by Damon Suede
COARSEN (/): abase, abrade, adulterate, bastardize, blunt, callous, chafe, cheapen, contaminate, corrupt, damage, deaden, debase, defile, degrade, demean, desensitize, devalue, dirty, disgrace, dishonor, dull, harden, harshen, indurate, lessen, lower, pollute, roughen, score, scuff, sully, taint, tarnish, thicken, toughen, vulgarize (≠ brush, buff, burnish, civilize, clarify, cultivate, edify, educate, elevate, enhance, enlighten, glitz, heighten, hone, humanize, improve, indulge, instruct, perfect, polish, purify, rarefy, rectify, refine, sand, scrub, sensitize, shine, smooth, socialize, soften, sophisticate, spoil, tame, thin, upgrade, weaken)
COAT (→): apply, blanket, bury, cake, carpet, circle, cloak, clothe, cover, curtain, daub, encircle, enclose, encompass, encrust, enshroud, envelop, lard, layer, mantle, overlay, paint, pave, pigment, plaster, shawl, shroud, slather, smear, spread, swathe, syrup, veil, wrap (≠ bare, betray, clean, clear, disclose, display, divulge, erase, excoriate, expose, peel, remove, reveal, skin, stipple, strip, uncover, unearth)
COAX (←): adulate, allure, barter, beckon, beg, beguile, beseech, blandish, blarney, bribe, bullshit, butter, cajole, candy-coat, charm, con, convince, cozen, decoy, draw, enlist, entice, facilitate, finagle, flannel, flatter, glad-hand, gratify, grease, hook, hustle, importune, indoctrinate, induce, influence, ingratiate, inveigle, juggle, lubricate, lure, massage, oil, overpraise, palaver, persuade, pester, press, schmooze, seduce, sell, snooker, soft-sell, soft-soap, soothe, sway, sweet-talk, tantalize, tease, tempt, urge, wangle, wheedle, woo, worm (≠ allow, blackmail, bluff, browbeat, bug, bulldoze, bully, chill, claim, coerce, command, commandeer, compel, constrain, cow, dampen, demand, -deter, dictate, discourage, disenchant, disgust, dissuade, dragoon, drive, exact, force, harass, intimidate, make, muscle, nag, oblige, order, pester, railroad, repel, repulse, require, sandbag, solicit, stall, steamroller, stem, stipulate, tease, trash-talk, warn)
COBBLE (+): assemble, build, clout, compound, concoct, craft, create, design, engineer, fabricate, fashion, forge, formulate, frame, fudge, half-ass, handcraft, improvise, jerry-build, jerry-rig, patch, sculpt, shape, weave (≠ annihilate, batter, break, damage, demolish, destroy, discard, dismantle, mangle, raze, ruin, shred, smash, wreck)
COCOON (←): bind, blanket, camouflage, circle, cloak, cloister, clothe, costume, cover, curtain, cushion, defend, disguise, drape, embed, embrace, encase, encircle, enclose, encompass, enfold, enlace, enshroud, envelop, insulate, involve, isolate, lap, mantle, mask, muffle, overprotect, pad, preserve, protect, seclude, sheathe, shroud, swaddle, swathe, truss, veil, wrap (≠ bare, compromise, denude, display, endanger, excoriate, expose, harm, imperil, injure, jeopardize, menace, open, peel, present, reunite, reveal, show, strip, target, threaten, uncover, unite, unveil)
CODDLE (←): accommodate, baby, caress, cherish, cosset, cotton, cradle, cuddle, favor, featherbed, fondle, gratify, humor, indulge, infantilize, mollycoddle, nurse, nurture, overindulge, overprotect, pamper, pet, pity, protect, smother, spoil, spoon-feed, sugarcoat, treat (≠ abuse, assault, control, crucify, discipline, disfavor, harass, harm, hurt, -ignore, injure, mangle, menace, mistreat, molest, -neglect, -overlook, persecute, restrain, straightjacket, threaten, torment, torture, victimize, violate, wound, wrong)
CODIFY (+): align, alphabetize, arrange, array, assort, catalog, categorize, class, classify, clump, cluster, compartment, compartmentalize, cull, digest, distinguish, distribute, docket, file, grade, group, hierarchize, identify, index, list, map, marshal, order, organize, peg, pigeonhole, place, prioritize, queue, range, rank, recategorize, reclassify, regiment, regroup, relegate, screen, separate, set, shelve, sieve, sift, slot, sort, stereotype, straighten, systematize, type, unscramble, winnow (≠ churn, confuse, derange, disarrange, disorganize, jumble, lump, misclassify, missort, mistype, mix, muddle, rumple, scramble, upset)
COERCE (→): badger, blackjack, blackmail, bludgeon, bluff, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, compel, constrain, cow, daunt, dominate, drag, dragoon, drive, egg, force, frighten, harass, hector, hound, impel, impress, intimidate, make, menace, muscle, nobble, obligate, oblige, press, press-gang, pressure, push, railroad, repress, restrict, sandbag, scare, shame, squeeze, steamroller, strong-arm, suppress, terrorize, threaten, urge (≠ allow, argue, bait, bribe, cajole, coax, convince, entice, hinder, -ignore, induce, influence, invite, let, lure, move, permit, persuade, satisfy, schmooze, seduce, subvert, sway, tantalize, tease, tempt, welcome)
COIL (←): arch, belt, bend, circle, corkscrew, crook, curl, curve, encircle, enlace, entwine, fake, girdle, hook, interlace, intertwine, lace, loop, orbit, rotate, snake, spiral, sweep, swerve, swirl, tie, turn, twine, twirl, twist, weave, wheel, whirl, wind, wreathe, zigzag (≠ align, flatten, neaten, order, right, straighten, tidy, tug, unbend, uncoil, uncurl, unspool)
COLLAPSE (/): abbreviate, abridge, capsule, capsulize, compact, compress, concentrate, condense, consolidate, constrict, contract, cram, crowd, curtail, decrease, diminish, downsize, jam, jam-pack, lessen, narrow, pack, shorten, shrink, simplify, squeeze, streamline, telescope, wedge (≠ augment, bulge, decompress, diffuse, dilate, disperse, dissipate, distend, expand, increase, inflate, open, outstretch, scatter, swell)
COLLAR (←): abduct, apprehend, arrest, bag, capture, catch, clasp, clutch, cop, corner, corral, detain, enmesh, ensnare, entangle, entrap, get, glom, grab, grapple, grasp, grip, halter, hold, hook, kidnap, land, lasso, nab, nail, net, rap, rend, rope, secure, seize, snaffle, snag, snatch, wrangle, wrest (≠ discharge, drop, free, liberate, loosen, miss, release, slacken, unhand)
COLLAR (←): apprehend, arrest, bind, bust, capture, catch, commit, confine, convict, detain, enchain, fetter, get, grab, handcuff, haul, hogtie, hold, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, manacle, nab, nail, nick, pinch, restrain, seize, shackle, snare, snatch, stop, straightjacket, trammel, trap (≠ coddle, discharge, emancipate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, pamper, release, spring, unbind, unchain)
COLLECT (←): accrue, accumulate, aggregate, amass, arrange, assemble, ball, band, batch, bind, brigade, bunch, cluster, collate, combine, compile, concentrate, congregate, connect, consolidate, corral, garner, gather, glean, group, heap, herd, hive, hoard, join, lasso, link, lump, merge, muster, organize, pack, pile, pool, press, raise, rally, rope, round, save, source, stack, stash, stockpile, swarm, systematize, throng, tuck, unite, wrangle (≠ banish, cant, chuck, diffuse, disband, discard, disintegrate, dismiss, dispel, disperse, dissipate, dissolve, eject, jettison, scatter, send, separate, sever, split)
COLLECT (←): acquire, beg, beseech, court, covet, crave, cultivate, demand, entreat, fetishize, gain, implore, importune, inherit, invite, lobby, obtain, petition, procure, prompt, pursue, request, seek, solicit, target, win, woo, wow (≠ afford, bankroll, bequeath, bestow, comp, contribute, deliver, donate, endow, equip, fund, furnish, gift, give, hand, offer, pay, provide, secure, spare, supply, tender, tithe, volunteer, yield)
COLLECT (+): assemble, assure, calm, compile, compose, contain, content, control, enlighten, form, gather, hush, inform, lull, mellow, mollify, order, organize, pace, pacify, placate, prepare, propitiate, quiet, rally, ready, reassure, recollect, recover, regulate, restore, restrain, satisfy, settle, silence, soothe, steady, still, tranquilize (≠ alarm, baffle, bewilder, blindside, confuse, discombobulate, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, disturb, dizzy, embarrass, faze, fluster, gaslight, nonplus, perplex, perturb, rattle, ruffle, shake, startle, surprise, throw, unnerve, unsettle, upset)
COLLECT (+): accumulate, acquire, aggregate, amass, anthologize, assemble, collate, commission, compile, download, edit, garner, gather, glean, group, recompile, redact, redraft, reedit, revamp, revise, rework (≠ censor, destroy, diffuse, disarrange, disassemble, disorder, disorganize, disperse, distribute, divide, -reject, scatter, separate, spread)
COLONIZE (+): annex, appropriate, base, begin, build, create, discover, form, found, inaugurate, inhabit, install, institute, introduce, invade, lodge, occupy, organize, people, pioneer, plant, populate, secure, settle, shelter, start, tenant (≠ -abandon, ann
ihilate, circumnavigate, clear, decimate, depopulate, evacuate, -forsake, leave, level, maroon, massacre, relinquish, relocate, remove, -renounce, ruin, slaughter, uproot, vacate)
COMB (→): ascertain, assess, audit, browse, check, descry, detect, determine, dig, discover, dredge, examine, explore, ferret, find, frisk, get, grub, hit, hunt, inspect, investigate, learn, locate, peruse, plumb, poke, probe, prowl, rake, ransack, read, reinvestigate, review, riffle, rifle, rummage, scan, scope, scour, screen, scrutinize, search, sift, sort, study, survey, sweep, track (≠ -abandon, block, bury, -bypass, conceal, ensconce, hide, -ignore, jumble, lose, miss, mistake, -neglect, -overlook, scramble, screen, shield, veil)
COMB (+): adjust, arrange, brush, clean, curry, disentangle, dress, fix, groom, gussy, manicure, neaten, order, prepare, prime, primp, sleek, slick, smarten, smooth, spiff, spruce, tidy, titivate, untangle (≠ dirty, dishevel, disorder, entangle, jumble, kink, knot, mess, muss, snarl, tangle, untidy)
COMBAT (→): agitate, argue, assault, bash, batter, battle, beat, belt, bludgeon, box, buffet, bump, clobber, confront, contest, debate, dispute, duel, engage, fight, hammer, hit, knock, paste, pound, punch, slam, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, wrestle (≠ alleviate, allow, -bypass, calm, defend, defuse, endorse, forfeit, -ignore, join, lose, miss, mitigate, mollify, pacify, permit, placate, quell, second, skirt, subdue, support)
COMBAT (/): accost, attack, baffle, -balk, bar, battle, challenge, check, checkmate, confound, confront, contest, contradict, counter, counteract, countercheck, curb, defeat, defy, face, fight, foil, -frustrate, hamper, hinder, impede, meet, minimize, monkey-wrench, muzzle, obstruct, oppose, oppugn, -prevent, protest, race, resist, stymie, -thwart, withstand (≠ abide, accord, advance, advocate, back, bear, champion, cultivate, encourage, endorse, endure, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, rubber-stamp, suffer, support, uphold)
COMBINE (+): add, amalgamate, annex, associate, attach, beat, bind, blend, bond, cement, churn, coalesce, collage, commingle, composite, compound, concrete, conflate, conjoin, connect, couple, emulsify, entwine, fasten, fold, fuse, glue, homogenize, hybridize, incorporate, integrate, intermingle, intermix, intertwine, interweave, join, knit, link, marry, match, meld, mend, merge, mingle, mix, mortar, reintegrate, splice, stir, synthesize, tie, toss, unify, unite, weave, weld, yoke (≠ atomize, bisect, break, chop, chunk, cleave, crack, detach, diffuse, disengage, disjoin, disperse, dissolve, disunite, divide, divorce, fracture, fragment, halve, kibble, part, partition, pulverize, razor, rip, rupture, scatter, separate, sever, shatter, slice, split, sunder, tear, unmix)
COMFORT (+): abate, aid, allay, alleviate, ameliorate, appease, assist, assuage, assure, bolster, boost, brace, buoy, calm, cheer, coddle, confirm, console, convince, cuddle, delight, divert, ease, elevate, embolden, encourage, enliven, free, gladden, heal, hearten, help, hush, inspire, inspirit, invigorate, lift, lubricate, lull, mellow, midwife, mitigate, mollify, nourish, nurture, pacify, placate, please, quiet, reanimate, reassure, refresh, reinvigorate, relax, relieve, remedy, restimulate, revitalize, revive, rock, salve, sedate, soften, solace, soothe, steady, stimulate, strengthen, stroke, subdue, succor, sugarcoat, support, sustain, tranquilize, treat, uplift (≠ afflict, aggravate, agonize, annoy, antagonize, arouse, avenge, badger, bait, bedevil, bother, burden, castigate, chafe, chasten, chastise, correct, crucify, daunt, demean, demonize, discipline, distress, disturb, enrage, exacerbate, exasperate, fine, grate, harry, hassle, horrify, inflame, infuriate, irk, irritate, judge, lumber, mar, menace, nag, needle, nettle, niggle, nitpick, overset, pain, peeve, penalize, persecute, perturb, pester, pillory, punish, rankle, rile, roil, sadden, sorrow, sting, tease, threaten, torment, torture, upset, vex, victimize, wound, wrong)
COMMAND (→): adjure, advise, appoint, ask, assign, authorize, beg, beseech, bid, boss, call, charge, coerce, commission, compel, conduct, constrain, control, counsel, curb, decree, demand, determine, dictate, direct, enjoin, entreat, exact, force, guide, hinder, influence, instruct, lead, manage, mandate, muscle, oblige, operate, ordain, order, oversee, petition, prescribe, push, railroad, request, require, restrain, stop, superintend, supervise, sway, task, tell, warn (≠ allow, -cancel, contradict, countermand, -deny, follow, gainsay, keep, mind, -negate, obey, observe, refute, -rescind)
COMMAND (→): administer, boss, captain, choreograph, coach, conduct, conquer, control, dictate, direct, dominate, domineer, govern, head, lead, manage, master, micromanage, officiate, oppress, orchestrate, override, oversee, pace, regulate, rule, run, skipper, spearhead, subdue, subjugate, superintend, supervise, tyrannize (≠ challenge, counteract, defy, follow, mind, misrule, obey, oppose, plead, pursue, -refuse, resist, serve, subvert)
COMMAND (←): bear, boast, carry, claim, enjoy, exhibit, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, show, showcase, sport, stock, sustain, withhold (≠ cede, discard, dump, relinquish, require, -spurn, squander, surrender, want, yield)
COMMAND (←): anticipate, ask, assess, await, bill, bring, charge, demand, discount, exact, expect, fetch, invoice, obtain, overcharge, price, secure, undercharge, value (≠ acquire, afford, beg, bestow, bid, buy, compensate, fund, furnish, meet, obtain, offer, outbid, pay, purchase, recompense, refund, reimburse, repay, reward, stiff, treat)
COMMAND (←): ask, badger, beg, claim, coerce, demand, dun, enjoin, exact, expect, foist, harass, hound, impose, plead, request, require, requisition, stipulate, take, want, warrant (≠ bequeath, bestow, comp, donate, give, hand, hint, imply, insinuate, offer, pledge, relinquish, spare, suggest, surrender, volunteer, yield)
COMMANDEER (←): annex, appropriate, arrogate, assume, attach, bogart, bootleg, claim, collar, colonize, confiscate, conscript, convert, despoil, draft, embezzle, enslave, gate-crash, grab, grasp, hijack, hotwire, impound, infringe, invade, liberate, loot, misapply, misappropriate, misuse, occupy, pillage, pirate, poach, preempt, press, reap, recoup, recover, repossess, requisition, retrieve, scavenge, seize, sequester, snag, snatch, steal, swipe, take, trespass, usurp, wrench, wrest (≠ -abandon, deliver, disengage, forfeit, give, keep, offer, pass, pledge, provide, receive, -refuse, -reject, resign, retreat, return, sacrifice, secede, spare, stop, supply, surrender, vacate, volunteer, withdraw, yield)
COMMEMORATE (+): bless, bronze, celebrate, ceremonialize, congratulate, consecrate, fête, honor, immortalize, keep, lament, laud, lionize, mark, memorialize, mourn, observe, praise, recognize, regret, remember, ritualize, salute, sanctify, solemnize (≠ break, cheat, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, dismiss, -disregard, -exclude, forget, -ignore, -neglect, -omit, -overlook, regret, repent, reproach, rue, skip, transgress, violate)
COMMEND (→): advance, advocate, approve, assign, bid, commit, confer, confide, consign, deliver, entrust, extend, give, hand, offer, present, proffer, propose, relegate, render, resign, rubber-stamp, spare, submit, suggest, tender, trust, volunteer, yield (≠ accept, begrudge, blackball, debit, -deny, deprive, detain, dismiss, hold, keep, oust, -prevent, receive, -refuse, -reject, remove, resent, reserve, retain, take, withdraw, withhold)
COMMEND (+): acclaim, accredit, advocate, applaud, approve, back, befriend, boost, build, champion, compliment, congratulate, countenance, endorse, eulogize, extol, hail, honor, idolize, laud, lionize, praise, prioritize, promote, recommend, sanction, stroke, support (≠ admonish, attack, blame, blast, boo, censure, chastise, condemn, criticize, critique, denigrate, denounce, denunciate, disparage, diss, fault, frame, fulminate, knock, lambaste, neg, pan, rebuke, reprimand, -scorn, slam, zap)
COMMISSION (+): accredit, affirm, appoint, approve, arrange, assign, authorize, bid, certify, charge, command, commit, confirm, consign, contract, countersign, crown, delegate, deputize, designate, dispatch, employ, empower, enable, enfranchise, engage, enlist, enroll, entitle, entrust, greenlight, hire, inaugurate, induct, instruct, invest, license, mandate, name, nominate, notarize, ordain, order, permit, request, sanction, select, send, task, validate, warrant (≠ ban, bar, blackball, blacklist, block, debar, -deny, di
sallow, disapprove, -exclude, expel, -forbid, -nix, -ostracize, oust, -prevent, -prohibit, protest, -reject, -repudiate, retract, -snub, -veto, wait-list, withhold)
COMMIT (→): accomplish, ace, achieve, actualize, attain, claim, compass, complete, crest, effect, effectuate, enact, end, execute, finish, fulfill, implement, make, nail, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, practice, prosecute, realize, reenact, repeat (≠ baffle, blow, defeat, -ditch, fail, -frustrate, mar, miscarry, ruin, scant, -shirk, -shun, skimp, -slight, slur, spoil)
COMMIT (→): advance, assign, bequeath, commend, confer, confide, consign, contribute, deal, delegate, deliver, deposit, dispense, disperse, distribute, divide, entrust, furnish, give, grant, hand, leave, lend, loan, pass, recommend, release, relinquish, submit, supply, surrender, transfer, transmit, trust, vest, will, yield (≠ accept, detain, hold, keep, occupy, own, possess, receive, reserve, retain, take, withhold)