Activate

by Damon Suede

  DEPRESS (/): consume, cripple, damage, dampen, debilitate, deplete, devitalize, disable, drag, drain, dull, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, faze, grind, hamstring, harm, hurt, impair, impoverish, incapacitate, injure, lessen, level, lower, paralyze, press, prostrate, reduce, sap, slow, soften, tire, undermine, unman, waste, weaken, weary, weight (≠ boost, energize, excite, fortify, harden, invigorate, recruit, rejuvenate, season, stimulate, strengthen, tone, toughen, vitalize)

  DEPRESS (/): abridge, attenuate, break, cheapen, compress, contract, cut, debase, de-escalate, deflate, demonetize, depreciate, devaluate, devalue, diminish, downgrade, downsize, impair, lessen, lowball, lower, moderate, reduce, shrink, sink, slash, underestimate, underprice, underrate, undervalue (≠ appreciate, bloat, boost, bump, enhance, fetishize, heighten, improve, increase, inflate, jack, monetize, overestimate, overprice, overrate, overvalue, raise, upgrade)

  DEPRIVE (←): abate, bankrupt, bare, beggar, bereave, bogart, burgle, cheat, confiscate, cripple, damage, debilitate, defraud, denude, -deny, deplete, despoil, disinherit, dismantle, dispossess, disrobe, divest, dock, enfeeble, famish, fatigue, hold, impair, impoverish, incapacitate, keep, leach, lessen, lose, malnourish, -omit, oust, recall, recant, reduce, -refuse, reserve, retain, retract, revoke, rob, sap, scant, seize, shortchange, skim, skimp, starve, steal, stiff, stint, straiten, strip, suppress, swindle, underfeed, weaken, withdraw, withhold, wrest (≠ accord, accoutre, administer, allocate, allot, allow, apportion, arm, assign, bestow, contribute, dispense, distribute, dole, dollop, dower, endow, enrich, equip, feed, force-feed, fuel, furnish, grant, hand, indulge, infuse, invest, mete, obtain, offer, overfeed, present, prioritize, provide, provision, source, stock, suffuse, supply, task, victual, volunteer)

  DERAIL (/): abash, aggravate, agitate, ail, alarm, alter, anger, annoy, -avert, bedevil, bother, bug, cant, capsize, chafe, change, chivy, concern, confound, confuse, convulse, daunt, deflect, demoralize, demotivate, destabilize, discomfit, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, displace, disquiet, disrupt, distemper, distract, distress, disturb, divert, dizzy, embarrass, exasperate, exercise, faze, fluster, frazzle, freak, fret, funnel, fuss, gall, get, hamper, harass, harry, haunt, heckle, impede, indispose, irk, irritate, jar, misguide, mislead, mortify, needle, nettle, niggle, nitpick, nonplus, obstruct, overset, overthrow, overturn, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, plague, -prevent, protest, rankle, rattle, redirect, refocus, reorient, rile, roil, ruin, shake, short-circuit, sideline, sidetrack, spill, startle, swerve, switch, tip, topple, undo, unhinge, unhorse, unnerve, unsettle, unsteady, upset, vex, worry, wreck (≠ advance, aid, aim, allay, alleviate, appease, assist, assuage, balance, boost, brace, calibrate, calm, center, chair, compose, concentrate, conciliate, continue, dedicate, direct, enable, encourage, equalize, expedite, facilitate, focus, forward, further, guide, help, hush, keep, lull, maintain, mellow, mollify, pacify, placate, prioritize, propitiate, quiet, settle, smooth, soothe, stabilize, steady, steer, sugarcoat, support, sustain, target, tranquilize, tune, tweak)

  DERANGE (/): confound, confuse, craze, dement, destabilize, disarrange, disarray, discommode, discompose, disconcert, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, displace, distract, disturb, dizzy, frenzy, jumble, madden, mess, misplace, muss, perplex, puzzle, ruffle, rummage, shuffle, trouble, unbalance, unhinge, unnerve, unsettle, untidy, upset (≠ align, arrange, balance, calm, center, clarify, comfort, compose, fix, groom, hush, lull, mellow, mollify, order, organize, pace, pacify, place, please, queue, quiet, regiment, regulate, relax, right, settle, sober, soothe, sort, spruce, stabilize, straighten, systematize, tidy, tranquilize, unscramble)

  DERIDE (/): ape, badmouth, bait, belittle, boo, bug, burlesque, caricature, catcall, condemn, decry, demean, detract, -disdain, disparage, disrespect, diss, flout, gibe, harass, harry, hassle, heckle, imitate, insult, jeer, kid, knock, lampoon, mimic, mock, needle, neg, pan, parody, parrot, pester, pillory, pooh-pooh, quiz, rag, razz, rib, ride, ridicule, roast, satirize, -scorn, skewer, slam, target, taunt, tease, torment, travesty, tweak (≠ applaud, approve, blandish, boost, commend, congratulate, elevate, endorse, exalt, extol, flannel, flatter, glorify, gold-star, gratify, ingratiate, praise, prioritize, promote, revere, salute, sanction, support)

  DESECRATE (/): abase, abuse, adulterate, bastardize, besmirch, bestialize, canker, contaminate, corrupt, curse, damn, debase, debauch, defile, deform, degrade, demean, demonize, demoralize, deprave, desacralize, desanctify, despoil, devalue, diminish, dirty, disgrace, dishonor, distort, foul, humiliate, ill-treat, insult, maledict, maltreat, misuse, mortify, pervert, pollute, seduce, shame, soil, spoil, stain, sully, taint, twist, violate, vitiate, warp, wrong (≠ benefit, bless, boost, build, cherish, clean, cleanse, consecrate, construct, decontaminate, dedicate, dignify, elevate, esteem, exalt, expiate, extol, glorify, hallow, help, honor, improve, magnify, praise, prize, profane, protect, purge, purify, rebuild, redeem, repair, respect, revere, sanctify, save, value, venerate, worship)

  -DESERT (/): -abandon, abdicate, beach, betray, -boycott, chuck, discard, -discontinue, disfavor, -disown, -ditch, drop, -duck, dump, -escape, -eschew, evacuate, fail, -flee, fly, forfeit, -forsake, jettison, jilt, leave, maroon, offload, -quit, -refuse, -reject, relinquish, -renounce, -repudiate, resign, sacrifice, -shun, -snub, split, strand, surrender, vacate, waive, withdraw (≠ adopt, aid, assist, chauffeur, cherish, claim, colonize, court, cultivate, defend, embalm, face, favor, forgive, foster, guard, harbor, haunt, help, hold, invade, keep, maintain, occupy, pardon, patrol, possess, preserve, protect, provide, pursue, reclaim, redeem, rescue, retain, save, seek, serve, support, tend, undertake, uphold, vindicate, woo)

  DESIGN (→): cast, chart, concoct, construct, contrive, create, delineate, describe, devise, diagram, draft, draw, effect, execute, fashion, form, frame, fulfill, graph, invent, map, outline, perform, plan, plot, produce, project, script, sculpt, sketch, trace (≠ -abort, baffle, blur, cloud, confuse, delete, disorder, disorganize, erase, muddle, oppose, perplex, puzzle, rumple, upset)

  DESIGN (+): accomplish, achieve, arrange, blueprint, budget, calculate, chart, choreograph, coin, compose, conceive, construct, contrive, create, develop, devise, fabricate, fashion, form, frame, hatch, invent, make, model, orchestrate, originate, produce, sculpture, style (≠ abolish, break, crush, demolish, -deny, destroy, doom, -ignore, impede, quash, -refuse, ruin, snuff, suppress, wreck)

  DESIGN (+): aim, arrange, chart, contemplate, contrive, destine, devise, figure, gear, graph, intend, make, map, mind, organize, plan, plot, premeditate, prepare, project, propose, ready, scheme, script, shape, spitball, strategize, tailor (≠ -abandon, dismiss, -disregard, forget, -ignore, mismanage, miss, -neglect, -overlook, pooh-pooh, -reject, -shirk, skip, -slight) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  DESIGNATE (→): baptize, call, christen, class, classify, describe, dub, entitle, label, name, nickname, nominate, style, term, title (≠ anonymize, cloak, cloud, conceal, confuse, costume, disguise, forget, hide, mask, mislabel, miss, muddle, -overlook, -scorn, -shun, skip, strike)

  DESIGNATE (→): allocate, allot, appoint, apportion, appropriate, assign, authorize, budget, characterize, charge, choose, commission, connote, constitute, define, delegate, denote, deputize, describe, dictate, earmark, elect, evidence, favor, finger, individualize, make, mark, mete, name, nominate, package, peg, pick, pinpoint, prefer, reserve, select, set, show, slot, specify, stipulate, tab, tag, tap, task (≠ appropriate, begrudge, commandeer, confiscate, deprive, disfavor, envy, impound, -neglect, -refuse, reserve, scant, seize, sequester, skimp, stint, withhold)

  DESIRE (←): admire, adore, appreciate, cherish, choose, covet, crave, demand, dig, enjoy, envy, fancy, favor, fetishize, love, prefer, prize, relish, target, treasure, value, want (≠ abhor, abominate, -decline, -despise, -detest, disfavor, -hate, -loathe, -refuse, -reject, -spurn) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  -DESPISE (/): abhor, abominate, condemn, contemn, deplore, deprecate, deride, -detest, discredit, -disdain, disfav
or, -disregard, disrespect, -eschew, execrate, flout, -hate, -loathe, mock, -neglect, -reject, -renounce, -repudiate, resent, revile, -scorn, -shun, -slight, -snub, -spurn, undervalue (≠ admire, adore, appreciate, approve, cherish, covet, crave, desire, enjoy, esteem, fancy, favor, fetishize, hallow, idolize, love, praise, prefer, prize, relish, respect, revere, treasure, venerate, worship) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  DESTABILIZE (/): addle, agitate, antagonize, baffle, befuddle, blacklist, bother, -boycott, cant, capsize, challenge, chase, churn, confuse, convulse, corrupt, counter, counteract, debase, debauch, demoralize, deprave, depress, derail, derange, discompose, dislocate, dislodge, disrupt, disturb, dizzy, extinguish, fluster, foment, gaslight, invalidate, knock, menace, mix, mystify, overset, overthrow, overturn, perplex, pervert, raze, reverse, ruffle, ruin, sabotage, scotch, scupper, shake, sink, spill, subvert, supersede, supplant, suppress, terrorize, threaten, tip, topple, trouble, tumble, unbalance, undercut, undermine, unhinge, unhorse, unseat, unsettle, unsteady, upset, victimize, vitiate, weaken, wrack, wreck (≠ add, anchor, balance, bolster, boost, brace, build, buttress, calibrate, center, compose, enlarge, equalize, erect, establish, extend, fix, govern, increase, plant, prop, regulate, reinforce, root, settle, stabilize, steady, strengthen, support, toughen, tune, tweak)

  DESTROY (/): abolish, annihilate, assault, atomize, attack, batter, beat, best, blast, blow, bludgeon, break, bulldoze, burst, -cancel, checkmate, clobber, collapse, conquer, cow, cripple, crush, damage, decimate, deep-six, deface, defeat, demolish, despoil, deteriorate, detonate, devastate, dilapidate, disassemble, discomfit, disfigure, disintegrate, dismantle, dissolve, drub, dynamite, efface, eliminate, enslave, eradicate, erode, excise, execute, explode, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, finish, flatten, floor, fracture, fragment, gut, harm, impair, incinerate, injure, kill, knock, level, lick, liquidate, loot, mangle, mar, master, mortar, murder, mutilate, nuke, -nullify, obliterate, orphan, outlast, outmaneuver, overcome, overthrow, overturn, pillage, plunder, pulverize, quash, quell, ravage, raze, reduce, remove, rout, ruin, sack, scotch, scour, scupper, shatter, skunk, slaughter, smash, snuff, spoil, subdue, subjugate, suppress, surmount, tame, thrash, torpedo, trample, trash, trounce, vandalize, vanquish, vitiate, wallop, whip, wrack, wreck, zap (≠ assemble, bronze, build, concoct, conserve, construct, craft, create, defend, embalm, establish, fabricate, fashion, fix, forge, form, found, guard, heal, make, mend, nurture, organize, patch, patrol, pickle, preserve, produce, promote, protect, raise, rear, rebuild, regret, reinvigorate, repair, rescue, restore, restructure, resurrect, revamp, revive, save, sculpt, secure, stimulate, support, survive, sustain, weather, withstand)

  DETACH (/): break, chunk, cleave, cut, decouple, disassemble, disconnect, disengage, disentangle, dismantle, dismount, divide, excise, fragment, free, halve, insulate, isolate, loosen, -omit, orphan, part, partition, remove, rend, rip, rupture, segregate, separate, sever, split, sunder, tear, uncouple, unfasten, unhitch, withdraw, wrench (≠ add, affix, associate, attach, combine, complete, conjoin, connect, desegregate, fasten, fix, fuse, glue, hold, increase, integrate, join, link, meld, melt, merge, strengthen, weld)

  DETACH (/): alienate, antagonize, disaffect, disassociate, disengage, distance, disunite, divorce, estrange, -exclude, free, isolate, loose, loosen, maroon, oppose, orphan, -ostracize, oust, quarantine, seclude, segregate, separate, sequester, sever, -snub, split, -spurn, strand (≠ assimilate, blend, bridge, churn, combine, connect, couple, incorporate, integrate, involve, join, link, marry, merge, mix, network, reconcile, reintegrate, restore, reunite, span, stay, straddle, unify, unite, wed)

  DETAIN (←): baffle, bar, block, bottleneck, brake, bung, burden, buttonhole, catch, check, choke, clog, complicate, congest, constipate, constrain, counter, cramp, crimp, cripple, curb, dam, decelerate, delay, -deter, drag, encumber, entangle, entrap, fetter, foul, -frustrate, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hold, impair, impede, implicate, inconvenience, inhibit, interrupt, jam, keep, mire, numb, obstruct, oppose, oppress, overload, paralyze, pause, plug, resist, restrain, restrict, retard, saddle, shelve, slow, snag, snarl, stay, stem, stop, straightjacket, tangle, -thwart (≠ accelerate, activate, advance, aid, allow, assist, boost, budge, catalyze, compel, discharge, dismiss, ease, encourage, expedite, extricate, facilitate, fast-forward, fast-track, force, forward, free, frogmarch, fuel, give, grease, hasten, help, hurry, legalize, lubricate, march, midwife, oblige, offer, open, permit, prioritize, prod, propel, punt, push, quicken, release, rush, send, simplify, slacken, smooth, speed, spur, stimulate, stir, stoke, support, unclog, uncomplicate, unleash, untangle, urge)

  DETAIN (/): apprehend, arrest, bind, block, book, bridle, bust, capture, catch, collar, commit, confine, constrict, control, convict, corner, delay, dungeon, enmesh, ensnare, entangle, fetter, freeze, grab, -halt, handcuff, hinder, hogtie, hold, ice, immobilize, immure, impede, imprison, incarcerate, inhibit, institutionalize, intern, interrupt, jail, keep, leash, nab, nail, nick, obstruct, paralyze, pause, pinch, restrain, seize, shackle, slow, snaffle, snag, snare, stall, stop, stun, suppress, tether, trap, withhold (≠ acquit, aid, alibi, bail, discharge, emancipate, empower, excuse, exonerate, free, liberate, permit, release, rescue, save, spring, unfetter, unlock, unshackle, untie, vindicate)

  DETECT (←): ascertain, catch, clock, consult, cross-examine, decipher, decode, decrypt, deduce, descry, determine, discern, disclose, discover, disinter, distinguish, dredge, elicit, espy, excavate, expose, fathom, ferret, find, get, grill, hit, hunt, identify, inspect, interrogate, interview, learn, locate, meet, note, notice, observe, perceive, police, profile, question, realize, recognize, reveal, root, rout, rummage, scent, scout, search, seek, sense, sight, sleuth, solve, spoor, spot, spy, strip, suss, track, uncover, unearth, unlock, unmask, unravel, untangle, unveil (≠ -avoid, baffle, bewilder, blind, bullshit, bury, -bypass, conceal, confound, confuse, couch, deceive, defraud, disbelieve, disguise, -disregard, ensconce, fake, forget, fudge, gaslight, guess, hide, hoard, -ignore, imply, lose, mask, misgauge, mislay, mislead, misplace, misread, miss, mistake, misunderstand, mystify, niche, obscure, -overlook, pass, perplex, predetermine, puzzle, screen, shield, -sidestep, spackle, stash, stow, trick, trust, tuck, wonder) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  -DETER (→): admonish, anticipate, -avert, baffle, -balk, ban, bar, blackmail, block, bottleneck, brake, burden, catch, caution, check, checkmate, chill, clog, complicate, constipate, constrain, cool, counter, countercheck, cramp, cripple, curb, dam, damp, dampen, daunt, deflect, delay, demotivate, depress, derail, detain, discourage, dishearten, disincline, dissuade, divert, encumber, entrap, fetter, foil, forestall, frighten, -frustrate, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hogtie, impair, impede, inhibit, interrupt, intimidate, jam, -kibosh, lumber, mire, monkey-wrench, muzzle, -nix, nobble, obstruct, oppose, paralyze, pause, -preclude, -prevent, -prohibit, protest, resist, restrain, restrict, scare, scotch, shelve, snag, stay, stop, stultify, stump, stymie, tangle, -thwart, warn (≠ absorb, accelerate, advance, aid, allow, assist, await, brainstorm, bribe, calm, catalyze, comfort, convince, egg, encourage, facilitate, forward, goad, hearten, heat, help, impel, incite, inspirit, instigate, legalize, lull, mellow, mollify, permit, persuade, promote, prompt, push, stimulate, support, sway, urge, warm)

  DETERMINE (→): affect, affirm, assure, choreograph, clarify, clear, clinch, conclude, condition, control, decide, define, demonstrate, dictate, direct, end, ensure, establish, finish, govern, guide, illuminate, impel, influence, insure, nail, orchestrate, ordain, order, organize, pace, prompt, prove, regiment, regulate, rule, secure, settle, show, specify, state, steer, stipulate (≠ churn, confuse, delay, derail, disrupt, disturb, jumble, misrule, mix, muddle, muddy, obscure, overturn, predetermine, -refuse, -reject, scramble, shelve, unsettle, upset)

  DETERMINE (→): adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, broker, choose, cinch, clinch, conclude, consider, consult, contemplate, cull, decide, decree deliberate, elect, entertain, establish, figure, find, finish, handpick, hear, judge, learn, med
itate, moderate, mull, name, negotiate, pick, ponder, prefer, prosecute, question, referee, renegotiate, resolve, rule, select, set, settle, size, study, umpire, weigh (≠ -avoid, challenge, debate, -decline, delay, -halt, hinder, prolong, -refuse, -reject, skirt, stall, wonder) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  DETERMINE (←): analyze, ascertain, assess, audit, benchmark, categorize, check, consult, cross-examine, descry, detect, disclose, discover, double-check, dredge, educe, elicit, espy, establish, expose, fathom, ferret, find, gauge, get, grill, hit, hunt, identify, inspect, interrogate, interview, learn, locate, prioritize, question, rank, read, realize, recognize, reveal, root, rout, rummage, scout, seek, sight, slot, solve, spot, suss, track, unearth, unmask, unravel, verify (≠ accept, assume, baffle, believe, bewilder, bury, conceal, confound, confuse, conjecture, deceive, defraud, disbelieve, -discount, disguise, -disregard, fake, gaslight, guess, hide, -ignore, imply, lose, mask, misgauge, misjudge, mislay, mislead, misplace, misprize, misread, miss, mistake, misunderstand, muddle, mystify, obscure, overestimate, -overlook, perplex, pretend, puzzle, -reject, skip, trick, trust, underestimate, wonder)

  DETHRONE (/): banish, boot, bounce, can, cashier, chase, checkmate, conquer, defeat, defrock, degrade, depose, deprive, discharge, dismiss, displace, eject, expel, extrude, fire, oust, overcome, overthrow, remove, retire, rout, ruin, sack, subdue, subjugate, subvert, succeed, supersede, supplant, topple, uncrown, unmake, unseat, unthrone, usurp, vanquish, wrack (≠ anoint, appoint, assign, baptize, crown, designate, elect, elevate, enthrone, inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, instate, invest, nominate, promote, raise, support, throne)