by Damon Suede
IMPROVE (+): adapt, adjust, advance, aid, alter, ameliorate, amend, assist, augment, automate, barber, beautify, better, boost, brighten, burnish, calibrate, calm, change, chasten, civilize, clean, clear, coach, computerize, convert, correct, cultivate, cure, develop, dulcify, ease, edify, edit, educate, elevate, enhance, enlighten, enrich, exercise, fine-tune, flavor, fortify, glamorize, glitter, glitz, groom, grow, guide, gussy, help, hone, humanize, increase, manicure, mellow, mend, modernize, modify, moralize, normalize, nurture, optimize, overhaul, pace, perfect, polish, prioritize, promote, punctuate, purify, raise, rally, realign, rebuild, reclaim, reconceive, reconceptualize, recover, rectify, redefine, redress, reeducate, refine, reform, refurbish, regenerate, regulate, rehabilitate, reimagine, reinforce, reinvent, remedy, remodel, repair, rephrase, restore, restructure, resuscitate, rethink, retool, retouch, retrofit, revamp, revise, revitalize, revolutionize, richen, right, school, season, shape, sharpen, shift, shine, smarten, sophisticate, spice, streamline, strengthen, sweeten, teach, titivate, train, transform, tune, tutor, tweak, update, upgrade, weaponize (≠ aggravate, barbarize, bastardize, bestialize, blemish, blight, callous, castrate, coarsen, compromise, damage, debase, debilitate, deface, deteriorate, diminish, disfigure, dismantle, drain, efface, emasculate, encumber, enervate, flaw, harm, harshen, hurt, immobilize, impair, injure, lessen, lower, maim, mar, pervert, pollute, reduce, ruin, scotch, spoil, tarnish, unman, vitiate, weaken, worsen)
IMPROVISE (+): ad-lib, arrange, brainstorm, brew, coin, concoct, contrive, cook, extemporize, fabricate, fake, fiddle, fix, hatch, improv, invent, jerry-build, jerry-rig, manage, maneuver, manipulate, manufacture, pretend, rig, scheme, vamp, wangle, wing (≠ arrange, calculate, chart, design, devise, engineer, graph, orchestrate, organize, plan, plot, practice, premeditate, prepare, ready, regiment, rehearse, script, strategize, structure)
IMPUGN (/): abuse, admonish, assail, attack, berate, betray, blame, blast, break, censure, challenge, chastise, chide, contradict, contravene, counter, criticize, critique, cross, cross-examine, debate, debunk, defame, denigrate, denounce, -deny, discredit, -disown, disprove, dispute, distrust, doubt, fault, finger, frame, gainsay, grill, impeach, insult, interrogate, invalidate, knock, neg, -negate, oppose, question, rebuke, reprimand, resent, resist, revile, ridicule, rip, scapegoat, scold, shame, shred, -shun, slam, slander, smear, -spurn, suspect, tar, traduce, trash, upbraid, vilify, vituperate, wrong, zap, zing (≠ aid, allow, approve, assist, blandish, boost, compliment, concede, confirm, corroborate, defend, elevate, flannel, flatter, help, honor, ingratiate, join, praise, prioritize, promote, protect, prove, support, uphold, validate, vindicate)
INACTIVATE (/): arrest, cripple, damage, deactivate, deaden, defuse, disable, disqualify, freeze, -halt, hamstring, hobble, immobilize, impair, impede, incapacitate, inhibit, mothball, paralyze, prostrate, restrain, sabotage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shelve, stabilize, stagnate, stale, stop, stymie, subdue, subvert, -thwart, undermine, weaken (≠ activate, agitate, animate, correct, cure, fix, ignite, initiate, mend, mobilize, remedy, repair, right, rile, roil, spark, spur, start, stimulate, stir, trigger, wake, weaponize)
INAUGURATE (+): arrange, author, begin, brainstorm, commence, commission, conceive, concoct, constitute, construct, contrive, create, dedicate, develop, devise, endow, enlarge, establish, expand, fabricate, father, finance, found, fund, induct, initiate, innovate, install, instate, instigate, institute, introduce, invent, invest, launch, manufacture, open, ordain, organize, originate, pioneer, plant, produce, refound, reinitiate, reinstitute, relaunch, start, subsidize, systematize, systemize (≠ abolish, -abort, adjourn, annihilate, annul, axe, can, -cancel, cease, close, conclude, discharge, end, expel, finish, fire, -halt, impeach, -nullify, oust, recess, remove, retract, shut, stop, terminate, uninstall)
INCAPACITATE (/): anesthetize, attenuate, bang, bash, batter, beat, belt, bludgeon, boobytrap, box, break, bruise, buffet, castrate, chloroform, club, concuss, conk, cripple, crucify, damage, debilitate, demilitarize, deprive, devitalize, disable, disarm, disfigure, dismember, disqualify, drain, drub, emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, fatigue, flog, gore, hammer, hamstring, harm, hinder, hit, hobble, hogtie, hurt, immobilize, impair, injure, kill, knacker, kneecap, lace, lacerate, lambaste, lame, lash, lick, maim, mangle, maul, murder, mutilate, overextend, palsy, paralyze, paste, pelt, pommel, pound, prostrate, pummel, punch, restrict, sabotage, sap, scar, scotch, scupper, scuttle, sedate, shelve, shrivel, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thrash, thump, thwack, tire, torment, torpefy, torture, trank, tranquilize, undercut, undermine, unman, unnerve, vanquish, wallop, weaken, whack, whip, wing, wither, wizen, wound (≠ advantage, benefit, cure, doctor, embattle, empower, encourage, energize, enhance, facilitate, fix, fortify, freshen, galvanize, heal, invigorate, leech, mend, militarize, optimize, overhaul, patch, permit, refresh, regenerate, rehabilitate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, remedy, renew, repair, restore, revitalize, revive, revolutionize, stimulate, strengthen, supercharge, support, teach, train, vitalize, weaponize)
INCARCERATE (/): apprehend, arrest, bar, bind, book, bust, cage, can, capture, catch, closet, commit, confine, constrain, detain, dungeon, enchain, fetter, gate, handcuff, hogtie, hold, ice, immure, impound, impress, imprison, institutionalize, jail, jug, keep, limit, lock, manacle, nab, pen, pinch, remand, restrain, restrict, seize, sentence, shackle, shanghai, shut, snaffle, stockade, straightjacket, trammel, trap (≠ accuse, acquit, alibi, bail, clear, deliver, discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, excuse, exonerate, free, liberate, manumit, pardon, parole, redeem, release, spare, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, vindicate)
INCENSE (→): affront, aggravate, agitate, anger, annoy, antagonize, bug, burn, cross, embitter, enrage, envenom, exasperate, gravel, hassle, heckle, incite, inflame, infuriate, irk, irritate, madden, miff, nag, needle, nettle, niggle, nitpick, offend, outrage, peeve, pique, provoke, rankle, rile, roil, ruffle, troll, vex (≠ allay, appease, assuage, beguile, bewitch, calm, captivate, charm, comfort, conciliate, console, delight, disarm, enchant, entertain, gratify, help, humor, hush, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, pacify, placate, please, quiet, relax, relieve, sedate, settle, soothe, thrill, woo, wow)
INCINERATE (/): annihilate, barbecue, blacken, blaze, brand, broil, burn, cauterize, char, consume, cook, cremate, damage, destroy, flame, ignite, immolate, kindle, light, melt, obliterate, parch, rekindle, roast, scald, scorch, sear, singe, torch (≠ chill, cool, douse, drench, drown, extinguish, freeze, smother, stifle, suffocate, survive, weather, wet)
INCITE (→): abet, activate, advance, agitate, animate, arouse, awaken, beget, boost, brew, call, convince, cultivate, detonate, drive, egg, embolden, encourage, energize, enliven, enrage, excite, exhort, facilitate, fan, fast-forward, fast-track, ferment, fire, foment, forward, foster, fuel, further, galvanize, generate, goad, hurry, ignite, impassion, impel, induce, inflame, influence, infuriate, inspire, instigate, invigorate, jazz, juice, kindle, liven, lubricate, midwife, motivate, move, nourish, nurture, persuade, pick, pique, prick, prod, promote, prompt, propel, provoke, psych, quicken, rabble-rouse, raise, rally, rev, rouse, set, sow, spark, spur, stimulate, stir, supercharge, taunt, trigger, urge, vitalize (≠ allay, appease, bridle, calm, check, confound, constrain, counteract, cripple, curb, deactivate, demotivate, -deter, discourage, dissuade, freeze, help, hold, humor, inactivate, inhibit, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, obstruct, occlude, override, pace, pacify, paralyze, placate, quiet, regulate, rein, restrain, settle, soothe, stall, stem, still, straightjacket, stymie, subdue, suppress, tame, tranquilize)
INCLUDE (←): accommodate, add, admit, allow, append, bear, build, carry, combine, constitute, contain, count, cover, embody, embrace, encircle, enclose, encompass, enjoin, entail, enter, greet, hold, implicate, incorporate, inject, insert, integrate, interject, interpolate, introduce, invite, involve, number, orbit, permit, receive, reckon, span, subsume, take, welcome (≠ -abandon, ban, bar, cordon, -cut, -deny, discard, divide, drop, eject, eliminate, erase, -exclude, forget, je
ttison, leave, misplace, -neglect, offload, -omit, oppose, -ostracize, oust, -prevent, -prohibit, -refuse, -reject, release, remove, separate, -shun, subtract, withdraw)
INCONVENIENCE (←): aggravate, agitate, anger, annoy, bother, bug, burden, chafe, discombobulate, discommode, discompose, disfavor, disoblige, disrupt, disturb, encumber, exacerbate, exasperate, fetter, fuss, gall, get, grate, -halt, hamper, hamstring, handicap, harass, hassle, hinder, hobble, impede, incommode, inhibit, irk, lumber, manacle, mismatch, nag, needle, nettle, niggle, nitpick, obstruct, overload, peeve, perturb, pique, provoke, retard, rile, saddle, shackle, trammel, trouble, try, upset, vex, weigh, worry (≠ abet, accommodate, advantage, aid, alleviate, appease, assist, benefit, comfort, conciliate, console, content, delight, disarm, ease, enhance, facilitate, favor, gladden, gratify, grease, help, lubricate, mollify, oblige, oil, pacify, placate, please, profit, satisfy, smooth, support)
INCORPORATE (←): absorb, acculturate, accustom, assimilate, blend, combine, commingle, condition, coopt, digest, embody, embrace, encompass, enculturate, fuse, habituate, ingest, integrate, intermingle, internalize, merge, metabolize, mingle, naturalize, reunite, subsume (≠ alienate, chuck, disaffect, discard, disgorge, -ditch, divide, eject, estrange, -exclude, exorcise, expel, isolate, jettison, -omit, oppose, -ostracize, oust, resist, seclude, spew, vomit)
INCORPORATE (+): add, amalgamate, associate, blend, coalesce, collage, combine, commingle, composite, compound, concrete, conflate, conjoin, consolidate, contain, cover, emulsify, fold, form, fuse, homogenize, hybridize, include, integrate, intermingle, intermix, intertwine, interweave, join, knit, link, meld, merge, mingle, mix, organize, pool, reintegrate, stir, synthesize, toss, unify, unite, weave (≠ cleave, detach, diffuse, disengage, disjoin, disperse, dissolve, disunite, divide, divorce, isolate, part, rupture, scatter, seclude, separate, sever, split, sunder, unmix)
INCREASE (+): accent, accentuate, accrue, accumulate, add, advance, aggrandize, aggravate, amplify, annex, assert, augment, boost, broaden, build, deepen, develop, dilate, distend, double, emphasize, enhance, enlarge, escalate, exaggerate, expand, extend, flavor, foster, further, gain, gather, grow, heighten, improve, inflate, intensify, lengthen, magnify, marinate, maximize, multiply, optimize, overhaul, pad, prioritize, progress, prolong, protract, punctuate, raise, recoup, redouble, reinforce, revolutionize, richen, rouse, season, sharpen, spice, spread, strengthen, supplement, swarm, swell, thicken, treble, triple, unspool, wax, widen (≠ abate, abbreviate, abridge, compact, compress, concentrate, contract, curb, curtail, debit, decrease, deduct, deflate, deplete, diminish, drain, erode, leach, leech, lessen, lose, lower, minimize, moderate, reduce, shorten, shrink, subtract, truncate, underemphasize)
INCRIMINATE (/): accuse, allege, arraign, attack, attaint, attribute, blame, book, brand, castigate, censure, charge, chide, cite, condemn, criticize, damn, denounce, fault, finger, frame, impeach, implicate, impugn, inculpate, indict, inform, insinuate, involve, name, prosecute, rebuke, report, reproach, reprove, sue, summon, try (≠ absolve, acquit, alibi, champion, clear, confess, defend, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, forgive, free, ingratiate, justify, pardon, release, shrive, spare, vindicate)
INCUBATE (+): birth, brainstorm, breed, brew, brood, conceive, concoct, contrive, create, cultivate, design, develop, devise, engender, enlarge, evolve, expand, feed, form, formulate, foster, fuel, generate, gestate, grow, hatch, improvise, initiate, invent, lay, machinate, nourish, nurture, originate, plan, plot, produce, project, propagate, scheme, spawn (≠ -abandon, annihilate, battle, combat, counter, damage, exterminate, fight, foil, hamper, hinder, impede, injure, kill, murder, mutate, obliterate, oppose, -prevent, -prohibit, snuff, squelch, starve, stifle, suppress, terminate)
INCUBATE (+): abet, advance, advertise, advocate, agitate, aid, assist, back, boost, champion, cultivate, encourage, endorse, endow, finance, forward, foster, fund, further, nourish, nurse, nurture, patronize, plug, promote, publicize, stake, subsidize, support, tout, underwrite, uphold (≠ arrest, ban, bar, check, discourage, encumber, enjoin, fetter, -forbid, -frustrate, -halt, hobble, impede, inhibit, obstruct, outlaw, -prevent, -prohibit, proscribe, repress, retard, shackle, snuff, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress)
INCUR (←): achieve, arouse, awaken, bait, brave, brook, contract, earn, elicit, endure, engender, entice, evoke, excite, experience, face, gain, generate, goad, incite, induce, inflame, inspire, instigate, kindle, motivate, move, prod, produce, promote, prompt, provoke, risk, rouse, run, shoulder, spark, spur, stimulate, stir, suffer, sustain, tolerate, urge, weather (≠ -avert, -avoid, -bypass, deduct, discourage, -ditch, -dodge, forfeit, lessen, lose, miss, misunderstand, pass, -prevent, push, reduce, -sidestep, stop, subtract, withhold)
INDEX (+): access, account, adjust, align, alphabetize, archive, arrange, array, audit, book, budget, calibrate, card, catalog, categorize, check, chronicle, classify, clock, codify, collect, compile, coordinate, count, detail, docket, document, enroll, enter, enumerate, file, generalize, grade, hierarchize, inscribe, inventory, invoice, itemize, label, list, log, methodize, minute, notate, note, order, organize, prioritize, queue, record, reference, register, regulate, reschedule, scan, schedule, score, scrutinize, slate, slot, sort, store, straighten, summarize, systematize, table, tabulate, tag, tally, tidy, total, unscramble, wait-list (≠ addle, anonymize, baffle, churn, clutter, confound, confuse, delete, disarrange, dishevel, disorder, disorganize, displace, disrupt, disturb, entangle, erase, faze, garble, hash, intermix, jumble, mess, mingle, mislabel, mislay, misplace, mix, muddle, muddy, muss, mystify, perplex, randomize, roil, ruffle, rummage, rumple, scatter, scramble, shuffle, snarl, stir, swirl, tangle, toss, tousle, untidy)
INDICT (/): accuse, allege, arraign, attaint, attribute, blame, book, castigate, censure, charge, chide, cite, condemn, criticize, damn, decry, denounce, denunciate, deride, fault, finger, frame, impeach, implicate, impugn, incriminate, litigate, name, prosecute, rebuke, report, reproach, reprove, subpoena, sue, summon, tax, try (≠ absolve, acquit, advocate, alibi, appeal, champion, defend, excuse, exonerate, forgive, free, justify, liberate, pardon, release, remit, shrive, spare, vindicate)
INDOCTRINATE (+): brainwash, brief, catechize, coach, colonize, condition, consult, convert, convince, direct, discipline, drill, edify, educate, enlighten, familiarize, fix, gaslight, ground, guide, hypnotize, imbue, implant, impress, imprint, inculcate, influence, inform, infuse, ingrain, initiate, instill, instruct, introduce, lead, lecture, mentor, plant, prepare, prime, program, propagandize, qualify, rear, retrain, school, show, teach, train, tutor (≠ -abandon, accept, assail, believe, buck, challenge, champion, contest, criticize, cross-examine, debunk, defend, defy, deprogram, disbelieve, discredit, disprove, dispute, distrust, doubt, embrace, fight, forget, grill, impugn, interrogate, interview, learn, liberate, mistrust, -neglect, oppose, promote, protest, question, resist, support, swallow, trust, vilify)
INDUCE (←): abet, activate, actuate, breed, bribe, bulldoze, cajole, coax, convince, draw, encourage, engender, entreat, force, generate, glad-hand, goose, impel, incite, influence, inspire, instigate, lubricate, lure, midwife, motivate, move, originate, palaver, persuade, press, procure, produce, promote, prompt, provoke, schmooze, seduce, soft-soap, spark, spur, squeeze, steamroll, suborn, sway, sweet-talk, tantalize, tease, tempt, trigger, urge, wheedle (≠ arrest, cripple, curb, dampen, deactivate, demotivate, -deter, discourage, dissuade, freeze, hamper, hobble, impede, inactivate, inhibit, limit, nobble, paralyze, -prevent, -prohibit, protest, quash, quell, restrain, restrict, scotch, smother, snuff, squash, squelch, squench, stall, stem, straightjacket, stymie, suppress, -thwart)
INDULGE (←): abate, allay, alleviate, appease, appreciate, approve, assuage, cater, celebrate, cloy, consume, content, demolish, devour, eat, enjoy, experience, extinguish, fancy, feast, fill, fulfill, glut, gorge, gratify, gulp, guzzle, humor, ingest, inhale, lighten, mitigate, moderate, moisten, oblige, overfill, prize, quench, reduce, relieve, relish, sample, sate, satiate, satisfy, saturate, savor, slake, smell, snarf,
sniff, surfeit, swallow, swig, swill, taste, touch, treasure, whiff, wolf (≠ abuse, amplify, annoy, arouse, betray, covet, crave, demand, -deny, depress, deprive, desire, disappoint, dissatisfy, distress, entice, envy, -eschew, exacerbate, excite, expect, famish, fancy, forfeit, forgo, frustrate, inhibit, intensify, lure, provoke, -refuse, regret, -reject, -renounce, repent, restrain, rue, scant, scrimp, seek, -shun, skimp, starve, stifle, stimulate, stint, tantalize, target, taunt, tease, tempt, trigger, underfeed, want, withhold, wrong)
INDULGE (+): accommodate, amuse, appease, baby, caress, cherish, coddle, conciliate, cosset, cotton, cradle, cuddle, delight, entertain, favor, featherbed, fondle, foster, gratify, humor, infantilize, lavish, mitigate, moderate, mollycoddle, nourish, nurse, nurture, oblige, overindulge, pacify, pamper, pet, placate, please, pleasure, regale, reward, satiate, satisfy, smother, soothe, spoil, spoon-feed, tickle, tolerate, treat (≠ anguish, bridle, check, constrain, control, crucify, curb, discipline, disfavor, -frustrate, harass, harm, hurt, injure, malnourish, menace, -neglect, oppress, outrage, persecute, restrain, sadden, sicken, threaten, torment, torture, traumatize, underfeed, upset, victimize, violate, wound, wrong)