Activate

by Damon Suede

  CRACK (/): atomize, break, burst, chip, chop, cleave, crash, damage, detonate, explode, fissure, fracture, fragment, hurt, impair, injure, pop, pulverize, rend, ring, rive, sever, shatter, shiver, snap, splinter, split (≠ cobble, correct, fix, heal, meld, mend, patch, plaster, realign, rectify, remedy, renew, renovate, repair, restore, seal, solder)

  CRADLE (←): assuage, baby, bear, carry, clasp, clutch, cuddle, cushion, embrace, fondle, grasp, hold, hug, lull, mollify, nestle, nourish, nurse, nurture, pacify, pillow, pity, placate, protect, rock, shelter, support, tend, watch (≠ -abandon, abuse, attack, discard, -disregard, drop, expel, harm, -ignore, injure, menace, -neglect, repel, -shun, threaten, torment, victimize, wound, wrong)

  CRAFT (+): assemble, author, brew, build, cast, coin, compose, compound, conceive, concoct, construct, contrive, cook, create, design, devise, draft, draw, erect, establish, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, formulate, frame, ghostwrite, handcraft, imagine, improvise, institute, invent, machine, make, manufacture, mint, mold, organize, originate, patch, pen, prepare, produce, raise, ready, rear, redraft, reformulate, reframe, sculpt, sculpture, shape, structure, verbalize, weave, word, write (≠ atomize, break, crush, damage, demolish, destroy, dismantle, fracture, fragment, harm, mangle, obliterate, pulverize, reshape, ruin, sabotage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shatter, shelve, smash, wreck)

  CRAM (→): charge, chock, choke, compact, compress, crowd, crush, devour, drive, fill, force, glut, gobble, gorge, guzzle, heap, jam, jam-pack, load, overcrowd, overeat, overfill, pack, press, ram, sandwich, sardine, satiate, shoehorn, shove, slop, slosh, squash, squeeze, stuff, surfeit, tamp, thrust, wedge, wolf (≠ calibrate, clean, clear, drain, draw, empty, evacuate, extract, leach, leech, loosen, measure, open, regulate, release, unpack, vacate, void, withdraw)

  CRAMP (/): arrest, bang, bash, batter, break, bridle, bump, check, circumscribe, clamp, clasp, clog, collapse, confine, constrain, damage, dash, disintegrate, encumber, fasten, fracture, fragment, -frustrate, grip, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hit, impede, inhibit, kill, knock, limit, obstruct, oppress, plunge, pound, rein, restrain, restrict, shackle, shatter, shiver, short-circuit, shunt, smash, splinter, stymie, -thwart, tie, topple (≠ aid, allow, assist, comfort, ease, encourage, free, help, loosen, open, permit, promote, release, support, unfasten, unlock)

  CRASH (/): bang, bash, batter, break, bump, collapse, crack, damage, dash, disintegrate, fracture, fragment, hit, kill, knock, plunge, pound, pulverize, shatter, shiver, shunt, smash, splinter, topple, whack (≠ -bypass, defend, drive, guard, leave, miss, operate, preserve, rescue, save, sustain)

  CRAVE (←): admire, adore, anticipate, appreciate, await, cherish, covet, demand, desire, dig, enjoy, expect, fancy, favor, grasp, hog, imagine, love, monopolize, prefer, prize, relish, require, resent, treasure, value, want, welcome, wish (≠ abhor, abominate, -avoid, -decline, -despise, -detest, discredit, disfavor, dread, execrate, fear, forget, -hate, -loathe, -refuse, -reject, skip, -spurn) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  CREATE (+): actualize, ad-lib, appoint, author, brainstorm, breed, brew, build, carve, code, coin, compose, conceive, concoct, conjure, construct, contrive, cook, craft, design, develop, devise, draft, effect, engender, erect, establish, evolve, expedite, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, formulate, foster, found, frame, generate, guarantee, hasten, hatch, improvise, inaugurate, initiate, install, instigate, institute, introduce, invent, invest, launch, make, manufacture, mint, model, mold, occasion, ordain, organize, originate, paint, parent, perform, plan, produce, program, prompt, propagate, propel, provide, rear, script, sculpt, shape, sire, spawn, spearhead, spur, start, sustain, trigger, warrant, weave, whelp, write (≠ adopt, arrest, -avoid, borrow, break, can, -cancel, check, conclude, copy, crush, curb, deep-six, demolish, -deny, destroy, dismantle, doom, duplicate, emulate, end, eradicate, finish, ghostwrite, -halt, -ignore, impede, inhibit, lose, mimic, mutate, obliterate, obstruct, poach, -prevent, quash, quell, raze, repress, restrain, restrict, ruin, smother, snuff, squelch, steal, stifle, stop, subdue, suppress, -thwart, wreck)

  CREDIT (+): accept, assign, attribute, believe, blame, buy, charge, connect, entrust, honor, link, swallow, thank, trust (≠ adjudge, criticize, critique, disbelieve, discredit, fault, -ignore, judge, nag, -overlook, scold, shame)

  CRIPPLE (/): bash, batter, beat, belt, bench, bludgeon, boobytrap, break, bruise, buffet, castrate, club, crack, crucify, damage, debilitate, defeat, demoralize, deprive, destroy, disable, disfigure, dismember, disqualify, drub, enervate, enfeeble, flog, fracture, fragment, freeze, -frustrate, gore, hammer, hamper, hamstring, handicap, harm, hobble, hurt, immobilize, impair, impede, incapacitate, injure, kill, kneecap, lacerate, lambaste, lame, lash, maim, mangle, maul, murder, mutilate, palsy, paralyze, paste, pelt, pound, prostrate, pummel, ruin, sabotage, scar, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shatter, short-circuit, shrivel, sideline, smash, spoil, stifle, thrash, thump, torment, torture, undercut, undermine, wallop, weaken, whip, wing, wither, wizen, wound (≠ aid, assist, bandage, bolster, boost, brace, brave, cure, defend, doctor, dress, enable, face, fix, guard, heal, help, hospitalize, improve, medicate, mend, midwife, militarize, nurse, oblige, outlast, overcome, patch, prioritize, promote, quicken, rehabilitate, reintegrate, rejuvenate, relieve, remedy, renew, repair, restore, rush, speed, splint, steady, strengthen, support, suture, tolerate, train, treat, unify, unite, weaponize, weather, weld, withstand)

  CRIPPLE (/): abrogate, abuse, anesthetize, anguish, annihilate, arrest, baffle, -balk, bash, batter, bind, blemish, blight, block, blockade, bloody, bog, boobytrap, botch, break, castrate, chain, check, checkmate, choke, clobber, clog, club, compromise, confine, constrain, crab, cramp, crimp, cross, crush, curb, damage, dash, deaden, deafen, debilitate, decimate, deface, delay, demolish, dent, derail, desolate, destroy, deteriorate, devastate, ding, disable, disarm, disfigure, disqualify, disrupt, doom, dull, emasculate, embarrass, encumber, enervate, enfeeble, erode, fetter, flaw, foil, -frustrate, halter, hamper, hamstring, handicap, harm, hem, hinder, hobble, hogtie, hold, hurt, immobilize, impair, impede, incapacitate, inhibit, injure, invalidate, kneecap, lame, leash, maim, manacle, mar, mire, monkey-wrench, mutilate, neutralize, obstruct, occlude, paralyze, prostrate, pulverize, raze, rein, restrain, restrict, retard, roadblock, ruin, sabotage, sap, scotch, scourge, scupper, scuttle, shackle, shatter, shelve, short-circuit, shrivel, smash, smother, spoil, stagger, stifle, straightjacket, strangle, stump, stun, stupefy, stymie, subvert, suffocate, suppress, tarnish, -thwart, tie, topple, torment, total, trammel, undercut, undermine, unman, vitiate, waste, weaken, wear, wither, wizen, worsen, wound, wreck (≠ accelerate, advance, aid, ameliorate, assist, bemoan, better, boost, buoy, catalyze, clear, compel, cure, disencumber, doctor, ease, edit, empower, encourage, energize, enhance, enrich, expedite, facilitate, fast-track, fix, fortify, free, freshen, fuel, further, galvanize, gentrify, grease, hasten, heal, help, improve, invigorate, lament, liberate, loosen, lubricate, mend, midwife, mourn, oblige, open, optimize, overhaul, patch, perfect, prioritize, promote, quicken, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, rectify, refine, refresh, regenerate, regret, rehabilitate, reimagine, reinvent, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, release, remedy, remodel, renew, renovate, repair, restimulate, restore, retool, revamp, revise, revitalize, revive, revolutionize, rush, smooth, speed, steady, stimulate, strengthen, survive, transcend, unclog, unleash, unstop, untangle, untie, urge, vitalize, weather)

  CRITICIZE (/): abuse, admonish, analyze, appraise, assail, assess, attack, badmouth, belittle, berate, blame, blast, blister, boo, browbeat, canvass, castigate, censure, chastise, chide, clobber, condemn, correct, critique, crucify, decry, defame, demean, demonize, denigrate, denounce, denunciate, deprecate, deride, devalue, diminish, -discount, dismiss, disparage, downplay, drub, excoriate, fault, flay, fulminate, gibbet, hammer, harass, hector, henpeck, humble, humiliate, impugn, insult, judge, keelhaul, knock, lambaste, lash, malign, minimize, mortify, nag, neg, nitpick, pan, patronize, pillory, read, -rebuff, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, resent, revie
w, rip, roast, rubbish, scalp, scapegoat, scold, scorch, second-guess, shame, skewer, slam, slander, slate, smear, traduce, trash, trash-talk, tweak, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, upbraid, vilify, vituperate, zap, zing (≠ acclaim, acknowledge, adore, advance, affirm, aggrandize, apotheosize, applaud, approve, blandish, boost, brave, brook, canonize, celebrate, cherish, commend, compliment, congratulate, countenance, deify, dignify, elevate, encourage, endorse, enshrine, esteem, eulogize, exalt, extol, face, favor, flannel, flatter, glorify, gold-star, gratify, hail, heroicize, high-five, honor, idealize, idolize, ingratiate, laud, lionize, magnify, praise, prize, promote, raise, recognize, recommend, regard, relish, revere, romanticize, rubber-stamp, salute, sanction, sentimentalize, tout, treasure, uplift, value, venerate, worship)

  CROSS (→): cover, crisscross, explore, follow, ford, frequent, hike, intersect, navigate, negotiate, pace, pass, patrol, perambulate, ride, roam, run, track, transit, travel, traverse, tread, visit, walk, wander (≠ -avoid, -bypass, circle, circumnavigate, -ditch, -dodge, -duck, -elude, -escape, -evade, miss, orbit, pass, -sidestep, skip, skirt)

  CROSS (+): alloy, assemble, blend, breed, combine, compose, compound, concoct, couple, crossbreed, cross-fertilize, cross-pollinate, fuse, hybridize, incorporate, infuse, inseminate, interbreed, intermix, marry, merge, mingle, mix, mongrelize, stir, synthesize (≠ disconnect, disunite, divide, divorce, filter, keep, preserve, purify, separate, sever, strain, sunder, uncouple, unmix)

  CROSS (/): antagonize, block, buck, check, checkmate, combat, constrain, contradict, counteract, counterattack, cramp, debate, defy, delay, -deny, -deter, discredit, -disown, disprove, dispute, distrust, doubt, fight, flummox, foil, -frustrate, hamper, hamstring, hinder, impede, inhibit, intercept, monkey-wrench, object, obstruct, oppose, oppress, protest, -rebuff, repel, repress, repulse, resist, scruple, stall, stonewall, stop, stump, stymie, suppress, suspect, -thwart (≠ abet, aid, assist, boost, charm, defuse, disarm, encourage, facilitate, help, instigate, mollify, neutralize, nurture, placate, prioritize, promote, support, urge)

  CROSS (/): -abandon, abdicate, abnegate, backstab, betray, deceive, denounce, -deny, -desert, disavow, double-cross, incriminate, -renounce, retract, sell, two-time (≠ advance, aid, assist, defend, endorse, follow, guard, help, honor, mind, obey, promote, protect, reassure, rescue, safeguard, save, shield, support)

  CROSS-EXAMINE (→): annoy, challenge, check, consult, cross-question, debrief, examine, grill, harass, hound, interrogate, interview, investigate, nettle, niggle, nitpick, pester, probe, pump, query, question, quiz, sweat (≠ accept, address, answer, -avoid, baffle, confuse, -dodge, -duck, evince, gaslight, hamper, impede, judge, prove, puzzle, skirt, stall, stymie, swear, trust)

  CROWD (→): bump, bundle, cluster, compress, congest, cram, crush, elbow, fill, frogmarch, gather, heap, henpeck, hustle, jam, jam-pack, jostle, load, march, muster, nudge, overstuff, pack, pile, press, push, ram, sandwich, sardine, shoehorn, shove, squash, squeeze, squish, stuff, swarm, throng, thrust, wedge (≠ -abandon, accommodate, -bypass, decompress, diffuse, dilate, disband, disperse, dissipate, expand, leave, loosen, open, organize, scatter, -sidestep, split)

  CROWN (+): adorn, anoint, authorize, bedeck, bedizen, cap, complete, conclude, dandify, decorate, delegate, dignify, dower, emblazon, enable, endow, ennoble, enrich, enthrone, exalt, fancify, festoon, finalize, finish, fulfill, garnish, gild, heighten, honor, inaugurate, induct, install, invest, ornament, perfect, prettify, raise, reward, strengthen, terminate, trim, wrap (≠ banish, begin, blemish, defame, deform, denounce, destroy, dethrone, disfigure, dishonor, -disregard, drop, fine, harm, hurt, -ignore, initiate, injure, insult, mar, -neglect, overthrow, -prevent, punish, raze, ruin, topple, unhorse, unsettle, usurp, weaken)

  CRUCIFY (/): afflict, agonize, anguish, assault, attack, avenge, bedevil, blister, bother, burden, castigate, censure, chasten, chastise, confine, correct, criticize, critique, demean, demonize, denigrate, discipline, distress, dun, excoriate, excruciate, execute, fine, frustrate, hang, harangue, harrow, ill-treat, imprison, incarcerate, judge, keelhaul, kill, lambaste, lampoon, lynch, martyr, massacre, menace, mistreat, mock, murder, mutilate, pain, pan, penalize, persecute, pillory, punish, rack, rag, reprise, ridicule, rubbish, savage, scalp, sentence, slam, slate, slaughter, smite, stigmatize, strangle, terrorize, threaten, torment, torture, tyrannize, victimize, wound, wrack, wrong (≠ aid, celebrate, commend, compliment, congratulate, defend, endorse, exalt, extol, glorify, gold-star, guard, harbor, help, honor, laud, nurture, pity, please, praise, protect, regret, rescue, save, secure, shelter, shield, soothe, tout, welcome)

  CRUSH (→): atomize, batter, beat, break, bruise, champ, club, compress, confute, crease, crowd, crumble, crumple, crunch, fracture, fragment, gnash, grind, hammer, mangle, mash, mill, pestle, pincer, pinch, pound, powder, press, pulp, pulverize, quash, repress, rumple, scrunch, shatter, smash, squash, squeeze, squelch, squish, subdue, suppress, trample, wallop, wrinkle (≠ caress, defend, guard, heal, help, lift, loosen, mend, nurse, preserve, protect, release, remove, restore, uncrumple, unwrinkle)

  CRUSH (/): abash, annihilate, asphyxiate, beat, blitzkrieg, capture, checkmate, conquer, decimate, defeat, dehumanize, demolish, demoralize, desolate, destroy, dethrone, devastate, dispirit, dominate, doom, douse, end, exterminate, extinguish, foil, humble, humiliate, master, mortify, nuke, obliterate, oppress, outdo, outlast, outmaneuver, outperform, outplay, overcome, overpower, overthrow, overturn, overwhelm, prostrate, quash, quell, quench, repress, rout, ruin, scotch, shame, shatter, shellac, silence, slaughter, smash, smear, smother, snuff, squash, squelch, steamroller, stifle, strangle, subdue, subject, subjugate, suffocate, suppress, surmount, terminate, throttle, topple, trounce, trump, tyrannize, upset, vanquish, waste, whip, win, wrack, wreck (≠ abet, advance, aid, arm, assist, back, bless, bolster, brace, buoy, buttress, calm, cheer, cover, cultivate, defend, embattle, encourage, endure, energize, entrench, establish, feed, foment, fortify, forward, foster, fuel, further, garrison, gird, guard, harden, hatch, hearten, help, hone, honor, incite, inspire, instigate, inure, invigorate, nerve, nourish, nurture, optimize, prepare, prime, promote, prop, protect, provoke, rabble-rouse, ready, reassure, reinforce, rescue, respect, revive, save, secure, sharpen, steel, stir, stomach, support, survive, sustain, toughen, wall, weaponize, weather)

  CUDDLE (←): baby, bundle, caress, clasp, coddle, cosset, dandle, embrace, encircle, enfold, fondle, hold, hug, indulge, kiss, love, nestle, nurse, nuzzle, overprotect, pamper, pet, protect, smooch, snog, snuggle, squeeze, squoosh, touch (≠ -abandon, abuse, anguish, assault, attack, -avoid, beat, harm, hit, injure, maim, menace, mutilate, -reject, scalp, smack, terrorize, threaten, thump, torment, torture, victimize, wound, wrong)

  CUE (→): activate, actuate, buzz, catalyze, charge, dig, drive, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, goad, ignite, incite, initiate, instigate, jog, jump-start, kick-start, launch, move, nudge, poke, power, prod, prompt, provoke, push, reactivate, rouse, run, signal, spark, spur, start, stimulate, switch, trigger, trip (≠ -abort, arrest, baffle, block, brake, check, confuse, deactivate, forget, -halt, inactivate, jam, kill, miss, muddle, obstruct, repress, skip, stall, stick, stop, stunt, stymie, suppress)

  CULL (←): accept, accumulate, adopt, amass, appoint, assemble, bag, cherry-pick, choose, collect, compile, designate, elect, espouse, extract, fix, garner, gather, glean, handpick, hoard, hunt, mark, name, nominate, pick, pluck, poach, prefer, preselect, pull, reap, rob, scavenge, seize, select, set, settle, sift, steal, stockpile, tab, tag, take, tap (≠ -abandon, -decline, disapprove, discard, disperse, dissipate, distribute, -ignore, jettison, -neglect, -refuse, -reject, -repudiate, -scorn, skip, spend, -spurn, squander, supply, waste)

  CULL (/): annihilate, attenuate, blitzkrieg, butcher, -cancel, clean, clear, cut, decimate, decrease, delete, depose, destroy, diminish, discard, dismiss, -ditch, doom, efface, eject, eradicate, erase, excise, expel, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, finish, hunt, jettison, kill, lessen, narrow, obliterate, oust, pulverize, purge, raze, reduce
, -reject, remove, scrap, shatter, slaughter, smash, snuff, terminate, thin, trash, trim, waste, weed, zap (≠ build, conserve, construct, create, develop, diffuse, disclaim, dismiss, disperse, dissipate, double, expand, extend, fashion, forge, form, foster, increase, insert, leave, mend, multiply, patch, preserve, protect, -reject, renovate, restore, retain, save, scatter, sustain, treble, triple)

  CULTIVATE (→): collect, cut, develop, dig, domesticate, dress, fallow, farm, fertilize, garden, germinate, gestate, grow, harrow, hoe, husband, inseminate, manage, manure, mature, mow, nourish, nurture, originate, plant, plow, pot, prepare, produce, proliferate, promote, propagate, pull, raise, ready, rear, replant, reseed, ripen, rototill, seed, sow, sprout, tend, till, transplant, work (≠ -abandon, afflict, blight, consume, contaminate, cull, damage, destroy, devour, diminish, eat, exterminate, gather, glean, harvest, -ignore, impair, indispose, jettison, junk, kill, mow, -neglect, pick, pickle, pluck, poison, pollute, pull, raze, reap, recycle, ruin, scavenge, scorch, select, shrivel, sicken, squander, stunt, uproot, waste, weed, wither, yield)

  CULTIVATE (+): advance, aid, ameliorate, assist, back, better, bolster, brownnose, butter, check, cherish, civilize, coach, court, develop, discipline, drill, edify, educate, elevate, encourage, enhance, enlighten, enrich, forward, foster, further, help, improve, inform, instruct, legalize, mentor, nourish, nurse, nurture, optimize, patronize, perfect, polish, prepare, promote, pursue, raise, rarefy, rear, refine, school, shine, support, teach, train, tutor, win, woo, wow (≠ arrest, ban, bar, barbarize, battle, block, callous, coarsen, combat, condemn, counter, damage, demolish, -desert, destroy, diminish, discourage, -ditch, doom, dump, encumber, fight, -forsake, -halt, hinder, hobble, hurt, -ignore, impede, inhibit, injure, -neglect, obstruct, oppose, poison, -reject, scrap, shackle, slough, snuff, stifle, worsen)