Activate

by Damon Suede

  ELATE (→): animate, boost, brighten, charge, cheer, console, content, delight, dizzy, elevate, energize, enrapture, enthuse, excite, exhilarate, gladden, gratify, hearten, inspire, intoxicate, please, raise, rejoice, rouse, satisfy, spark, stimulate, thrill, transport, uplift, warm, wow (≠ appall, bore, burden, demoralize, demotivate, depress, discourage, dismay, dispirit, distress, enervate, frighten, grieve, harass, lumber, oppress, perplex, sadden, scare, sorrow, terrify, weary, weight)

  ELBOW (→): bulldoze, bump, crash, crowd, hook, hustle, jam, jostle, knock, muscle, nudge, press, push, ram, shoulder, shove, squeeze, steamroll, thrust (≠ -avoid, -bypass, dissuade, draw, -halt, haul, hinder, jerk, pull, tow, tug, wrench, yank)

  ELECT (→): accept, adopt, appoint, cherry-pick, choose, conclude, coopt, cull, decide, designate, determine, embrace, endorse, espouse, fancy, favor, fix, handpick, judge, mark, name, nominate, pick, prefer, preselect, resolve, return, rubber-stamp, select, set, settle, tab, take, tap, wish (≠ blackball, block, -decline, defame, depose, deprive, dethrone, disapprove, discard, disclaim, discredit, disfavor, disgrace, dismiss, displace, jettison, leave, -nix, oust, predetermine, -refuse, -reject, -repudiate, -spurn, unseat, -veto)

  ELECTRIFY (→): activate, agitate, amaze, animate, arouse, astonish, astound, bewitch, captivate, charge, charm, delight, disquiet, disturb, dizzy, enchant, energize, enliven, enthrall, enthuse, excite, exhilarate, fire, frenzy, galvanize, gobsmack, hypnotize, impassion, incite, inflame, inspire, interest, intoxicate, intrigue, invigorate, jar, jolt, mesmerize, motivate, power, provoke, quicken, razzle-dazzle, rivet, rouse, shock, spellbind, stagger, startle, stimulate, stir, strike, stun, tantalize, thrill, titillate, vitalize, wire, wow (≠ baffle, blunt, bore, bother, bug, confound, confuse, dampen, deaden, demoralize, demotivate, depress, discourage, dishearten, drain, dull, exhaust, fatigue, flatten, jade, leech, nag, perplex, puzzle, repulse, sadden, sap, sicken, tire, weary, worry)

  ELEVATE (→): ascend, boost, crane, exalt, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, intensify, jack, lift, magnify, mount, raise, ramp, rear, soar, up, upend, uphold, uplift, upraise (≠ bear, depress, descend, dip, drop, lessen, lower, pitch, plonk, plunge, press, push, sink, slip, submerge, topple)

  ELEVATE (+): acclaim, advance, affirm, aggrandize, apotheosize, applaud, augment, blackball, boost, canonize, celebrate, cite, commend, commission, compliment, congratulate, cultivate, decorate, deify, dignify, distinguish, edify, educate, empower, enhance, enlighten, ennoble, enshrine, ensoul, enthrone, eulogize, exalt, extol, forward, further, glorify, gold-star, hail, heighten, heroicize, heroize, honor, idealize, idolize, improve, inform, instruct, intensify, knight, laud, lift, magnify, nurture, optimize, overhaul, praise, prefer, prioritize, promote, pump, raise, rarefy, refine, revolutionize, romanticize, salute, sanitize, school, sentimentalize, strengthen, sugarcoat, swell, teach, upgrade, uplift (≠ abase, anathematize, attaint, belittle, bench, blast, blister, boo, censure, condemn, declass, decry, degrade, demean, demote, denounce, depose, depreciate, dethrone, detract, disgrace, dishonor, dismiss, disparage, downgrade, expel, fulminate, humble, humiliate, impeach, incriminate, lower, minimize, mortify, oust, overthrow, reduce, remove, ruin, shame, sideline, -spurn, unmake, unseat, vulgarize, wrack, wreck)

  ELEVATE (+): affirm, boost, brighten, buoy, cheer, content, delight, elate, enrapture, excite, exhilarate, gladden, grace, gratify, inspire, intoxicate, please, rejoice, rouse, satisfy, stimulate, thrill, transport, uplift, warm, wow (≠ bother, bug, crush, demoralize, depress, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, distress, irk, oppress, pain, sadden, vex, weary, worry)

  ELICIT (←): bare, bring, coax, derive, detect, determine, disclose, discover, disinter, divulge, drag, draw, dredge, educe, effect, engender, evince, evoke, exact, expose, extort, extract, fathom, fetch, find, gain, generate, get, identify, induce, inspire, make, motivate, obtain, procure, produce, provoke, pull, raise, realize, recognize, reveal, secure, solve, source, uncloak, uncover, unearth, unmask, unravel, unveil, wangle, wrest, wring (≠ bury, comp, conceal, contribute, cover, -deny, -disregard, donate, ensconce, exterminate, forget, furnish, give, hide, -ignore, keep, miss, -neglect, -overlook, quash, -refuse, repress, reserve, soothe, subdue, supply, suppress, tender, tithe, withhold, yield)

  ELIMINATE (/): abolish, annihilate, ban, banish, bar, beat, behead, blackball, blacklist, block, -cancel, cease, checkmate, conquer, debar, deep-six, defeat, delete, deport, destroy, -deter, -discontinue, -disregard, doom, drop, eject, eradicate, erase, euthanize, except, excise, -exclude, -excommunicate, exile, exorcise, expel, expunge, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, -halt, hinder, impede, kill, lick, murder, obliterate, obstruct, -obviate, -omit, oppose, orphan, -ostracize, oust, overwhelm, -preclude, -prevent, -prohibit, raze, -reject, remove, slay, suppress, suspend, terminate, thrash, uproot, ward, weed, whack (≠ accept, adapt, admit, adopt, begin, brainstorm, celebrate, create, defend, embrace, entertain, foster, found, include, initiate, invite, keep, legalize, preserve, promote, receive, retain, shield, sustain, take, weather, welcome)

  -ELUDE (→): anticipate, -avert, -avoid, baffle, ban, bar, bilk, block, burke, -bypass, -circumvent, confound, -decline, deflect, detour, divert, -dodge, -duck, eliminate, -escape, -eschew, -evade, except, -exclude, finesse, -flee, foil, forestall, fox, -frustrate, lose, miss, -obviate, -ostracize, outfox, outmaneuver, outrun, outsmart, outwit, overreach, parry, -preclude, -prevent, puzzle, shake, -shirk, shortcut, shrink, shuffle, -shun, -sidestep, skip, skirt, stall, stonewall, stump, -thwart, underpay, ward, weasel (≠ accept, accost, attract, catch, confront, contact, contract, court, embrace, entice, face, incur, invite, meet, pursue, seek, solicit, target, victimize, waylay, welcome, win, woo)

  EMANCIPATE (+): acquit, alibi, alleviate, deliver, discharge, disengage, disentangle, enfranchise, exonerate, extricate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, parole, ransom, redeem, release, relieve, rescue, save, spring, unbind, unburden, uncage, unchain, uncuff, unfetter, unleash, unlock, unshackle, untie (≠ bind, commit, confine, conquer, convict, cuff, enchain, enslave, fetter, handcuff, hogtie, immure, imprison, incarcerate, institutionalize, intern, jail, lock, manacle, restrain, shackle, straightjacket, subdue, subjugate, trammel)

  EMASCULATE (/): alter, brutalize, castrate, cripple, daunt, deball, debilitate, demoralize, demotivate, desex, devitalize, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, enervate, enfeeble, fix, frighten, geld, impoverish, intimidate, neuter, paralyze, prostrate, sap, savage, scare, soften, spay, terrify, terrorize, tire, unman, unnerve, unsex, unstring, vitiate, waste, weaken, wither (≠ aid, arouse, assist, boost, embolden, encourage, fortify, galvanize, harden, heal, hearten, help, invigorate, mend, nerve, nurture, renew, restore, rouse, stimulate, strengthen, toughen, vitalize)

  EMBALM (/): anoint, archive, bank, bottle, brine, bury, can, cherish, consecrate, conserve, cremate, enshrine, entomb, fossilize, freeze, immortalize, inter, keep, marinate, mummify, perpetuate, petrify, pickle, plant, prepare, preserve, process, ready, refrigerate, save, store, treasure, wrap (≠ activate, corrupt, disintegrate, energize, exhume, heal, invigorate, -neglect, rejuvenate, renew, restore, resuscitate, revive, ruin, spoil, squander, waste, wither)

  EMBARRASS (/): abash, agitate, annoy, appall, bewilder, bother, bug, chagrin, confound, confuse, crush, debase, degrade, demean, discombobulate, discomfit, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, discountenance, discourage, dismay, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, dumbfound, faze, fluster, humble, humiliate, injure, irk, jeer, mock, mortify, nag, nitpick, nonplus, perplex, perturb, pillory, plague, puzzle, rattle, ridicule, shame, -slight, -snub, stun, tease, throw, unhinge, unsettle, upset, wound (≠ assist, assure, boost, buoy, calm, cheer, comfort, compliment, conceal, congratulate, console, cover, dignify, embolden, encourage, gladden, gold-star, gratify, hearten, help, hide, high-five, honor, humor, lull, mellow, mollify, pacify, placate, please, prioritize, reassure, relieve, soothe, support)

  EMBATTLE (+): arm, array, barricade, blockade, bolster, brace, buttress, cover, defend, entrench, equip, fence, forti
fy, furnish, garrison, guard, mobilize, patrol, prepare, protect, ready, reinforce, secure, steady, strengthen, supply, support (≠ boobytrap, damage, discourage, dissuade, -dodge, -elude, -evade, exhaust, expose, hurt, impair, -neglect, sabotage, scotch, scupper, subvert, undercut, undermine, weaken, withhold)

  EMBED (→): bed, bury, connect, cram, deposit, disgorge, drive, enclose, ensconce, entrench, establish, fasten, fix, graft, hammer, imbue, impact, implant, infiltrate, infuse, ingrain, initiate, inject, inlay, insert, inset, insinuate, install, instate, instill, interpose, introduce, juxtapose, locate, lodge, niche, penetrate, pierce, place, plant, plunge, position, press, put, root, set, settle, sink, stick, stuff, wedge (≠ budge, delouse, detach, dislocate, dislodge, disturb, eject, eliminate, eradicate, excise, exorcise, expel, extract, purge, relegate, relocate, remove, reposition, uninstall, uproot, weed, withdraw)

  EMBELLISH (→): accessorize, adorn, amplify, appliqué, array, beautify, bedeck, bedizen, bespangle, blazon, braid, brighten, caparison, color, costume, dandify, deck, decorate, drape, dress, drizzle, elaborate, emblaze, emblazon, emboss, embroider, enhance, enrich, exaggerate, fancify, feather, festoon, figure, filigree, fillet, flavor, flounce, freshen, frill, fringe, fudge, garland, garnish, gild, glamorize, glitter, glitz, grace, hang, lace, magnify, marinate, optimize, ornament, overhaul, overstate, paint, perfume, pigment, raddle, refine, ribbon, season, smarten, spangle, spice, spiff, spruce, stipple, stud, swag, tinsel, tool, trim, wreathe (≠ bare, besmirch, blemish, damage, deface, defile, deform, denude, disfigure, dismantle, display, divest, dull, efface, expose, harm, harshen, injure, mangle, mar, maul, mutilate, reveal, scar, simplify, smear, spoil, stain, streamline, strip, sully, taint, tarnish, uglify, uncover)

  EMBELLISH (←): accent, accentuate, aggrandize, amplify, assert, belabor, bounce, caricature, color, distend, dramatize, dress, elaborate, embroider, emphasize, enhance, enlarge, exaggerate, expand, fudge, glitz, grace, heighten, heroicize, heroize, honor, hyperbolize, idealize, idolize, increase, magnify, maximize, overdo, overdramatize, overdraw, overemphasize, overplay, oversell, overstate, pad, poeticize, puff, punctuate, romanticize, satirize, sensationalize, sentimentalize, sharpen, sophisticate, stress, stretch (≠ abolish, abridge, belittle, dampen, deaden, decrease, decry, deemphasize, deprecate, -discount, dismiss, disparage, downplay, eliminate, eradicate, erode, lessen, minimize, muffle, obliterate, reduce, soften, soft-pedal, trivialize, underemphasize, underrate, understate)

  EMBEZZLE (←): acquire, annex, appropriate, arrogate, assume, attach, burglarize, claim, collar, commandeer, convert, defalcate, filch, grab, grasp, harvest, heist, hijack, hook, lift, loot, misapply, misappropriate, misuse, mooch, nab, nail, nick, nip, nobble, peculate, pick, pilfer, pillage, pinch, pirate, plunder, poach, pocket, preempt, press, procure, purloin, reap, rifle, rob, rustle, sack, seize, snaffle, snatch, snooker, sponge, steal, swindle, swipe, take, thieve, usurp, wrench, wrest (≠ avenge, bankroll, bestow, capitalize, contribute, defend, donate, earn, finance, fund, furnish, generate, give, grant, indemnify, invest, present, provide, reclaim, recoup, recover, repay, replace, restore, retrieve, salvage, subsidize, supply, tender)

  EMBOLDEN (→): animate, assure, boost, buoy, cheer, convince, encourage, energize, enliven, excite, fire, fortify, galvanize, hearten, inflame, inspire, inspirit, invigorate, nerve, prioritize, provoke, quicken, rally, reassure, reinforce, rouse, steel, stimulate, stir, strengthen, vitalize (≠ blackmail, chide, daunt, debilitate, demoralize, demotivate, depress, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, enfeeble, hamstring, hinder, intimidate, sadden, sap, scold, sicken, tire, undermine, unnerve, weaken)

  EMBRACE (→): accost, acknowledge, adopt, approach, bow, cherry-pick, choose, cull, elect, enjoy, greet, hail, handpick, high-five, hug, kiss, name, notice, pick, prefer, receive, salute, select, signal, take, wave, welcome (≠ -avoid, -bypass, cashier, circumnavigate, -circumvent, contradict, counter, -cut, daunt, -decline, -elude, -evade, -exclude, manhandle, oppose, -ostracize, oust, -rebuff, -refuse, -reject, repel, repulse, -snub, -spurn)

  EMBRACE (→): blanket, bower, bracket, camouflage, circle, cloak, clothe, cocoon, curtain, disguise, drape, embed, encase, encircle, enclose, encompass, enfold, enlace, enshroud, envelop, invest, involve, lap, mantle, mask, muffle, orbit, overlay, shroud, subsume, swaddle, swathe, veil, wrap (≠ bare, denude, display, divest, expel, expose, jettison, lose, open, remove, reveal, shed, shuck, strip, uncover)

  EMBRACE (←): bear-hug, caress, clamp, clasp, clinch, clutch, confine, contain, cradle, crush, cuddle, encircle, enclasp, enclose, encompass, enfold, entwine, envelop, fold, fondle, grab, grapple, grasp, grip, hold, hug, lock, nestle, nuzzle, pat, pet, press, seize, snog, snuggle, squeeze, squoosh, strain, stroke, surround, swathe, trap, twine, wrap (≠ alienate, -avoid, disaffect, -ditch, drop, -duck, -evade, lose, miss, -neglect, orphan, -overlook, release, -sidestep, toss, unclasp)

  EMBRACE (+): absorb, accept, accommodate, admit, adopt, affect, appropriate, arrogate, assimilate, assume, borrow, cherish, comprehend, contain, copy, cover, cultivate, domesticate, embody, enclose, encompass, enjoin, espouse, follow, foster, grab, heed, hold, honor, imitate, include, incorporate, integrate, internalize, involve, keep, mind, naturalize, nurture, obey, pretend, prize, quote, raise, rear, receive, retain, reunite, seize, simulate, subsume, treasure, use, usurp, utilize, welcome (≠ -abandon, -boycott, discard, distrust, -eschew, -exclude, -forsake, give, isolate, jettison, junk, -negate, -nix, -omit, oppugn, -ostracize, oust, picket, protest, -reject, relinquish, -renounce, -repudiate, seclude, -shun, -spurn, threaten) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  EMBROIDER (+): accent, accentuate, accrue, adorn, advance, amplify, beautify, bedeck, better, braid, color, correct, deck, decorate, dignify, dress, elaborate, elevate, embellish, emblazon, emphasize, enhance, enrich, exaggerate, fancify, further, garnish, gild, glitz, grace, heighten, heroicize, heroize, honor, idealize, idolize, illuminate, improve, increase, intensify, magnify, ornament, overdramatize, oversell, personalize, poeticize, prettify, progress, punctuate, refine, renovate, revamp, revolutionize, romanticize, sentimentalize, sew, sophisticate, stitch, stretch, tinsel, tool, transform, trim, upgrade (≠ abridge, bare, belittle, besmirch, blemish, condense, contract, decrease, deface, denude, diminish, disfigure, divest, dull, efface, expose, harm, harshen, lessen, mar, minimize, mutilate, reduce, reveal, scar, shorten, shrink, simplify, smear, spoil, stain, streamline, strip, sully, taint, tarnish, uglify, uncover, underemphasize, understate, unsew)

  EMBROIL (←): bog, broil, complicate, compromise, confound, confuse, derange, disorder, disturb, disunite, encumber, enmesh, ensnare, ensnarl, entangle, entrap, implicate, incriminate, involve, jumble, mingle, mire, muddle, perplex, snare, snarl, tangle, trap, trouble (≠ banish, blackball, -bypass, disentangle, disgorge, eject, emancipate, -evade, -exclude, expel, free, isolate, jettison, liberate, -omit, oust, release, remove, separate, -shun, -sidestep, simplify, spew, streamline, uncomplicate)

  EMPHASIZE (→): accent, accentuate, advertise, amplify, assert, augment, beef, belabor, bellow, bolster, boost, build, bump, caricature, color, deepen, double, dramatize, elaborate, embellish, embroider, enhance, enlarge, enrich, exaggerate, expand, feature, focus, foreground, glorify, heighten, highlight, hike, hyperbolize, identify, illuminate, inflate, intensify, magnify, maximize, misrepresent, overdramatize, overemphasize, overestimate, overplay, overrate, oversell, overstate, pad, pinpoint, plug, press, promote, publicize, puff, punctuate, refine, reinforce, romanticize, satirize, sentimentalize, spotlight, strengthen, stress, stretch, supplement, swell, treble, triple, trumpet, underline, underscore, up (≠ abate, abbreviate, abridge, belittle, bury, compress, conceal, curb, curtail, cut, decrease, deemphasize, demean, diminish, -discount, dismiss, disparage, downplay, hide, lessen, mask, minimize, mitigate, moderate, modulate, muffle, obscure, reduce, -scorn, shorten, shrink, smother, stifle, subdue, subtract, underemphasize, understate, weaken)

  EMPLOY (→): apply, bestow, cannibalize, choreograph, deploy, direct, engage, exercise, exert,
exploit, fill, handle, harness, manipulate, occupy, operate, orchestrate, ply, recycle, reuse, run, spend, unsheathe, use, utilize, weaponize, wield, work (≠ block, -ditch, drop, dump, forget, -ignore, invalid, lose, misapply, misplace, misuse, -neglect, -omit, -overlook, shed, -shun, toss, unload)

  EMPLOY (←): advance, appoint, apprentice, assume, commission, contract, engage, enlist, fill, headhunt, hire, ink, keep, obtain, occupy, partner, pay, place, procure, promote, recruit, reemploy, reengage, rehire, retain, scout, secure, sign, subcontract, upgrade (≠ axe, bench, boot, can, cashier, demote, discharge, dismiss, eighty-six, fire, furlough, retire, sack, sideline, terminate)

  EMPOWER (+): activate, advantage, aid, assist, benefit, bless, bolster, brace, buttress, charge, confirm, consolidate, drive, enable, encourage, energize, enforce, enliven, ensoul, entrench, fire, force, forearm, fortify, harden, help, invigorate, power, prop, recharge, reinforce, reinvigorate, revitalize, revive, rouse, spark, steady, steel, stimulate, support, temper, tone, toughen, vivify (≠ arrest, block, cripple, debilitate, deplete, depredate, diminish, disqualify, encumber, enervate, enfeeble, enslave, exhaust, fatigue, hamper, hinder, incapacitate, lessen, oppress, sap, stymie, suppress, -thwart, weaken, wither)