Activate

by Damon Suede

  FILE (+): archive, book, catalog, categorize, classify, compile, enter, index, list, note, organize, pigeonhole, prioritize, process, record, register, reschedule, slate, slot, sort, store, tabulate, tally (≠ access, -cancel, delete, drop, erase, find, forget, lose, misfile, mislay, misplace, miss)

  FILE (/): abrade, buff, burnish, chafe, dress, edge, gloss, grate, grind, hone, plane, polish, pumice, rasp, rub, sand, sandblast, scour, scrape, shape, sharpen, shave, shine, smooth, strop, whet (≠ blunt, callous, coarsen, dull, harshen, indurate, roughen, scuff, soften)

  FILL (→): bloat, brim, bulge, charge, contribute, crowd, crush, distend, drench, flood, furnish, glut, gorge, heap, imbue, impregnate, inflate, interpenetrate, inundate, jam, jam-pack, load, marinate, occupy, overcrowd, overfill, overflow, penetrate, permeate, pervade, provide, refill, refresh, reload, repack, replenish, riddle, sardine, sate, satiate, satisfy, saturate, soak, stock, store, stretch, stuff, suffuse, supply, surfeit, swamp, swell, top (≠ bleed, cannibalize, consume, cripple, debilitate, deplete, depredate, drain, empty, evacuate, exhaust, extract, honeycomb, leach, leech, milk, overextend, pump, remove, siphon, spend, take, unpack, use, vacate, void)

  FILL (→): block, bulk, bung, caulk, chink, choke, clog, close, clot, congest, cork, cram, dam, jam, mat, obstruct, occlude, overstuff, pack, plug, press, ram, repack, restuff, seal, shove, squash, squeeze, stem, stop, stopper, stopple, stuff (≠ clear, core, dent, dig, excavate, furrow, gouge, groove, hollow, scoop, shovel, unearth)

  FILL (→): accomplish, achieve, answer, assign, carry, claim, commit, compass, complete, conclude, consummate, crest, discharge, dispatch, distribute, effect, elect, engage, execute, finalize, finish, fix, fulfill, hold, keep, make, meet, name, occupy, perfect, perform, redeem, satisfy (≠ abdicate, botch, breach, break, -disregard, forfeit, forget, fumble, half-ass, -ignore, -neglect, -overlook, -quit, resign, -slight, transgress, violate)

  FILM (←): bare, broadcast, chronicle, depict, detail, disclose, divulge, document, enumerate, expose, express, itemize, memorialize, photograph, record, recount, relate, render, report, reveal, roll, shoot, take, televise, video, videotape, visualize (≠ bury, -cancel, cloak, clothe, cloud, conceal, costume, delete, disguise, -disregard, erase, forget, hide, hush, mask, obscure, -overlook, screen, sequester, silence, suppress)

  FILTER (←): clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, decontaminate, disinfect, distill, drain, extract, fine, launder, leach, leak, neaten, order, penetrate, percolate, perfect, permeate, process, purge, purify, rectify, refine, sanitize, screen, scrub, sieve, sift, sterilize, strain, tidy, wash, winnow, wipe (≠ accumulate, begrime, besmirch, churn, cloud, collect, combine, compile, contaminate, defile, dirty, dull, foul, froth, garble, gather, jumble, mingle, mix, muddy, pollute, pour, scramble, soil, sully, taint)

  FINAGLE (→): arrange, brew, broker, captain, choreograph, command, compass, concert, conclude, concoct, conduct, contrive, cook, direct, engineer, finesse, frame, gerrymander, handle, hatch, improvise, intrigue, jockey, lobby, machinate, manage, maneuver, manipulate, mastermind, negotiate, orchestrate, outsmart, outthink, plot, quarterback, renegotiate, run, scheme, wangle, wing (≠ blow, bobble, botch, bugger, bungle, butcher, flub, fumble, half-ass, louse, mangle, mess, mishandle, mismanage, muff, ruin, spoil, tank, wreck)

  FINAGLE (←): bamboozle, bluff, bullshit, cheat, clinch, con, cook, deceive, double-talk, euchre, falsify, fiddle, finesse, fudge, game, half-ass, hornswoggle, jerry-build, jerry-rig, manage, maneuver, manipulate, outwit, plot, rig, scheme, secure, snooker, snow, stiff, sucker, swindle, trick (≠ admit, block, confess, confront, -deny, disabuse, disclose, disillusion, divulge, expose, hamper, hinder, impede, -prevent, reveal, stymie, -thwart, uncover, undeceive, unmask)

  FINANCE (→): advantage, aid, assist, award, back, bankroll, benefit, bequeath, bestow, capitalize, clear, cofinance, compensate, contribute, defray, discharge, dispense, donate, dower, endorse, endow, enrich, ensure, establish, extend, facilitate, feed, float, foot, force-feed, foster, found, fuel, fund, furnish, grant, grubstake, guarantee, help, house, invest, keep, lend, liquidate, loan, maintain, nourish, nurture, offer, organize, overfeed, patronize, pay, proffer, profit, promote, provide, -quit, recompense, refinance, refund, reward, serve, settle, sponsor, stake, stand, subscribe, subsidize, suckle, supplement, supply, support, sustain, tend, underwrite (≠ -abandon, accept, acquire, bankrupt, beggar, bilk, borrow, break, bust, cadge, consume, cripple, defund, demand, deplete, deprive, -desert, diminish, disappoint, disinherit, -disown, drain, draw, exhaust, expect, expend, exploit, famish, fleece, foil, -frustrate, hamper, hamstring, hinder, impoverish, leech, -neglect, obtain, overextend, pauperize, receive, reduce, request, ruin, sabotage, sap, scant, scotch, scrounge, scupper, skimp, spend, squander, starve, stiff, stint, straiten, subvert, take, tap, tax, -thwart, waste, weaken, withhold)

  FINESSE (→): arrange, brew, broker, captain, choreograph, command, compass, concert, conclude, concoct, conduct, contrive, direct, engineer, finagle, frame, game, gerrymander, handle, hatch, improvise, intrigue, machinate, manage, maneuver, manipulate, mastermind, negotiate, orchestrate, outsmart, outthink, plot, quarterback, renegotiate, run, scheme, transact, trick, wangle, wing (≠ blow, bobble, botch, bugger, bungle, butcher, flub, fumble, half-ass, mangle, mess, mishandle, muff, ruin, tank, wreck)

  FINESSE (/): -avert, -avoid, ban, bar, -bypass, -circumvent, debar, deflect, divert, -dodge, -duck, eliminate, -elude, -escape, -evade, except, -exclude, foil, fox, -frustrate, miss, -obviate, oppose, -ostracize, outfox, outmaneuver, outsmart, outwit, overreach, parry, -preclude, -prevent, shake, -shirk, shuffle, -shun, skirt, steer, -thwart, ward (≠ accept, catch, contract, court, embrace, incur, pursue, seek, welcome, win, woo)

  FINE-TUNE (+): accommodate, adapt, adjust, align, alter, arm, attune, balance, bend, calibrate, case-harden, convert, correct, customize, doctor, edit, equalize, equip, fashion, fit, harden, harmonize, inure, match, modify, personalize, prepare, prime, punctuate, ready, realign, reconceive, reconceptualize, redefine, refine, reimagine, reinvent, rejigger, remodel, repair, rephrase, restore, rethink, retool, revamp, revise, rig, right, sculpt, season, shape, square, suit, tailor, tone, toughen, transform, tune, tweak, weaponize (≠ blemish, break, cripple, damage, deface, deform, destroy, disable, disfigure, disqualify, disrupt, doom, efface, -halt, hamper, hamstring, harm, harshen, hinder, hobble, impair, incapacitate, mar, misadjust, mismatch, monkey-wrench, ruin, sabotage, scar, scupper, shelve, spoil, stymie, -thwart, undermine, vandalize, weaken, wreck)

  FINGER (→): allege, ascertain, betray, check, clock, determine, diagnose, disclose, discover, distinguish, examine, find, hit, identify, inspect, investigate, isolate, locate, name, notice, observe, pick, pin, pinpoint, place, recall, recognize, remember, reveal, scrutinize, spot (≠ camouflage, cloak, cloud, conceal, costume, counterfeit, disguise, feign, hide, lose, misdiagnose, misplace, simulate)

  FINISH (←): cannibalize, consume, deplete, depredate, devour, dispatch, down, drain, drink, eat, empty, exhaust, expend, guzzle, leech, overextend, spend, use (≠ concoct, cook, feed, fill, fuel, keep, maintain, prepare, ready, replenish, restore, save, stock, store, victual)

  FINISH (/): -abort, absolve, accomplish, achieve, attain, cap, cease, claim, clinch, close, complete, conclude, consummate, crest, crown, determine, discharge, -discontinue, effect, end, execute, finalize, fold, fulfill, -halt, perfect, realize, scratch, scrub, settle, shutter, stop, terminate, wrap (≠ begin, block, brainstorm, commence, hamper, hinder, inaugurate, initiate, inspire, -preclude, -prevent, scamp, spark, stall, start, trigger)

  FINISH (/): annihilate, assassinate, atomize, best, checkmate, conquer, crush, defeat, destroy, dispatch, doom, down, euthanize, execute, exterminate, kill, leach, liquidate, outlast, overcome, overpower, overthrow, overwhelm, rout, ruin, slaughter, slay, steamroller, terminate, topple, unhorse, unseat, vaporize, whup, wrack, wreck (≠ armor, bear, build, construct, create, defend, embalm, establish, found, gestate, preserve, protect, rescue, revive, save, secure, shield, support, survive, sus
tain, weather)

  FIRE (→): axe, ban, banish, boot, bounce, bump, bust, can, cashier, chuck, depose, discard, discharge, dislodge, dismiss, displace, dispossess, downsize, drop, drum, eject, excuse, exempt, expel, furlough, -nix, -ostracize, oust, pink-slip, release, relieve, remove, replace, retire, rout, sack, separate, spare, supersede, supplant, suspend, terminate, toss, trim, turf, unload, unseat (≠ appoint, assign, boost, contract, delegate, employ, engage, hire, invite, keep, nominate, promote, propose, protect, pursue, recruit, reemploy, rehire, retain, sign, subcontract, task, welcome)

  FIT (←): accommodate, carry, contain, enclose, encompass, enfold, harbor, hold, house, include, incorporate, involve, room, seat, shelter, shield, take (≠ banish, blackball, dismiss, eject, endanger, expel, harm, hurt, imperil, oust, -refuse, -reject, relegate) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  FIT (+): acclimate, accommodate, accustom, adapt, adjust, align, alter, approximate, arm, attune, automate, balance, bend, calibrate, condition, convert, correct, customize, doctor, edit, equalize, equip, fashion, fine-tune, gear, habituate, harden, harmonize, inure, match, mechanize, model, modify, motorize, naturalize, orient, pattern, phase, prepare, prime, punctuate, put, ready, realign, recast, reclaim, recycle, redesign, redevelop, reengineer, refashion, refocus, register, regulate, rehearse, reinvent, rejigger, remake, remodel, reorient, repair, rephrase, rethink, retool, revamp, revise, rework, rig, right, sculpt, season, shape, square, suit, tailor, toughen, transform, tune, tweak (≠ -boycott, damage, -eschew, freeze, harm, hinder, hold, homogenize, keep, misadjust, mismatch, picket, -prohibit, protest, standardize)

  FIT (+): accept, accommodate, align, balance, blend, combine, connect, dovetail, equal, follow, graft, harmonize, join, link, match, meet, square, suit, tally, unify, unite (≠ alienate, battle, challenge, contradict, counter, defy, disrupt, estrange, gainsay, integrate, jar, -negate, -nullify, rattle, reintegrate, resist, rile, roil, shake, skew, unsettle) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  FIX (→): affix, anchor, attach, bind, bond, catch, cement, chain, clamp, clinch, congeal, connect, consolidate, couple, embed, entrench, establish, fasten, glue, graft, harden, hitch, implant, inculcate, ingrain, install, instill, join, juxtapose, link, locate, lodge, moor, mortar, nail, peg, pin, place, plant, position, rigidify, rivet, root, screw, secure, set, settle, situate, solidify, stabilize, station, steady, stick, stiffen, stud, stuff, thicken, tie, wedge (≠ alter, change, crack, destroy, detach, disorganize, extract, loose, loosen, prize, pry, pull, remove, sever, tear, unfasten, unsettle, uproot, wrest, yank)

  FIX (←): arrange, bribe, buy, coerce, cook, corrupt, distort, doctor, embellish, embroider, fake, falsify, fiddle, finagle, finesse, forge, game, grease, hamper, influence, lubricate, maneuver, manipulate, massage, misrepresent, nobble, pervert, pretend, reach, rig, square, suborn, subvert, twist (≠ accuse, bobble, botch, bugger, bungle, confess, confirm, corroborate, debunk, expose, flub, fumble, honor, indict, investigate, mishandle, obey, recoup, resist, restore, save, validate, verify)

  FIX (+): absorb, aim, attract, channel, concentrate, direct, draw, fasten, focus, hold, level, point, rivet, target, turn (≠ addle, blur, bore, confuse, -disregard, distract, -ignore, muddle, -omit, -overlook, -sidestep)

  FIX (+): adjust, aid, align, alter, ameliorate, amend, automate, balance, better, calibrate, center, clout, compose, computerize, condition, connect, coordinate, correct, cure, debug, doctor, edit, emend, enhance, enrich, equalize, face-lift, fine-tune, fit, focus, freshen, furbish, gentrify, grind, heal, help, improve, maintain, mend, modernize, optimize, overhaul, pace, patch, perfect, polish, prepare, punctuate, readjust, ready, realign, reassemble, rebuild, reconceive, reconceptualize, recondition, reconstruct, rectify, refine, refresh, refurbish, regenerate, regulate, rehabilitate, reimagine, reinvent, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, remedy, renew, renovate, repair, rephrase, reshuffle, restore, restructure, retool, retread, revamp, revise, revitalize, revive, revolutionize, right, service, set, sharpen, shine, shuffle, sort, square, stimulate, tighten, troubleshoot, update, upgrade (≠ -abandon, blemish, break, callous, coarsen, cripple, damage, deface, destroy, disable, disfigure, doom, efface, flaw, -frustrate, half-ass, harm, harshen, hurt, impair, injure, maim, mangle, mar, monkey-wrench, mutilate, -neglect, ruin, scotch, short-circuit, spoil, vandalize, wound, wreck)

  FIX (+): adjust, align, arm, arrange, array, balance, barber, batten, brace, brush, cast, categorize, chart, class, classify, collate, comb, compose, control, design, devise, draft, dress, equip, establish, fit, forearm, form, fortify, frame, furnish, gird, grade, groom, group, gussy, harmonize, integrate, lay, machinate, maintain, manicure, marshal, mediate, methodize, mount, neaten, normalize, orchestrate, order, organize, outfit, pace, pigeonhole, place, plan, plot, prep, prepare, prime, primp, prioritize, program, provide, rank, rate, rationalize, ready, regulate, reintegrate, right, schedule, schematize, scheme, school, score, screen, separate, set, settle, shape, sift, sleek, smarten, smooth, sort, spread, stabilize, steady, steel, straighten, stratify, structure, subordinate, supply, support, synchronize, systematize, tidy, time, titivate, train, type, unify, unsnarl (≠ bedraggle, break, churn, confuse, destroy, dirty, disarrange, disarray, disconnect, dishevel, disorder, disorganize, disperse, disrupt, disturb, jumble, knot, mess, mix, move, muddle, muss, ruin, rumple, scatter, scramble, snarl, soil, strew, tangle, untidy, upset)

  FIX (+): assemble, barbecue, blend, brew, brown, combine, compose, compound, concoct, cook, craft, fit, flavor, fricassee, frizzle, froth, fry, fuse, griddle, grill, heat, incorporate, infuse, make, marinate, mash, meld, merge, microwave, mingle, mix, prepare, produce, ready, richen, roast, sauté, sear, season, serve, singe, sizzle, spice, stew, toast, warm (≠ consume, crave, demand, devour, eat, fancy, guzzle, ingest, order, relish, request, ruin, savor, spoil, wolf)

  FIXATE (←): absorb, bewitch, captivate, compel, concern, direct, enchant, engage, engross, excite, fascinate, grip, haunt, hypnotize, infatuate, interest, intrigue, involve, mesmerize, obsess, occupy, preoccupy, prepossess, razzle-dazzle, rivet, settle, steady (≠ annoy, bore, bug, chagrin, confound, deflect, -disregard, distract, exhaust, fluster, frustrate, offend, -overlook, repulse, sidetrack, tire, weary) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  FLABBERGAST (→): abash, amaze, appall, astonish, astound, befuddle, bewilder, bewitch, blindside, boggle, confound, confuse, daze, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, dumbfound, energize, excite, floor, flummox, gobsmack, grab, interest, jar, move, needle, nettle, nitpick, nonplus, outlast, overcome, overwhelm, perplex, razzle-dazzle, rock, rouse, shake, shock, stagger, startle, stun, stupefy, surprise, sway, throw, wow (≠ anesthetize, annoy, anticipate, bore, bother, calm, exhaust, expect, help, irk, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, pacify, placate, soothe, tranquilize, vex, weary)

  FLAG (→): acquaint, advise, alert, beckon, buzz, cue, flourish, guide, hail, inform, mime, motion, notify, nudge, pantomime, prompt, relate, salute, sign, signal, tell, wave (≠ block, cloak, clothe, cloud, conceal, discourage, disguise, hide, -ignore, mask, -neglect, obscure, -rebuff, repel, withhold)

  FLAG (→): brand, budget, caption, caution, denote, designate, earmark, hallmark, identify, label, mark, monogram, name, note, stamp, stigmatize, tab, tag, ticket, warn (≠ allow, anonymize, -blank, -bypass, -disregard, forget, -ignore, mislabel, -neglect, -omit, -overlook, permit, skip, -slight)

  FLATTEN (→): abrade, compress, crush, depress, flush, grade, ground, iron, level, plane, plaster, press, roll, sleek, smooth, squash, straighten, uncrumple, unfold, unwrinkle (≠ break, buckle, crease, crimp, crumple, dent, fold, nock, pit, round, ruck, rumple, wrinkle)

  FLATTEN (/): annihilate, atomize, bastardize, beat, best, better, blast, bomb, break, bulldoze, bury, cap, checkmate, clobber, collapse, conquer, cow, cream, crush, debase, decimate, deep-six, defeat, deflate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, dismantle, dispatch, doom, drub, dust, dynamite, eclipse, end, eradicate, exceed, explode, exterminate, fell, finish, floor, fragment, hurdle, level, lick,
master, obliterate, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overcome, overpower, overthrow, overturn, overwhelm, plunder, prostrate, pulverize, quash, quell, ravage, raven, raze, rout, ruin, shatter, shellac, sink, skin, skunk, slaughter, smash, smoke, smother, squelch, steamroller, subdue, subjugate, succeed, suppress, surmount, surpass, sweep, take, tame, thrash, throw, top, topple, torpedo, trample, transcend, trim, tromp, trounce, trump, unhorse, unseat, upend, upset, vanquish, vaporize, wallop, wax, whip, whomp, whup, wreck (≠ assemble, augment, boost, build, catalyze, commence, conceive, construct, craft, create, design, develop, elevate, engender, enhance, erect, establish, fabricate, fashion, foster, found, generate, gentrify, improve, maintain, manufacture, mend, organize, perpetuate, preserve, produce, prop, protect, raise, rear, rebuild, rectify, renovate, repair, restore, salvage, save, sculpt, secure, shape, stand, strengthen, support, survive, sustain, upgrade, weather, withstand)

  FLATTER (←): adulate, applaud, blandish, blarney, bootlick, brownnose, butter, cajole, charm, coax, commend, compliment, con, congratulate, court, deceive, double-talk, endear, eulogize, extol, felicitate, flannel, gammon, glad-hand, glorify, grease, hero-worship, honey, humbug, humor, idolize, ingratiate, inveigle, jolly, laud, magnify, massage, mislead, oil, overpraise, oversell, palaver, persuade, pet, praise, promote, puff, pursue, respect, revere, romance, rub, salve, schmooze, seduce, sell, serenade, snow, soap, soften, soft-soap, solicit, soothe, stroke, sucker, sugarcoat, sway, sweeten, sweet-talk, swindle, syrup, tempt, treasure, venerate, wheedle, win, woo, worship (≠ abuse, anathematize, badmouth, belittle, blackguard, blame, blast, blister, boo, castigate, chide, condemn, criticize, critique, decry, demean, demonize, denounce, denunciate, deride, disparage, disrespect, flay, fulminate, humble, humiliate, insult, mock, offend, pillory, ridicule, scalp, scold, -scorn, -shun, -slight, -snub, -spurn, tease)