by Damon Suede
INSPECT (←): analyze, anatomize, appraise, assess, attend, audit, benchmark, browse, calculate, case, categorize, chart, check, clock, comb, con, conclude, connect, consider, consult, contemplate, contextualize, contrast, correlate, criticize, critique, crosscheck, deconstruct, deduce, differentiate, discern, dissect, distill, examine, explore, eye, eyeball, frequent, frisk, heed, inspect, investigate, learn, monitor, notice, number, numerate, observe, oversee, parse, perceive, peruse, plumb, police, prioritize, probe, prove, prowl, rank, read, reconnoiter, reference, regard, reinvestigate, research, review, riffle, rifle, scan, scope, scout, scrutinize, search, study, subdivide, superintend, supervise, survey, suss, travel, verify, vet, view, visit, vivisect, watch, witness, x-ray (≠ -blank, blind, blindfold, confound, confuse, deceive, -discount, disguise, -disregard, fake, forget, fudge, half-ass, hide, -ignore, lose, mask, mislead, miss, mistake, muddle, mystify, -neglect, -omit, -overlook, perplex, puzzle, skim, skip, trick)
INSPIRE (+): animate, arouse, awaken, carry, elate, encourage, energize, enliven, ensoul, enthrall, enthuse, exalt, excite, exhilarate, galvanize, goad, hearten, ignite, imbue, impel, impress, incite, infect, inflame, influence, inform, infuse, inject, instigate, instill, invigorate, kindle, light, motivate, produce, prompt, propel, provoke, quicken, rally, razzle-dazzle, reassure, rouse, spark, spur, stimulate, stir, strike, sway, thrill, touch, trigger, urge, vitalize (≠ blackjack, blackmail, bore, chill, confuse, daunt, deaden, debilitate, demotivate, depress, -deter, discourage, dissuade, dull, enervate, enfeeble, extinguish, -halt, hamstring, hinder, inhibit, intimidate, paralyze, perplex, puzzle, quiet, repress, restrain, stop, suppress, undermine, wither)
INSTALL (+): affix, clinch, embed, establish, fit, fix, furnish, graft, implant, insert, introduce, juxtapose, lay, line, locate, lodge, place, plant, plumb, position, settle, site, situate, station, transplant (≠ cut, detach, disconnect, eject, erase, excise, extract, pluck, pull, purge, remove, unfasten, wrench, yank)
INSTALL (+): consecrate, ensconce, entrench, establish, inaugurate, induct, instate, institute, introduce, invest, locate, lodge, nestle, niche, ordain, place, put, settle, situate (≠ banish, discharge, dislodge, dismiss, dump, eradicate, fire, remove, terminate)
INSTIGATE (→): abet, activate, advance, animate, arouse, begin, brew, convince, cultivate, detonate, drive, encourage, energize, enliven, excite, fan, ferment, fire, foment, forward, foster, fuel, further, galvanize, generate, goad, heckle, ignite, impassion, impel, incite, incur, induce, inflame, influence, initiate, insinuate, inspire, invigorate, kindle, lubricate, midwife, motivate, move, needle, nourish, nurture, persuade, pick, pique, plan, plot, press, prod, promote, prompt, provoke, quicken, rabble-rouse, raise, rouse, scheme, sow, spark, spur, start, stimulate, stir, trigger, urge, vitalize (≠ allay, appease, bridle, calm, check, complicate, constrain, curb, deactivate, demotivate, discourage, end, freeze, -halt, hamper, hold, humor, inhibit, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, muddle, oppose, pace, pacify, paralyze, placate, -prevent, quiet, regulate, rein, restrain, settle, soothe, stall, still, stop, straightjacket, stymie, subdue, tame, -thwart, tranquilize)
INSTITUTE (+): appoint, arrange, author, begin, build, commence, conceive, concoct, constitute, contrive, create, develop, devise, enact, endow, enlarge, establish, expand, fabricate, father, finance, fix, found, fund, inaugurate, induct, initiate, innovate, install, introduce, invent, invest, launch, manufacture, open, ordain, organize, originate, pioneer, plant, produce, rev, settle, start, subsidize, systematize, trigger (≠ abolish, -abort, annihilate, annul, banish, cease, close, conclude, -deny, dismiss, end, eradicate, finish, -forbid, -halt, -nix, -nullify, -prevent, protest, -reject, -rescind, shut, stop, terminate, wrap)
INSTRUCT (→): acquaint, advise, aid, apprentice, apprise, assist, brainwash, brief, catechize, civilize, coach, command, compel, condition, convince, counsel, cram, cultivate, demonstrate, develop, direct, discipline, domesticate, drill, edify, educate, elevate, enlighten, expand, extend, familiarize, fit, foster, groom, ground, guide, help, housebreak, housetrain, impart, implant, improve, inculcate, indoctrinate, inform, initiate, inspire, instill, introduce, lead, lecture, mentor, monitor, moralize, notify, nurture, order, parrot, perfect, preach, prepare, prime, proctor, qualify, question, quiz, read, ready, rear, rehearse, retrain, reveal, school, scold, season, shape, sharpen, show, steer, strain, stretch, supervise, take, tame, tax, teach, test, train, tutor, update (≠ abuse, addle, attend, baffle, barbarize, bewilder, bury, censor, cheat, conceal, confound, confuse, consult, debase, deceive, defraud, delude, demean, discombobulate, disguise, fabricate, fluster, follow, gaslight, hamper, heed, hide, hinder, -ignore, impede, keep, learn, lower, mind, misinform, mislead, muddle, mystify, -neglect, nonplus, obey, obscure, observe, perplex, pester, puzzle, ruffle, study, stump, suppress, surprise, withhold)
INSTRUCT (→): adjure, advise, appoint, ask, assign, authorize, beg, beseech, bid, boss, captain, charge, choreograph, coerce, command, commission, compel, conduct, constrain, control, counsel, direct, enjoin, entreat, force, lead, manage, oblige, orchestrate, order, oversee, petition, request, require, superintend, supervise, tell, warn (≠ allow, brook, countenance, endorse, follow, keep, mind, obey, observe, permit, sanction, support)
INSULATE (+): abstract, armor, barricade, blockade, blunt, buffer, coat, cocoon, confine, cover, cushion, defend, detach, detain, disengage, encase, envelop, -exclude, guard, hold, holster, immure, incarcerate, inlay, inoculate, institutionalize, isolate, jail, keep, line, -omit, oppose, pad, protect, quarantine, remove, restrain, restrict, safeguard, seclude, segregate, separate, sequester, sheathe, shelter, shield, soundproof, tape, treat, wrap (≠ assimilate, associate, attack, burn, chill, combine, connect, damage, desegregate, discharge, expose, free, incorporate, infiltrate, insinuate, integrate, internalize, join, liberate, link, loose, -neglect, penetrate, pierce, reintegrate, release, reunite, unite)
INSULT (/): abase, abuse, affront, antagonize, bait, belittle, bench, besmear, besmirch, bestialize, blacken, blackguard, blame, blast, blister, boo, bruise, chide, criticize, curse, cuss, -cut, debase, defame, degrade, demean, demote, denigrate, devalue, diminish, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, displease, disrespect, distress, disturb, humble, humiliate, hurt, injure, jeer, libel, lower, malign, miff, mock, mortify, offend, oppress, outrage, pain, persecute, -rebuff, reduce, revile, ridicule, shame, sideline, slander, slap, -slight, slur, smear, -snub, soil, spoil, stain, sully, taint, taunt, torment, torture, trample, trouble, upset, villainize, violate, vulgarize, wound, wrong (≠ acclaim, admire, applaud, approve, blandish, bless, boost, cherish, commend, compliment, congratulate, defend, delight, dignify, eulogize, exalt, flannel, flatter, glad-hand, glorify, gratify, guard, hail, high-five, honor, ingratiate, please, praise, prioritize, promote, protect, retort, revere, satisfy, sweet-talk, thank, welcome, worship)
INSURE (+): assure, attest, certify, cinch, clinch, compensate, cover, crosscheck, ensure, guarantee, guard, ice, indemnify, maintain, patrol, pledge, preserve, promise, protect, reassure, register, reimburse, safeguard, secure, shield, support, sustain, swear, underwrite, warrant, witness (≠ attack, bemoan, break, burden, compromise, cost, damage, disrupt, doubt, endanger, enfeeble, imperil, injure, mourn, predict, regret, risk, sabotage, scotch, scruple, scupper, shelve, suspect, target, threaten, undermine, weaken, worry)
INTEGRATE (+): accommodate, align, amalgamate, arrange, articulate, assimilate, associate, attune, blend, coalesce, combine, compact, concatenate, concentrate, conflate, conjoin, consolidate, contemporize, coordinate, desegregate, embody, equalize, fuse, harmonize, homogenize, hybridize, incorporate, intermix, internalize, join, knit, link, mainstream, meld, merge, mesh, mingle, mix, orchestrate, organize, proportion, reconcile, reintegrate, reunite, synthesize, systematize, time, tune, unify, unite, wed (≠ alienate, chunk, cleave, detach, differentiate, diffuse, disaffect, disengage, disintegrate, disjoin, disperse, dissolve, disunite, divide, divorce, estrange, isolate, mismatch, -omit, orphan, -ostracize, oust, part, partition, rupture
, scatter, seclude, segregate, separate, sever, split, sunder)
INTENSIFY (→): accelerate, accent, accentuate, accrue, accumulate, add, aggrandize, aggravate, amp, amplify, assert, augment, beef, belabor, bolster, boost, breed, brighten, broaden, build, bump, buttress, catalyze, collect, color, complement, compound, concentrate, condense, consolidate, crank, darken, deepen, develop, dilate, distend, double, dramatize, elaborate, elevate, elongate, embellish, embroider, emphasize, enforce, enhance, enlarge, enliven, enrich, escalate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exalt, expand, extend, fan, fatten, feature, fire, flavor, foreground, foster, fuel, further, grease, grow, hasten, heat, heighten, highlight, hike, hype, hyperbolize, increase, inflate, lengthen, lighten, magnify, marinate, maximize, multiply, optimize, overemphasize, overhaul, overstate, pad, point, prioritize, proliferate, prolong, propagate, protract, pump, punctuate, quicken, raise, ratchet, redouble, reinforce, revolutionize, richen, romanticize, rouse, satirize, scale, season, sentimentalize, sharpen, spice, spike, spotlight, spread, stoke, strengthen, stress, stretch, supersize, supplement, swell, treble, triple, trumpet, underline, underscore, unspool, up, upgrade, whet, widen, worsen (≠ abate, abbreviate, abridge, alleviate, attenuate, blunt, buffer, bury, calm, cheapen, compress, conceal, constrict, contract, curb, curtail, cushion, cut, deaden, decrease, deemphasize, de-escalate, depress, devalue, diminish, dismiss, downplay, downsize, dull, ease, elide, hide, lessen, lighten, lowball, lower, lull, mask, mellow, miniaturize, minify, minimize, mitigate, moderate, modulate, mollify, muffle, obscure, pacify, placate, postpone, reduce, restrain, restrict, retrench, sedate, shorten, shrink, slow, smother, soothe, subdue, subtract, syncopate, taper, trim, truncate, underemphasize, understate, weaken)
INTERCEPT (←): ambush, appropriate, arrest, blindside, block, brave, bushwhack, buttonhole, capture, catch, check, checkmate, collar, commandeer, corner, corral, counter, curb, deflect, delay, divert, face, -frustrate, grab, hijack, hinder, impede, interpose, interrupt, obstruct, oppose, pause, postpone, -prevent, refract, seize, shelve, short-circuit, snag, snare, snatch, stall, stop, take, -thwart, trap, waylay, wrangle (≠ abet, allow, assist, -avoid, -bypass, -disregard, -dodge, -duck, -elude, -escape, -evade, -flee, forget, forward, fumble, further, help, leave, miss, observe, originate, overshoot, -sidestep, skip, skirt)
INTEREST (←): absorb, affect, amuse, arm, arouse, attract, captivate, concern, dazzle, divert, engage, engross, excite, fascinate, generate, grip, impress, inspire, intrigue, involve, move, occupy, rivet, thrill, tickle, touch (≠ alienate, annoy, bore, deaden, depress, disaffect, discourage, dissuade, earbash, fatigue, irk, nag, niggle, nitpick, tire, trouble, vex, weary) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
INTERPRET (←): adapt, annotate, clarify, compare, construe, contextualize, contrast, decipher, decode, deduce, define, delineate, depict, describe, diagnose, distinguish, elucidate, explain, explicate, explore, expound, extract, gather, generalize, gloss, illuminate, illustrate, infer, limn, mimic, paraphrase, perform, picture, play, portray, predict, profile, rationalize, read, reenact, render, represent, scan, solve, summarize, take, translate, understand, untangle, view (≠ bury, cloud, con, confound, confuse, corrupt, deceive, falsify, garble, -ignore, mangle, misconstrue, misdiagnose, mishear, misinterpret, mislead, misread, misrepresent, mistake, misunderstand, muddle, obfuscate, obscure, -overlook, scramble, twist)
INTERROGATE (←): annoy, ask, besiege, bombard, canvass, catechize, challenge, check, consult, cross-examine, cross-question, debrief, depose, disbelieve, discredit, disprove, dispute, distrust, doubt, examine, grill, hammer, harass, hound, interview, investigate, nag, needle, nitpick, pester, poll, probe, pump, query, question, quiz, roast, survey, suspect, test (≠ answer, -avoid, conceal, confide, -discount, -disregard, -duck, -evade, feign, hide, -ignore, mislead, -neglect, obstruct, -overlook, -rebuff, retort, -sidestep, silence, stall, stonewall)
INTERRUPT (→): -abort, arrest, battle, block, bother, break, -cancel, check, crash, cut, defer, delay, disconnect, -discontinue, disrupt, disturb, disunite, divide, end, -halt, hinder, impede, infringe, insinuate, intercept, obstruct, oppose, pause, postpone, -prevent, protest, punctuate, separate, sever, shelve, short-circuit, stall, stay, stop, suspend (≠ advance, aid, assist, begin, connect, continue, defend, expedite, facilitate, free, frogmarch, grease, hasten, help, march, permit, promote, quicken, support)
INTERRUPT (/): add, barrack, blackjack, bother, bully, contribute, disrupt, disturb, harass, heckle, impede, inject, interject, interpolate, interpose, intimidate, postpone, punctuate, relieve (≠ allow, assist, attend, combine, compel, encourage, expedite, facilitate, further, heed, leave, support)
INTERSECT (→): bisect, cleave, connect, contact, crisscross, cross, crosscut, cut, divide, entwine, interconnect, interweave, meet, overlap, part, pass, separate, sever, split, tangle, touch, traverse (≠ abut, -avoid, -bypass, -circumvent, combine, detour, disjoin, hedge, hem, miss, nudge, observe, overlook, -sidestep, skip, skirt, unite, watch)
INTERVIEW (←): ask, canvass, challenge, check, consult, cross-examine, cross-question, debrief, examine, grill, hammer, inspect, interrogate, investigate, parry, poll, probe, pump, query, question, quiz, research, solicit, survey, test (≠ answer, assure, attest, blab, blaze, blurt, confess, confirm, counterpunch, deflect, -dodge, hint, parry, report, retort, stonewall)
INTIMATE (→): allege, allude, camouflage, communicate, couch, embed, evoke, hint, impart, implant, imply, infer, infiltrate, inject, insert, insinuate, instill, introduce, lodge, mention, signal, suggest, veil (≠ announce, bellow, blab, blurt, conceal, conclude, confess, confirm, deduce, derive, expose, extrapolate, gather, hide, prove, publicize, scan, scrutinize, surmise, trumpet) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
INTIMIDATE (/): affright, alarm, appall, awe, badger, bait, blackjack, blackmail, bludgeon, browbeat, brutalize, buffalo, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, caution, chide, chill, coerce, compel, constrain, cow, daunt, demoralize, -deter, discompose, disconcert, dishearten, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, domineer, dragoon, enforce, extort, force, frighten, harass, hector, henpeck, horrify, hound, menace, muscle, oblige, overawe, perturb, press, pressure, psych, railroad, repress, ride, ruffle, savage, scare, shock, spook, startle, steamroller, strong-arm, subdue, terrify, terrorize, threaten, torment, trash-talk, unman, unnerve, upset, vex, victimize, warn, wrong (≠ amuse, assist, assure, blandish, bolster, buoy, buttress, cajole, calm, charm, cheer, coax, comfort, console, convince, delight, embolden, encourage, flatter, glad-hand, hearten, help, humor, inspire, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, pacify, palaver, persuade, pity, placate, please, protect, reassure, release, schmooze, soft-soap, solace, soothe, steady, steel, sweet-talk, toughen, wheedle, woo)
INTOXICATE (→): animate, arouse, bewitch, captivate, charge, charm, compel, delight, distract, electrify, enchant, engross, enliven, enrapture, enslave, ensnare, enthrall, entice, entrance, excite, exhilarate, fascinate, fixate, fuel, galvanize, grab, grip, hold, hook, hypnotize, immerse, incite, inspire, interest, intrigue, inveigle, invigorate, lure, mellow, mesmerize, mitigate, mollify, occupy, overpower, overwhelm, please, possess, preoccupy, provoke, razzle-dazzle, relax, relieve, rivet, spellbind, stimulate, stun, tantalize, thrill, tickle, titillate, tranquilize, transfix (≠ aggravate, agitate, alarm, annoy, bore, bother, bug, convulse, demoralize, demotivate, discourage, dishearten, disillusion, dispirit, enrage, hallucinate, harass, hector, horrify, incite, infuriate, jade, jar, jolt, knacker, menace, poke, prod, rankle, rattle, repel, repulse, rile, roil, rouse, shake, shock, sicken, spur, startle, stir, terrify, tire, torment, tranquilize, unnerve, upset, wake, weary, worry, wound)
INTOXICATE (←): activate, amuse, awaken, boost, brighten, buoy, charge, cheer, content, dazzle, delight, elate, electrify, elevate, energize, enliven, enrapture, enthuse, excite, exhilarate, gladden, gratify, ignite, inflame, inspire, invigorate, jolt, juice, lift, light, motivate, please, quicken, razzle-dazzle, refresh, rejoice, restimulate, restore, revitalize, revive, rouse, satisfy, spark, stimula
te, thrill, transport, uplift, vitalize, wake, warm, wow (≠ bore, bother, bug, burden, deaden, demoralize, demotivate, depress, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, dissuade, distress, dull, encumber, enervate, frustrate, harass, hassle, hurt, oppress, punish, repress, sadden, sicken, suppress, tire, upset, weaken, weary, worry)
INTOXICATE (/): anesthetize, appease, assuage, befuddle, bewilder, calm, confound, confuse, daze, deaden, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, dizzy, dope, dose, drug, dull, hush, immobilize, inebriate, inflame, jar, lull, medicate, muddle, narcotize, nonplus, numb, pacify, paralyze, perplex, puzzle, quell, quench, quiet, relax, sedate, settle, shake, silence, soothe, still, stupefy, subdue, torpefy, unbalance (≠ alarm, alert, awaken, center, clear, concentrate, focus, hallucinate, jolt, poke, rouse, shake, sober, startle, steady, stir, wake)
INTRIGUE (←): absorb, amuse, animate, arouse, arrest, attract, bait, beguile, bemuse, bewitch, busy, captivate, charm, consume, dazzle, delight, distract, draw, electrify, enchant, energize, engage, engross, entertain, enthrall, enthuse, excite, exhilarate, fascinate, generate, grab, grip, hog, hook, hypnotize, immerse, impress, inspire, interest, involve, kindle, mesmerize, monopolize, motivate, mystify, obsess, occupy, perplex, pique, please, preoccupy, pull, puzzle, rivet, stimulate, stir, tantalize, thrill, tickle, titillate, wow (≠ answer, bore, bother, bug, burden, clarify, discourage, disturb, explain, frustrate, henpeck, irk, irritate, jade, nag, nauseate, needle, nettle, pigeonhole, repel, repulse, sadden, satisfy, sicken, solve, sour, tire, unnerve, upset, weary, worry) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!