Activate

by Damon Suede

  DISSIPATE (/): blow, cannibalize, consume, deplete, depredate, diffuse, disburse, drain, dump, exhaust, expend, fritter, impoverish, indulge, lard, lavish, leach, leech, lose, misspend, misuse, overfeed, overindulge, overspend, scatter, shoot, slather, spend, squander, waste (≠ accumulate, bank, budget, collect, conserve, economize, gather, hoard, hog, invest, keep, monopolize, pickle, preserve, protect, retain, save, scant, scavenge, scrimp, skimp, stockpile, withhold)

  DISSOLVE (+): defrost, diffuse, flux, fuse, heat, liquefy, melt, pour, render, run, soften, stream, thaw, thin, warm, weaken (≠ coagulate, concentrate, congeal, crystallize, freeze, harden, petrify, set, solidify, thicken)

  DISSOLVE (/): abrogate, adjourn, anatomize, annihilate, annul, atomize, -cancel, collapse, corrode, crumble, decimate, demolish, destroy, digest, disarm, discharge, -discontinue, disintegrate, dismiss, disorganize, disunite, divorce, doom, end, eradicate, erode, fracture, fragment, invalidate, loose, metabolize, mortify, -nullify, overthrow, postpone, pulverize, quash, repeal, revoke, ruin, rupture, scotch, separate, sever, shatter, shoot, spoil, suspend, terminate, unmake, vacate, -void, wrack, wreck (≠ arm, beef, bolster, brace, brainstorm, buttress, concoct, continue, create, empower, enliven, fortify, harden, institute, invigorate, marry, prop, reinforce, resolve, stabilize, steady, steel, strengthen, support, sustain, temper, toughen, validate, weather, withstand)

  DISSUADE (/): advise, caution, contradict, counsel, counter, counteract, countercheck, curb, dampen, demotivate, derail, -deter, discourage, disincline, divert, exhort, faze, -frustrate, goad, hamper, hinder, impede, impel, induce, inhibit, malign, nobble, oppose, paralyze, -preclude, -prevent, prick, prompt, protest, repel, restrain, stifle, stop, stymie, throttle, -thwart, unsell, warn (≠ accelerate, bribe, catalyze, convince, encourage, entice, excite, foment, grease, hasten, incite, incur, induce, instigate, lure, persuade, prod, rabble-rouse, spur, tantalize, tease, tempt, trigger, urge)

  DISTANCE (/): alienate, detach, disaffect, disassemble, disassociate, disconnect, disengage, disentangle, disintegrate, disjoin, disjoint, dissolve, disunite, divide, divorce, estrange, insulate, isolate, orphan, outdo, outpace, outrun, outstrip, part, pass, remove, resolve, seclude, segregate, separate, sequester, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke, withdraw (≠ accumulate, assemble, associate, attach, bind, blend, cement, close, combine, connect, corral, couple, fasten, fuse, gather, herd, hybridize, integrate, invite, join, knit, link, mingle, mix, muster, network, rally, reunite, stick, synthesize, unify, unite, welcome, weld, wrangle)

  DISTILL (←): brew, clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, concentrate, condense, cook, cut, decontaminate, derive, disinfect, evaporate, express, extract, ferment, filter, fine, infuse, leach, perfect, precipitate, press, process, purge, purify, rarefy, rectify, refine, sanitize, screen, sieve, sift, sublimate, trim, vaporize, wash (≠ adulterate, begrime, besmirch, blend, churn, cloud, contaminate, defile, dirty, dull, foul, froth, infect, mix, muddle, muddy, poison, pollute, soil, sully, taint)

  DISTINGUISH (←): analyze, catch, clock, consult, define, descry, detect, differentiate, dig, discern, discover, eye, eyeball, flash, focus, identify, individualize, know, mark, note, notice, observe, perceive, read, recognize, remark, scan, scope, scrutinize, separate, signify, specialize, spot, spy (≠ baffle, bewilder, -blank, blind, -bypass, conceal, confound, confuse, connect, deceive, disguise, -disregard, equate, forget, fudge, hide, identify, lose, mask, mislead, misplace, miss, mistake, misunderstand, muddle, mystify, -neglect, -overlook, perplex, puzzle, relate, trick, wholesale)

  DISTINGUISH (+): acclaim, acknowledge, admire, adore, apotheosize, applaud, approve, blandish, celebrate, cherish, commend, compliment, deify, devote, dignify, earn, endorse, ennoble, eulogize, exalt, extol, flatter, glorify, honor, idolize, immortalize, praise, pray, recommend, respect, revere, sanction, venerate, win, worship (≠ abase, abuse, belittle, blast, boo, cheapen, -cut, defame, defile, deflate, degrade, despoil, devaluate, devalue, diminish, -discount, disgrace, dishonor, disrespect, embarrass, -ignore, ill-treat, lower, malign, maltreat, misuse, mock, pare, reduce, -scorn, shame, shave, -spurn, trash, trim, violate, vulgarize)

  DISTINGUISH (+): ascertain, categorize, characterize, classify, collate, decide, deduce, demarcate, determine, diagnose, differentiate, divide, estimate, extricate, finger, grade, identify, individualize, judge, know, label, mark, monogram, name, notice, package, part, particularize, pinpoint, place, prioritize, profile, qualify, recognize, select, separate, sift, slot, sort, specify, spot, stamp, tag (≠ anonymize, blend, churn, compare, conflate, confound, confuse, consolidate, misdiagnose, mislabel, mistake, mix, muddle, predetermine, puzzle, shuffle, synthesize, unify)

  DISTORT (/): alter, bend, buckle, callous, change, coarsen, coil, compress, contort, crimp, crumple, crush, curl, curve, deface, deform, disfigure, dishevel, gnarl, hamper, jumble, kink, knot, loop, mangle, mar, melt, misshape, rack, ripple, rotate, screw, spiral, squash, squinch, squish, stretch, torment, torture, twine, twist, wad, warp, wiggle, wind, wreathe, wrench, wrest, wriggle, wring (≠ align, beautify, build, burnish, clear, equalize, even, flatten, improve, keep, level, plane, polish, preserve, rectify, refine, right, sand, shine, smooth, straighten, unbend, uncrumple, uncurl, untwist)

  DISTORT (/): belie, bend, bias, bleep, bowdlerize, camouflage, censor, churn, cloak, clothe, cloud, color, complicate, con, conceal, confound, confuse, cook, corrupt, costume, deceive, disguise, doctor, double-talk, elaborate, embellish, fake, falsify, fudge, garble, gloss, harshen, mangle, mask, miscommunicate, misconstrue, misdiagnose, mishear, misinterpret, mislead, misread, misrepresent, misstate, mistake, mistranslate, mix, muddle, mutate, mystify, obscure, pervert, predetermine, prejudge, prejudice, pretend, redact, rephrase, scam, scramble, skew, slant, twist, veil, warp, whitewash (≠ authorize, clarify, decipher, deduce, detect, diagnose, elucidate, explain, expose, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, profile, prove, realize, reveal, simplify, suss, unskew, vindicate)

  DISTRACT (←): absorb, amuse, beguile, charm, cheer, delight, detract, -disregard, divert, engage, engross, entertain, enthrall, gladden, interest, occupy, please, regale, relax, sidetrack, stall, thrill, tickle, wow (≠ bore, concentrate, consider, displease, focus, harass, irk, irritate, regard, repel, sadden, sicken, tire, vex, weary, worry)

  DISTRACT (/): aggravate, agitate, ail, alarm, anger, annoy, bedevil, bother, bug, chafe, chivy, concern, confound, daunt, deflect, demoralize, discomfort, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, disquiet, distress, disturb, embarrass, exasperate, exercise, fret, fuss, gall, harass, harry, haunt, irk, irritate, madden, mortify, nag, nettle, nitpick, nonplus, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, plague, rile, torment, undo, unhinge, unnerve, unsettle, upset, vex (≠ allay, alleviate, appease, assuage, calm, comfort, compose, favor, help, humor, hush, lull, mellow, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, quiet, relax, settle, soothe, tranquilize)

  DISTRACT (/): abash, addle, befuddle, bewilder, blind, confound, confuse, daze, derail, derange, discomfit, discompose, disconcert, disorient, disturb, embarrass, faze, fluster, frazzle, freak, jar, mislead, muddle, perplex, puzzle, rattle, shake, throw, trouble, unbalance, unhinge, upset, worry (≠ clarify, compose, concentrate, decipher, detect, floodlight, focus, illuminate, instruct, settle, simplify, steady, untangle)

  DISTRESS (/): abash, afflict, aggravate, agitate, agonize, ail, alarm, anger, anguish, annoy, appall, badger, bedevil, bother, bug, chafe, concern, confound, confuse, daunt, demoralize, demotivate, depress, derail, discomfit, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, discountenance, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, disquiet, distemper, distract, disturb, dizzy, dog, embarrass, exasperate, exercise, faze, fluster, frazzle, freak, fret, fuss, gall, gravel, grieve, harass, harrow, harry, hassle, haunt, heckle, hector, hurt, irk, irritate, jar, mortify, nag, needle, nettle, nitpick, nonplus, pain, peeve, persecute, perturb, pester, plague, rankle, rattle, rile, rock, sadden, shake, sweat, tease, torment, traumatize, trouble, undo, unhinge, unnerve, unsettle, upset, vex, worry (≠ allay, alleviate, amuse, appease
, assuage, balance, brace, calm, center, comfort, compose, conciliate, entertain, humor, hush, lull, mellow, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, quiet, reassure, relax, settle, soothe, stabilize, steady, tranquilize)

  DISTRIBUTE (→): accord, administer, allocate, allot, allow, apportion, appropriate, assign, award, bestow, budget, chunk, circulate, comp, contribute, deal, diffuse, disburse, dispense, disperse, disseminate, divide, divvy, dole, dollop, donate, drizzle, earmark, force-feed, furnish, give, grant, hand, issue, measure, mete, meter, overfeed, parcel, part, pledge, portion, pour, proportion, prorate, provide, provision, ration, reallocate, reapportion, reassign, redistribute, reprovision, reserve, scatter, set, share, split, spread, supply, tender, trickle, yield (≠ appropriate, arrogate, begrudge, confiscate, -decline, -deny, deprive, disallow, keep, misallocate, pinch, -refuse, -reject, retain, scant, skimp, stint, withhold)

  DISTRIBUTE (+): alphabetize, array, assort, catalog, categorize, class, classify, clump, cluster, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, cull, digest, dispose, distinguish, file, grade, group, hierarchize, identify, index, list, marshal, order, organize, peg, pigeonhole, place, prioritize, range, rank, recategorize, reclassify, recognize, refer, regroup, relegate, screen, separate, set, shelve, sieve, sift, slot, sort, subcategorize, systematize, type, winnow (≠ churn, confuse, disarrange, dishevel, jumble, lump, misclassify, missort, mistype, mix, scramble, stir)

  DISTRUST (/): attend, beware, cross-examine, disbelieve, discern, -discount, discredit, doubt, dread, fear, grill, heed, interrogate, mark, mind, mistrust, -negate, note, notice, observe, perceive, question, scruple, suspect, watch, wonder (≠ accept, anticipate, assume, assure, await, believe, consult, count, detect, determine, -discount, -disregard, expect, expose, hope, -ignore, imagine, miss, -overlook, presume, suppose, trust) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  DISTURB (→): alter, bear, budge, cant, capsize, carry, cart, collapse, confuse, convey, derange, dethrone, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, displace, distort, drive, haul, jumble, lug, modify, move, muddle, oust, poke, prod, redo, refashion, relegate, relocate, remake, remodel, remove, replace, reposition, revamp, revise, rework, rock, scramble, shift, shock, shunt, startle, stir, supersede, supplant, tire, topple, tote, touch, transfer, transmit, transplant, transport, transpose, trouble, unhorse, unseat, unsettle, upset, vary (≠ affix, anchor, arrange, attach, blunt, bolster, brace, buffer, calm, comfort, embed, entrench, fix, freeze, glue, humor, hush, implant, ingrain, lodge, lull, mellow, mollify, moor, organize, pacify, placate, reassure, root, secure, set, settle, sort, stabilize, steady)

  DISTURB (→): accost, antagonize, beleaguer, beset, besiege, bother, bug, chaff, chivy, confront, dement, derail, disrupt, distract, enrage, gate-crash, incense, incommode, inconvenience, inflame, infuriate, interrupt, invade, madden, outlast, pester, trespass, trouble, waylay (≠ -avoid, -bypass, console, content, delight, disarm, -disregard, forget, gladden, gratify, -ignore, leave, miss, mollify, oblige, -overlook, placate, please, satisfy, -shun, -sidestep, -slight, -snub, thrill)

  DISTURB (/): agitate, blend, blur, capsize, churn, clutter, confound, confuse, convulse, derange, diffuse, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, displace, disrupt, embroil, entangle, harshen, hash, jumble, mess, mislay, misplace, mix, muddle, muss, perturb, pillage, ransack, rifle, ripple, roil, roughen, ruffle, rummage, rumple, scatter, scramble, shuffle, snarl, stir, swirl, tangle, toss, tousle, trouble, tumble, unsettle, untidy, upset, whip, whisk (≠ adjust, align, arrange, array, calibrate, catalog, categorize, classify, codify, coordinate, dispose, equalize, fix, groom, gussy, marshal, methodize, order, organize, pace, prioritize, queue, range, regiment, regulate, shelve, slot, spruce, straighten, systematize, tidy, tune, tweak, unscramble)

  DISTURB (/): abash, addle, afflict, affront, aggravate, agitate, ail, alarm, amaze, anger, annoy, appall, arouse, astound, badger, bedevil, bother, bug, chafe, complicate, concern, confound, confuse, daunt, demoralize, demotivate, depress, derail, derange, devil, discombobulate, discomfit, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, discountenance, discourage, dishearten, dismay, disorient, dispirit, displease, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, dizzy, dog, dun, earbash, embarrass, exasperate, excite, exercise, faze, fluster, frazzle, freak, fret, frighten, fuss, gall, get, gnaw, grate, grieve, harass, harry, hassle, haunt, heckle, hector, henpeck, infest, irk, irritate, jar, jolt, molest, mortify, muddle, nag, needle, nettle, nitpick, nonplus, outrage, pain, peeve, perplex, persecute, perturb, pester, pique, plague, provoke, puzzle, rankle, rasp, rattle, rile, rock, roil, rouse, ruffle, sadden, shake, sorrow, startle, stir, tease, tire, torment, touch, trouble, undo, unhinge, unnerve, unsettle, upset, vex, worry (≠ allay, alleviate, appease, assuage, calm, charm, coddle, comfort, compose, conciliate, delight, ease, entertain, favor, gratify, humor, hush, indulge, lull, mellow, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, please, pleasure, propitiate, quiet, reassure, relax, satisfy, settle, soothe, stabilize, steady, sugarcoat, thrill, tranquilize, wow)

  -DITCH (/): -abandon, abdicate, abolish, annihilate, cant, chuck, -cold-shoulder, -cut, -desert, discard, dismiss, drop, dump, eighty-six, eject, eliminate, empty, eradicate, exorcise, expunge, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, -forsake, high-hat, jettison, jilt, junk, leave, liquidate, lose, maroon, offload, pitch, plonk, -quit, -reject, remove, scrap, shed, shuck, -slight, -snub, -spurn, toss, unload (≠ adopt, archive, befriend, carry, chauffeur, conserve, embalm, embrace, employ, hoard, hold, keep, latch, pile, preserve, remainder, retain, save, stack, stock, store, take, utilize, welcome)

  DIVERT (→): alter, -avert, bend, change, curve, deflect, distract, funnel, intercept, modify, move, obstruct, rechannel, redirect, refocus, refract, reorient, reroute, reverse, rotate, shift, shunt, sidetrack, stall, sway, swerve, swing, switch, swivel, transfer, turn, twist, wheel, whip, whirl, zigzag (≠ aim, chair, concentrate, direct, focus, insist, maintain, preserve, pursue, seek, stay, sustain, target)

  DIVERT (←): absorb, amuse, appease, beguile, bewitch, busy, captivate, charm, cheer, coddle, comfort, conciliate, console, content, delight, distract, enchant, engage, engross, entertain, enthrall, fascinate, gladden, gratify, grip, humor, hypnotize, immerse, indulge, infantilize, interest, intrigue, involve, mesmerize, mollify, mollycoddle, oblige, occupy, overindulge, pacify, pamper, placate, please, pleasure, propitiate, razzle-dazzle, regale, relax, slay, solace, soothe, spoil, thrill, tickle, wow (≠ aggravate, anger, annoy, -balk, bore, bother, bug, chafe, chaff, dampen, deaden, depress, disappoint, disenchant, disturb, drain, dull, enervate, exasperate, exhaust, fatigue, fret, gall, harass, harry, heckle, irk, irritate, jade, nag, needle, nettle, nitpick, numb, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, rankle, sadden, sedate, stifle, tire, underwhelm, upset, vex, wear, weary, worry)

  DIVIDE (→): administer, allocate, allot, allow, apportion, appropriate, assign, bestow, budget, chunk, circulate, comminute, contribute, deal, diffuse, disburse, dispense, disperse, disseminate, distribute, divvy, dole, donate, furnish, hand, issue, measure, mete, parcel, part, pledge, portion, proportion, provide, ration, redistribute, scatter, share, split, spread, supply, tender, tithe (≠ accumulate, acquire, begrudge, collect, conserve, -decline, -deny, deprive, disallow, hoard, hog, hold, keep, misallocate, monopolize, obtain, pinch, -refuse, -reject, retain, scant, scavenge, skimp, starve, stash, stint, stockpile, stow, withhold)

  DIVIDE (+): alphabetize, arrange, array, assort, catalog, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, cull, digest, dispose, distinguish, distribute, file, grade, group, hierarchize, identify, index, list, marshal, order, organize, peg, pigeonhole, place, polarize, prioritize, range, rank, recategorize, reclassify, recognize, refer, regiment, regroup, relegate, screen, segregate, separate, set, shelve, sieve, sift, slot, sort, subcategorize, systematize, type, winnow (≠ blend, churn, confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, meld, misclassify, mistype, mix, muddle, scramble)

  DIVIDE (/): alienate, bisect, break, chunk, cleave
, cut, detach, disaffect, disassemble, disassociate, disconnect, disengage, disentangle, disintegrate, disjoin, disjoint, dissect, dissolve, disunite, divorce, estrange, fracture, halve, insulate, isolate, orphan, part, partition, polarize, pull, quarter, rend, rip, rive, rupture, seclude, segment, segregate, separate, sequester, sever, split, subdivide, sunder, tear, uncouple, unlink, unravel, untie, unyoke (≠ accumulate, add, assemble, associate, attach, augment, bind, blend, cement, close, combine, connect, couple, double, fasten, fuse, hybridize, integrate, join, knit, link, mingle, mix, mortar, multiply, network, reintegrate, reunite, stick, synthesize, treble, triple, unify, unite, weld)

  DIVINE (+): alert, anticipate, apprehend, augur, caution, conjecture, consult, deduce, discern, envision, forebode, forecast, foresee, foreshadow, foretell, forewarn, guess, harbinger, herald, infer, intuit, outguess, perceive, portend, predict, profile, prognosticate, prophesy, reveal, soothsay, suppose, surmise, suspect, understand, warn (≠ ascertain, assure, bemoan, calculate, deduce, demonstrate, detect, determine, ensure, establish, guarantee, insure, investigate, lament, narrate, prove, recount, regret, relate, report, settle, verify, warrant)

  DIVORCE (/): -abandon, annul, -cancel, detach, disconnect, disjoin, dissolve, disunite, divide, estrange, -forsake, isolate, jilt, -nullify, part, -reject, -repudiate, separate, sever, split, sunder, unmarry (≠ betroth, bind, cement, combine, connect, couple, court, fuse, join, link, marry, meld, reunite, unite, wed, weld, win, woo)