Activate

by Damon Suede

  DETONATE (/): atomize, bang, blast, blow, burst, discharge, explode, fire, fracture, fragment, fulminate, ignite, kindle, knock, pop, pulverize, shatter, shoot, short-circuit, smash, spark, splinter, trigger, vaporize, zap (≠ block, choke, collapse, dampen, defuse, dismantle, douse, hamper, implode, snuff, stifle, -thwart)

  DEVALUE (/): attenuate, bastardize, belittle, break, cheapen, contract, cut, debase, decrease, decry, de-escalate, deflate, degrade, demean, depreciate, depress, devaluate, diminish, -discount, dismiss, disparage, downgrade, downsize, knock, lessen, lowball, lower, minimize, moderate, pare, reduce, shave, shrink, sink, slam, slash, slate, trim, underbid, underestimate, underprice, underrate, undervalue, vulgarize (≠ accentuate, accrue, add, affirm, aggrandize, amplify, appreciate, assert, augment, balloon, bloat, boost, compound, dilate, enhance, enlarge, escalate, exaggerate, expand, extend, fetishize, heighten, heroicize, heroize, increase, inflate, magnify, maximize, multiply, optimize, overestimate, overhaul, overprice, overrate, overvalue, praise, prioritize, raise, refine, revolutionize, romanticize, sentimentalize, swell, upgrade)

  DEVASTATE (/): annihilate, assassinate, atomize, beat, best, blast, blitzkrieg, break, butcher, cannibalize, clobber, conquer, consume, cream, cripple, crush, damage, decimate, deface, defeat, demolish, depopulate, depredate, desecrate, desolate, despoil, destroy, deteriorate, devour, dilapidate, disassemble, disfigure, disintegrate, dismantle, dispatch, dissolve, doom, drub, dynamite, efface, eradicate, erase, erode, execute, expunge, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, fell, flatten, fracture, fragment, gut, harm, harry, impair, injure, kill, level, lick, liquidate, loot, mangle, mar, maraud, massacre, master, murder, mutilate, -negate, nuke, obliterate, orphan, overpower, overrun, overthrow, overwhelm, pillage, plunder, pulverize, raid, ransack, ravage, raze, remove, rout, ruin, sabotage, sack, scotch, scour, scourge, scupper, shatter, skunk, slaughter, slay, smash, snuff, splinter, spoil, steamroller, strip, subdue, surmount, thrash, topple, total, trample, trash, trounce, vandalize, vaporize, victimize, vitiate, waste, whip, wrack, wreck, wrong, zap (≠ assemble, build, conserve, construct, create, defend, doctor, enhance, erect, establish, fabricate, fashion, father, fix, forge, form, found, frame, guard, heal, help, improve, institute, invent, make, manufacture, mend, mold, organize, patch, patrol, pity, preserve, produce, protect, raise, rear, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, recover, redeem, rehabilitate, remodel, renovate, repair, restore, revamp, save, sculpt, shape, shield, sire, survive, sustain, weather, withstand)

  DEVASTATE (/): appall, astound, break, confound, confute, crush, daze, defeat, deluge, demoralize, depress, discomfit, discompose, disconcert, dismay, distress, disturb, drown, floor, grieve, horrify, hurt, indispose, nonplus, numb, offend, oppress, outrage, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, paralyze, perturb, prostrate, pulverize, refute, rock, shatter, shock, sink, stagger, startle, stun, stupefy, swamp, throw, torpefy, traumatize, unman, unnerve, upset (≠ amuse, appease, assist, assuage, cherish, comfort, console, encourage, energize, entertain, heal, inspire, invigorate, motivate, nourish, nurture, please, protect, rectify, redeem, rescue, rouse, save, stimulate, sugarcoat)

  DEVELOP (→): accent, accentuate, actualize, add, advance, amplify, augment, beautify, beef, broaden, complement, cultivate, deepen, dilate, elaborate, emphasize, enlarge, enrich, evolve, expand, exploit, extend, finish, flesh, heighten, improve, increase, intensify, lengthen, magnify, materialize, maximize, perfect, polish, promote, punctuate, realize, refine, shine, spread, strengthen, stretch, supplement, unfold, weaponize, widen (≠ abbreviate, abridge, adumbrate, callous, coarsen, compress, concentrate, condense, confine, contract, decrease, lessen, limit, minimize, narrow, outline, shorten, summarize, underemphasize)

  DEVELOP (←): absorb, accrue, achieve, acquire, adopt, attain, begin, break, breed, commence, conceive, contract, create, cultivate, effect, embrace, establish, follow, form, foster, found, gain, generate, get, initiate, institute, invent, invest, nourish, nurture, obtain, originate, pioneer, produce, promote, reach, start (≠ -abandon, -abort, cease, -desert, discard, -discontinue, -ditch, dump, end, -forsake, -halt, jettison, junk, lose, -reject, scrap, shed, shuck, slough, stop, terminate, -thwart, toss, unload)

  DEVELOP (+): abet, accommodate, accomplish, achieve, actualize, advance, affirm, aid, assert, assist, automate, boost, brainstorm, brew, carve, change, civilize, coach, cobble, coin, compose, conceive, concoct, construct, contrive, cook, craft, create, cultivate, customize, decontaminate, devise, discipline, drill, edify, educate, effect, encourage, engineer, enlarge, enlighten, evolve, expand, fabricate, fashion, favor, feed, force-feed, forge, form, fortify, foster, frame, fuel, generate, grow, hatch, help, improve, improvise, increase, instruct, invent, manufacture, mature, mechanize, mentor, mint, model, motorize, nourish, nurse, nurture, originate, prioritize, progress, raise, rear, refine, school, sculpt, shape, spread, support, sustain, tailor, teach, train, tutor, weaponize, weave (≠ abuse, attack, barbarize, brutalize, callous, coarsen, collapse, contaminate, decrease, dehumanize, demolish, derail, destroy, dismantle, doom, -forbid, forget, hamper, hinder, impair, incapacitate, injure, mutate, pervert, -prevent, -prohibit, protest, raze, reshape, restructure, ruin, stagnate, stale, stunt, topple, undo, unmake, wreck, wrong)

  DEVISE (+): ad-lib, arrange, brainstorm, brew, cast, chart, coin, compose, conceive, concoct, construct, contrive, cook, craft, create, design, discover, envisage, envision, extemporize, fabricate, fantasize, forge, form, formulate, frame, hatch, imagine, improvise, invent, machinate, machine, manufacture, mastermind, originate, picture, plan, plot, prepare, produce, project, ready, scheme, script, shape, spark, visualize, weave (≠ adopt, ape, borrow, clone, copy, copycat, destroy, doom, duplicate, emulate, ghostwrite, imitate, mimic, obstruct, poach, reduplicate, replicate, reproduce, ruin, steal, -thwart, wreck)

  DEVOTE (→): accord, allocate, allot, apply, appropriate, assign, bestow, bless, budget, commit, confer, confide, consecrate, consign, dedicate, earmark, employ, endow, enshrine, entrust, give, grant, hallow, offer, pledge, reserve, sacrifice, sanctify, save, surrender, tender, use, volunteer (≠ check, conceal, deduct, degrade, desecrate, disrespect, exploit, hold, -ignore, keep, misapply, misappropriate, misuse, -neglect, profane, recoup, -refuse, steal, take, waste, withhold)

  DEVOUR (←): absorb, accept, access, acquire, admit, appreciate, appropriate, assimilate, bolt, chew, consume, corrode, cram, digest, dispatch, dissolve, down, drink, eat, engorge, engulf, enjoy, envelop, finish, get, glut, gnaw, gobble, gorge, gulp, gum, guzzle, hoover, imbibe, incorporate, ingest, inhale, inspire, integrate, lap, lick, manage, metabolize, mouth, munch, nibble, nosh, nurse, overwhelm, pocket, procure, quaff, raven, receive, relish, ruminate, savor, scarf, sip, slop, slurp, snarf, sniff, stuff, suck, surfeit, swallow, swill, take, taste, try, vacuum, welcome, wolf (≠ -avoid, barf, belch, brew, -bypass, concoct, cook, create, -decline, disgorge, -ditch, drop, dump, eject, excrete, expel, feed, force-feed, forgo, fuel, heave, hunt, jettison, make, miss, nourish, offer, order, overfeed, pass, prepare, puke, -refuse, regurgitate, -reject, request, skip, spew, spit, splutter, starve, supply, toss, trash, victual, vomit)

  DEVOUR (/): absorb, annihilate, cannibalize, consume, deplete, depredate, desolate, destroy, devastate, dispatch, doom, empty, engulf, envelop, exhaust, pillage, ravage, raze, ruin, sack, spend, spoil, waste (≠ assemble, build, construct, establish, fashion, furnish, mend, produce, renew, restore, save, supply, survive, sustain, weather, withstand)

  DIAGNOSE (←): analyze, ascertain, check, confirm, contextualize, crosscheck, deduce, detect, determine, distinguish, establish, explain, explore, eyeball, identify, inspect, interpret, investigate, isolate, learn, locate, pinpoint, place, profile, pronounce, quarantine, recognize, scan, scrutinize, settle, spot, study, test, verify (≠ afflict, baffle, bewilder, bullshit, bury, cloak, cloud, conceal, confuse, damage, deceive, defraud, disguise, fake, harm, hide, hurt, infect, injure, mask, misdiagnose, mislead, miss, mistake, misunderstand, mystify, -neglect, -overlook, perplex, pretend, scam, trick)

&nb
sp; DICTATE (→): bid, bulldoze, call, chair, charge, choreograph, coerce, command, control, decree, demand, direct, enjoin, foist, govern, guide, impose, insist, instruct, lead, manage, mandate, muscle, orchestrate, ordain, order, prescribe, promulgate, pronounce, railroad, regiment, require, rule, set (≠ ask, beseech, -cancel, countermand, entreat, implore, plead, propose, recommend, request, -rescind, spitball, suggest, urge)

  DIFFUSE (/): broadcast, circulate, detach, disburse, disconnect, disintegrate, dislocate, disorder, dispense, disperse, disseminate, dissipate, dissolve, distribute, dole, evaporate, expand, extend, penetrate, permeate, promulgate, propagate, radiate, refract, scatter, separate, spread (≠ abridge, compile, compress, concentrate, condense, confine, contain, fuse, gather, hoard, hold, hybridize, join, keep, limit, link, meld, reserve, restrict, shorten, synthesize, tighten)

  DIG (→): bore, chuck, drill, drive, goad, gouge, jab, jog, knock, nag, nudge, perforate, pierce, plunge, poke, prick, prod, propel, punch, puncture, ram, shank, shiv, spur, stab, stick (≠ brake, caress, check, constrain, curb, -deter, discourage, dissuade, grasp, grip, hold, inhibit, pull, restrain, stroke, tug, yank)

  DIG (←): access, bore, bulldoze, channel, claw, cultivate, deepen, depress, disinter, -ditch, dredge, drill, drive, enter, entrench, excavate, exhume, fork, gouge, grub, harrow, harvest, hoe, hollow, mine, penetrate, pierce, pit, plow, quarry, root, rout, sap, scoop, scratch, shovel, sift, spade, spit, spud, till, trench, uncover, undermine, unearth, work (≠ block, bury, congest, cover, cram, fill, jam, load, lose, obscure, obstruct, occlude, pack, pile, plug, ram, replenish, restore, seal, smooth, stash, stow, stuff, tuck, wedge, withdraw)

  DIG (←): analyze, anatomize, assay, audit, check, debunk, decipher, decode, deduce, detect, determine, dissect, elucidate, examine, explore, expose, extricate, ferret, find, gather, inspect, interpret, investigate, peruse, plumb, poke, probe, produce, prospect, ransack, reference, reinvestigate, research, retrieve, review, root, rummage, scan, scout, scrutinize, search, seek, sift, study, surf, survey, uncover, unearth, verify, winnow (≠ -avoid, bury, camouflage, cloak, clothe, cloud, conceal, disguise, -disregard, ensconce, hide, mask, misconstrue, misdiagnose, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, miss, mistake, misunderstand, -neglect, obscure, repress, screen, secrete, shield, stash, submerge, suppress, whitewash)

  DIGEST (←): absorb, accept, access, acquire, admit, assimilate, consume, devour, dissolve, eat, engorge, get, incorporate, ingest, integrate, macerate, metabolize, process, receive, swallow, take (≠ assemble, belch, concoct, cook, create, -decline, disgorge, eject, excrete, expel, hunt, make, offer, -omit, prepare, -refuse, -reject, spit, vomit)

  DIGEST (←): absorb, analyze, assimilate, comprehend, consider, contemplate, deliberate, discover, glean, grasp, incorporate, integrate, internalize, learn, master, mull, ponder, read, realize, study, suss, understand (≠ aggregate, amalgamate, -avoid, consolidate, -ignore, integrate, miss, mistake, misunderstand, synthesize, unify) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  DIGNIFY (+): acclaim, admire, advance, affirm, aggrandize, apotheosize, applaud, approve, blandish, boost, canonize, commend, compliment, congratulate, deify, distinguish, elevate, endorse, enhance, ennoble, enshrine, enthrone, eulogize, exalt, extol, flatter, glorify, grace, heighten, heroicize, heroize, honor, idealize, idolize, inflate, intensify, laud, lift, lionize, magnify, optimize, overhaul, praise, prefer, prioritize, promote, raise, rarefy, recommend, refine, romanticize, sanction, sanitize, sentimentalize, sugarcoat, upgrade, uplift (≠ abase, belittle, blame, blast, boo, condemn, corrupt, decry, degrade, demean, denounce, depreciate, detract, disgrace, disparage, humble, humiliate, -ignore, insult, lower, minimize, -overlook, pervert, reduce, ruin, -scorn, shame, -shun, slander, vulgarize, worsen, wreck)

  DILUTE (/): adulterate, alter, attenuate, cook, cut, decrease, deprive, diffuse, diminish, doctor, lace, lessen, mitigate, mix, moderate, modify, plant, qualify, rarefy, reduce, rephrase, sap, shave, spike, temper, thin, underemphasize, water, weaken (≠ accentuate, accrue, concentrate, condense, consolidate, distill, emphasize, enrich, evaporate, increase, intensify, pasteurize, punctuate, purify, strengthen, sully, thicken)

  DIM (/): blacken, blear, blur, cloud, darken, dull, eclipse, efface, fade, fog, fuzz, haze, lower, mist, muddy, obfuscate, obscure, overshadow, shade, shadow, shroud, smudge, tarnish (≠ blanch, brighten, clarify, disclose, expose, floodlight, ignite, illuminate, kindle, light, lighten, reveal, uncloud, uncover, unveil, whiten, whitewash)

  DIMINISH (/): abate, abbreviate, abridge, attenuate, bastardize, bob, cannibalize, castrate, clip, compact, compress, compromise, concentrate, condense, consume, contract, crop, cull, curtail, cut, deactivate, deaden, debilitate, debit, decrease, deduct, deflate, deplete, depredate, depress, -discontinue, downgrade, drain, drop, emasculate, enfeeble, erode, exhaust, fatigue, fragment, impair, impoverish, leach, lessen, lighten, lowball, lower, mince, miniaturize, minimize, moderate, nip, pare, prune, reduce, retrench, sap, shave, shear, shorten, shrink, shrivel, sink, straiten, taper, temper, trim, truncate, undercut, underemphasize, undermine, weaken, weed, whittle, wither (≠ accent, accentuate, accrue, acquire, add, aggravate, amplify, append, assert, boost, broaden, build, bulge, complement, develop, dilate, distend, double, elongate, emphasize, enhance, enlarge, exaggerate, expand, extend, foment, foster, grow, improve, increase, inflate, lengthen, maximize, mount, multiply, obtain, optimize, overdramatize, overhaul, prioritize, prolong, punctuate, raise, rarefy, recoup, refine, reinvigorate, revive, revolutionize, stoke, stretch, supplement, swell, treble, triple, unspool, upgrade, wax)

  DIMINISH (/): abuse, badmouth, belittle, berate, chastise, cheapen, debase, decry, defame, degrade, demean, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, deride, detract, devaluate, devalue, -discount, discredit, disfavor, disgrace, disparage, disrespect, downgrade, humble, insult, knock, malign, minimize, neg, pan, persecute, rebuke, scold, -scorn, shame, shred, slash, -slight, tatter, underbid, undersell, vilify, vulgarize, wrong (≠ acclaim, affirm, aggrandize, approve, blandish, boost, brook, commend, compliment, countenance, defend, dramatize, endorse, exalt, extol, favor, flatter, glorify, heroicize, heroize, idealize, ingratiate, poeticize, praise, prioritize, recommend, romanticize, sanction, sensationalize, sentimentalize, strengthen, tolerate, treasure)

  DIRECT (→): beam, carry, channel, concentrate, conduct, consolidate, convey, deliver, dispense, distribute, focus, force, funnel, guide, pipe, send, siphon, steer, transmit, transport (≠ barricade, block, blockade, choke, clog, constipate, dam, delay, foil, hamper, impede, interrupt, monkey-wrench, obstruct, pause, -prevent, shelve, stall, stem, stop, stymie, -thwart, waylay)

  DIRECT (→): accompany, administer, admonish, advise, advocate, appoint, ask, assign, attend, authorize, beg, beseech, bid, boss, bridle, brief, call, caution, chaperone, charge, choreograph, coerce, command, commission, compel, conduct, confer, constrain, consult, control, counsel, cue, decree, deliver, demand, dictate, discipline, dominate, encourage, enjoin, entreat, escort, execute, force, govern, guard, guide, handle, harness, head, influence, inform, instruct, keep, lead, manage, mandate, maneuver, marshal, mastermind, micromanage, mind, motivate, notify, oblige, operate, orchestrate, ordain, order, organize, oversee, pace, petition, pilot, prompt, protect, recommend, regiment, regulate, request, require, route, rule, run, safeguard, see, shepherd, spearhead, stage-manage, steer, steward, suggest, superintend, supervise, task, tell, tend, usher, warn, watch (≠ -cancel, challenge, contradict, counter, countermand, defer, defy, disobey, disrespect, dog, follow, hound, keep, mind, mismanage, misrule, muzzle, -neglect, obey, observe, -refuse, -rescind, shadow, subvert, tail, topple, trail)

  DIRECT (+): advise, aim, apply, bear, bend, cast, concentrate, conduct, designate, devote, escort, face, fix, focus, give, guide, head, hold, incline, inform, inscribe, instruct, label, lead, lecture, level, mail, mark, navigate, orient, pilot, pinpoint, point, present, route, school, send, set, settle, shepherd, show, sight, slant, steer, target, teach, throw, train, try, turn, tutor, usher, warn (
≠ -avert, confuse, curve, deflect, detour, divert, follow, heed, misdirect, misguide, mislabel, mislead, rechannel, refract, shunt, sidetrack)

  DIRTY (/): adulterate, befoul, begrime, besmirch, bestialize, blacken, blotch, blur, canker, coat, contaminate, corrode, corrupt, debase, decay, defile, discolor, encrust, foul, grime, imbrue, mess, muddy, poison, pollute, rot, smear, smirch, smoke, smudge, smut, soil, spatter, splash, spoil, spot, stain, suborn, sully, sweat, taint, tar, tarnish (≠ bleach, brush, clean, cleanse, decontaminate, disinfect, distill, filter, launder, mop, purify, rinse, scour, scrub, sponge, sterilize, sweep, uncloud, wash, wipe)

  DISABLE (/): attenuate, batter, blunt, boobytrap, break, cannibalize, castrate, club, consume, crack, cripple, damage, deactivate, debilitate, defuse, deplete, depredate, devitalize, disarm, disqualify, emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, fracture, fragment, hamstring, handicap, harm, hinder, hogtie, hurt, immobilize, impair, inactivate, incapacitate, invalidate, -kibosh, lame, maim, mangle, mar, mutilate, muzzle, paralyze, pinion, prostrate, pulverize, reduce, restrict, ruin, sabotage, sap, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shatter, shrivel, spoil, stop, stymie, subvert, total, undercut, undermine, unhinge, unplug, weaken, wing, wither, wizen, wound, wreck (≠ activate, advantage, aid, assist, benefit, build, connect, cure, doctor, empower, enable, energize, fix, fortify, galvanize, heal, help, improve, include, increase, invigorate, mend, mobilize, patch, permit, refresh, regenerate, rehabilitate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, remedy, renew, repair, restimulate, restore, revitalize, revive, stimulate, strengthen, weaponize)