving my vocabulary ___________?
B: I recommend you use flashcards. They can really help you remember new words.

Glenda was disappointed when she found out the painting she had bought at an antique market was ___________. If it had been genuine, it would have been worth thousands of dollars.

Although the sales deal seemed attractive, the CEO felt there were many points that required further ___________ before a final agreement could be reached.

Although parents must teach children the importance of honesty, schools should also do their part to ___________ students with this characteristic.