Activate

by Damon Suede

  KEEP (+): acknowledge, believe, bless, celebrate, ceremonialize, commemorate, consecrate, fête, fulfill, hold, honor, laud, maintain, mark, memorialize, mind, mourn, obey, observe, perform, perpetuate, praise, recognize, regard, regret, remember, respect, revere, ritualize, sanctify, solemnize, venerate (≠ break, dishonor, -disregard, disrespect, forget, -forsake, -ignore, mock, -neglect, -overlook, ridicule, -scorn, transgress, violate) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  KEEP (+): accomplish, achieve, answer, commit, compass, complete, conclude, consummate, discharge, effect, execute, fill, finalize, finish, fulfill, meet, perfect, perform, redeem, satisfy (≠ -abandon, breach, break, -disregard, fail, forget, -ignore, lose, -neglect, -nullify, -overlook, -slight, transgress, violate)

  KEEP (+): -avert, battle, bulwark, conserve, cover, defend, fence, fight, forfend, guard, oppose, outlast, patrol, preserve, -prevent, protect, resist, safeguard, save, screen, secure, shield, ward, withstand (≠ ambush, assail, assault, attack, barrage, beset, besiege, blindside, bombard, bushwhack, -desert, forfeit, -forsake, overrun, pillage, ravage, ruin, sack, storm, wreck)

  KEEP (/): arrest, -avert, block, bottle, bridle, cage, chain, check, checkmate, choke, confine, constrain, contain, control, counter, curb, delay, detain, -deter, foil, frustrate, gag, govern, hamper, hamstring, handcuff, hinder, hold, housebreak, housetrain, impede, imprison, inhibit, institutionalize, interrupt, jail, leash, limit, measure, mince, muffle, muzzle, obstruct, pace, pause, pocket, -prevent, regulate, rein, repress, restrain, retard, rule, shackle, shelve, short-circuit, silence, sink, smother, squelch, stall, stifle, stop, straightjacket, strangle, stymie, suppress, swallow, tame, tie, withhold (≠ accelerate, adapt, aid, air, boost, circulate, disseminate, encourage, express, liberate, loose, loosen, lose, permit, prioritize, release, unleash, urge, vent)

  KICK (→): ban, bar, blackball, blacklist, boot, bounce, chop, cull, -cut, deep-six, -deny, discharge, dislodge, dismiss, disqualify, drop, dump, eighty-six, eject, eliminate, evict, -exclude, exorcise, expel, -forbid, jettison, jilt, -omit, oppugn, oust, -prohibit, propel, -reject, relegate, scrap, shed, -spurn, trash (≠ accept, admit, allow, cooperate, embrace, employ, engage, enlist, grant, greet, high-five, hold, include, invite, involve, join, keep, partake, participate, permit, receive, settle, steady, summon, welcome)

  KICK-START (→): abet, activate, advance, arrange, author, bankroll, begin, brainstorm, brew, conceive, concoct, constitute, construct, contrive, create, cultivate, detonate, develop, devise, encourage, endow, energize, enlarge, enliven, establish, excite, expand, fabricate, father, ferment, finance, fire, foment, forward, foster, found, fund, further, galvanize, generate, hatch, ignite, improvise, inaugurate, incite, inflame, initiate, innovate, inspire, instigate, institute, introduce, invent, invigorate, launch, manufacture, mobilize, motivate, move, nourish, nurture, organize, originate, pick, pioneer, plant, produce, promote, prompt, propel, provoke, quicken, rabble-rouse, raise, rouse, set, sire, sow, spark, spur, start, stimulate, stir, subsidize, systematize, trigger, trip, underwrite, vitalize (≠ abolish, allay, annihilate, annul, bridle, calm, check, constrain, cripple, curb, deactivate, defund, demotivate, discourage, end, finish, freeze, -halt, hamper, hobble, hold, impede, inactivate, inhibit, lull, mitigate, -nullify, pace, paralyze, -prohibit, quiet, regulate, rein, restrain, settle, short-circuit, slow, soothe, stall, still, stop, straightjacket, stymie, subdue, tame, terminate, -thwart, tranquilize, wrap)

  KIDNAP (←): abduct, bundle, capture, catch, disappear, entrap, extort, grab, hijack, lure, nab, pluck, poach, ransom, remove, seize, shanghai, skyjack, snatch, spirit, steal, take, waylay (≠ chauffeur, defend, deliver, guard, protect, ransom, recover, redeem, rescue, restore, return, save, secure, shield)

  KILL (←): allure, arrest, beckon, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, court, delight, disarm, draw, enchant, engross, enrapture, entertain, enthrall, entice, entrance, fascinate, galvanize, gratify, grip, hypnotize, inspire, interest, intrigue, invite, lure, magnetize, mesmerize, monopolize, please, pull, seduce, solicit, tempt, thrill, woo (≠ annoy, appall, bore, bother, bug, deaden, depress, disappoint, disgust, displease, frustrate, irk, irritate, knacker, nauseate, needle, nettle, numb, offend, repel, repulse, revolt, tire, trouble, underwhelm, weary)

  KILL (/): annihilate, asphyxiate, assassinate, behead, bump, butcher, claim, croak, crucify, decapitate, decimate, depopulate, destroy, dispatch, doom, electrocute, eliminate, euthanize, execute, exterminate, fell, finish, garrote, guillotine, hang, liquidate, lynch, martyr, massacre, mow, murder, mutilate, neutralize, off, orphan, sacrifice, shank, shiv, shoot, slaughter, slay, smite, smother, snuff, stab, strangle, suffocate, take, terminate, throttle, waste, zap (≠ animate, bear, birth, doctor, gestate, grow, heal, nurse, nurture, raise, reanimate, reinvigorate, rescue, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive, save, stimulate, survive, withstand)

  KILL (/): abolish, axe, blackball, blacklist, -cancel, -decline, deep-six, delete, destroy, devastate, disallow, disapprove, dismiss, dispatch, doom, down, eliminate, end, eradicate, erase, monkey-wrench, -negate, -nix, obliterate, -refuse, retire, ruin, scupper, terminate, -veto, weed, wreck (≠ admit, allow, approve, begin, brainstorm, champion, confirm, create, cultivate, elect, establish, generate, initiate, legalize, nurture, pass, promote, protect, ratify, renew, sanction, start, support, sustain, weather)

  KILL (/): arrest, brake, choke, cripple, crush, curb, dampen, deactivate, deaden, dismantle, dull, freeze, -halt, hobble, inactivate, jam, mothball, muffle, paralyze, quash, quell, scotch, smother, squench, stall, stifle, stop, suppress, terminate (≠ accelerate, activate, actuate, amp, charge, crank, discharge, drive, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, intensify, launch, power, propel, reboot, recharge, release, run, spark, start, trigger, trip)

  KILL (/): break, bust, castrate, debilitate, drain, emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, fatigue, frazzle, harass, leach, overextend, sap, shrivel, strain, tire, unman, waste, weaken, wear, weary, wither, worsen (≠ activate, energize, enliven, invigorate, leech, rejuvenate, relax, rest, stimulate, strengthen, survive, unwind, vitalize, withstand)

  KINDLE (+): agitate, animate, arouse, awaken, bake, bank, barbecue, blast, brighten, broil, burn, burst, challenge, char, cook, cremate, electrify, embolden, encourage, enkindle, enliven, exasperate, excite, exhilarate, fan, fire, foment, frizzle, fuel, galvanize, generate, ignite, illuminate, immolate, incinerate, incite, incur, induce, inflame, inspire, invigorate, irradiate, jolt, launch, light, motivate, provoke, quicken, rabble-rouse, rally, reignite, rekindle, relight, rouse, scald, scathe, scorch, sear, sharpen, shock, singe, spark, spur, stimulate, stir, stoke, strengthen, tantalize, tease, tempt, thrill, torch, trigger, vitalize, wake, whet (≠ blacken, check, chill, choke, cripple, crush, curb, darken, deactivate, delay, dim, douse, dull, extinguish, freeze, hamper, hinder, impair, impede, inhibit, obscure, obstruct, paralyze, quench, slake, smother, snuff, still, stop, strangle, suffocate, throttle)

  KNEAD (→): alter, blend, contour, form, grip, knuckle, manipulate, massage, mix, mold, pinch, ply, pound, press, pummel, push, rolf, rub, shape, squeeze, stroke, strum, twist, work (≠ caress, discard, drop, forget, freeze, hold, -ignore, -neglect, paralyze, pierce, poke, toss)

  KNIFE (→): bayonet, carve, chop, clip, cut, gouge, hurt, impale, kill, lacerate, lance, pierce, razor, rip, scar, shank, shiv, skewer, slash, slice, slit, spit, stab, stick, thrust, wound (≠ armor, block, blunt, close, cover, defend, deflect, dull, guard, miss, parry, protect, seal, sew, sheathe, shield, stitch)

  KNIGHT (+): advance, aggrandize, commend, compliment, decorate, dignify, distinguish, elevate, ennoble, exalt, glorify, honor, immortalize, magnify, praise, promote, raise, recognize, reward, salute, upgrade, uplift (≠ bastardize, cheapen, degrade, dehumanize, demoralize, demote, diminish, downgrade, humble, humiliate, lessen, reduce, sideline, strip, tarnish)

  KNIT (+): ally, baste, bind, bracket, braid, buckle, buttonhole, cement, chain, clinch, connect, corrugate, couple, crease, crochet, cross-stitch, draw, e
mbroider, fasten, furrow, fuse, gather, glue, hitch, hybridize, interlace, intertwine, knot, lace, lash, link, mend, mortar, paste, plait, pucker, raddle, seam, secure, sew, splice, stay, stitch, strap, string, suture, synthesize, tack, tether, tie, tighten, unite, unsmooth, weave, weld, wrinkle, zip (≠ cut, detach, disconnect, disentangle, disjoin, divide, fray, harm, hurt, injure, loose, loosen, lose, release, separate, shred, slice, smooth, tear, unbind, unbraid, unfasten, unknit, unravel, unsew, untie, wear)

  KNOCK (→): assault, backhand, bang, bash, bat, batter, bean, beat, belt, biff, blow, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, brain, buffet, bump, bung, bunt, bust, butt, cane, chop, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, club, concuss, conk, crack, cream, cudgel, cuff, deck, drub, elbow, fell, flick, flog, floor, hammer, hit, jab, jostle, kick, knee, lace, lambaste, lash, level, lick, mangle, maul, nail, nudge, paste, pelt, pepper, poke, pommel, pound, prod, pummel, punch, push, rap, sap, scuff, shove, skull, slam, slap, sledge, slug, smack, smite, sock, stamp, strike, swat, swipe, tag, tap, thrash, thump, thwack, topple, unhorse, wallop, whack, whale, whip (≠ armor, block, caress, defend, deflect, -dodge, -duck, -elude, -escape, -evade, guard, protect, repel, safeguard, secure, shield, sustain)

  KNOCK (/): abuse, admonish, assail, attack, badmouth, belittle, berate, blame, blast, castigate, censure, chastise, chide, clobber, condemn, criticize, critique, crucify, decry, defame, demean, demonize, denigrate, denounce, denunciate, deride, ding, disparage, diss, drub, excoriate, fault, finger, flay, fulminate, gibbet, hammer, impugn, keelhaul, lambaste, lash, neg, pan, pillory, -rebuff, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, scold, -scorn, skewer, slag, slam, slander, slash, tweak, upbraid, wrong (≠ adore, approve, commend, compliment, defend, endorse, exalt, extol, idolize, ingratiate, laud, lionize, praise, protect, recommend, revere, sanction, support, treasure, venerate, worship)

  KNOT (+): bind, braid, complicate, cord, enlace, entangle, entwine, interlace, intertwine, interweave, jumble, knit, lash, leash, loop, plait, ravel, scramble, secure, snarl, tangle, tether, tie, twine, weave, wind, wreathe (≠ cut, disentangle, loosen, unbraid, uncomplicate, unknot, unravel, unscramble, unsnarl, untangle, untie, untwine, untwist)

  L

  LABEL (→): baptize, brand, call, caption, christen, denote, designate, dub, earmark, entitle, hallmark, identify, mark, mistitle, monogram, name, nickname, nominate, specify, stamp, sticker, stigmatize, style, tab, tag, term, title, trademark, typecast (≠ camouflage, cloak, clothe, cloud, conceal, costume, counterfeit, cover, disguise, feign, hide, mask, veil)

  LABEL (+): arrange, assort, bracket, brand, call, cast, catalog, categorize, characterize, class, classify, contrast, define, describe, designate, differentiate, dub, group, identify, judge, juxtapose, mark, name, order, package, pigeonhole, prioritize, pronounce, slot, sort, specify, stamp, stereotype, tally, term, type, typecast (≠ baffle, blur, confuse, disorder, disorganize, jumble, lump, mislabel, misrepresent, mix, muddle, perplex, puzzle, scramble)

  LACE (+): attach, bind, blend, braid, cinch, clinch, close, enlace, entwine, fasten, fortify, fuse, interlace, intertwine, join, knot, link, mix, plait, ply, secure, strap, string, thread, tie, twine, twist, weave, wreathe (≠ cut, disentangle, sever, slice, uncoil, unfasten, unlace, unspool, untangle, untie, untwine, unwind)

  LACE (+): add, alternate, amalgamate, assimilate, blend, combine, commingle, embody, enhance, enrich, flavor, fuse, incorporate, insert, integrate, interlace, intermingle, intersperse, interweave, juxtapose, magnify, marinate, maximize, merge, mingle, mix, pepper, perfume, richen, salt, sauce, savor, season, spice, thread, weave, wreathe (≠ deduct, delete, edit, eject, eliminate, excise, -exclude, -omit, oust, purge, remove, simplify, streamline, subtract, withhold)

  LACE (/): add, adulterate, attenuate, bastardize, befoul, blend, cheapen, contaminate, corrupt, counterfeit, cut, debase, defile, degrade, dilute, dirty, doctor, envenom, extend, fake, falsify, flavor, fortify, foul, fudge, infect, load, manipulate, misrepresent, mix, moderate, overdose, poison, pollute, qualify, soil, sophisticate, spike, spoil, strengthen, sully, taint, temper, thin, weaken (≠ augment, better, clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, compact, concentrate, condense, decontaminate, distill, enhance, enrich, filter, flush, fortify, improve, lard, leach, pasteurize, purge, purify, refine, reinforce, remove, separate, strain, strengthen, supplement)

  LACERATE (/): afflict, claw, cleave, cut, distress, gash, gore, gouge, hack, harm, harrow, hurt, injure, lance, maim, mangle, mutilate, puncture, razor, rend, rip, score, serrate, shank, shiv, slash, slit, stab, tear, torment, torture, wound (≠ block, blunt, close, cure, defend, doctor, fix, guard, heal, join, mend, nurse, nurture, protect, remedy, repair, restore, seal, secure, sew, smooth, solder, stitch, unite, weld)

  LAMBASTE (/): admonish, afflict, agonize, anguish, assail, assault, attack, avenge, badmouth, baste, batter, beat, belabor, belittle, berate, blame, blast, blister, bludgeon, boo, buffet, burden, castigate, censure, chasten, chastise, clobber, confine, correct, criticize, crucify, cudgel, demean, demonize, denigrate, denounce, denunciate, discipline, disparage, distress, drub, excoriate, execute, fine, flay, flog, fulminate, hammer, hit, hurt, imprison, impugn, incarcerate, judge, keelhaul, lash, pan, pelt, penalize, persecute, pillory, pound, pummel, punish, rap, rebuke, reprimand, reprise, reproach, reprove, roast, rubbish, scalp, scathe, scold, scorch, scourge, sentence, shellac, slam, slap, slash, smear, smother, strike, thrash, torture, trim, try, upbraid, wallop, whip (≠ absolve, accredit, adulate, applaud, bless, boost, celebrate, coddle, commend, compliment, congratulate, defend, emblazon, embrace, encourage, exalt, excuse, exonerate, extol, flatter, glorify, ingratiate, laud, magnify, pardon, placate, praise, protect, spare, support, tout, uphold)

  LAME (/): batter, break, bruise, cripple, damage, debilitate, destroy, disable, disfigure, dismember, fracture, gore, hamper, hamstring, handicap, harm, hobble, hurt, immobilize, impair, impede, incapacitate, injure, kneecap, lacerate, maim, mangle, maul, mutilate, paralyze, pulverize, ruin, sabotage, scar, scotch, scupper, shatter, shrivel, spoil, torment, torture, undercut, undermine, weaken, wing, wither, wound (≠ assist, brace, cure, defend, doctor, empower, enable, enhance, facilitate, fix, fortify, heal, help, improve, invigorate, mend, mobilize, nurse, patch, perfect, promote, rebuild, reconstruct, rectify, refine, regenerate, rehabilitate, rejuvenate, remedy, renew, repair, restore, splint, strengthen, support)

  LAMPOON (/): blackguard, blast, blister, burlesque, caricature, counterfeit, demean, distort, exaggerate, fake, misrepresent, mock, overdramatize, parody, pasquinade, pillory, pretend, rail, ridicule, roast, satirize, spoof, travesty (≠ applaud, approve, celebrate, congratulate, defend, elevate, enshrine, guard, high-five, honor, praise, respect, support, venerate, worship)

  LANCE (→): bore, broach, burst, core, cut, dart, deflate, drill, gaff, gash, gimlet, gore, gouge, harpoon, impale, incise, invade, jab, kebab, knife, notch, penetrate, perforate, pierce, pin, pink, pit, poke, prick, probe, prong, punch, puncture, rend, rupture, shank, shiv, skewer, slash, slice, slit, spear, spike, spit, split, stab, stake, stick, tap, tear, thrust, transfix (≠ absorb, armor, block, close, defend, deflect, eject, extract, fill, fuse, guard, heal, inflate, mend, obstruct, occlude, parry, patch, plaster, plug, praise, protect, prove, rectify, repair, repel, seal, sew, shield, smooth, stitch, withdraw, yank)

  LASH (→): attack, bang, bash, batter, beat, belt, birch, blackjack, bludgeon, buffet, bullwhip, bust, cane, chastise, clap, clip, clobber, clout, club, cowhide, crack, cudgel, cuff, cut, discipline, drub, drum, flagellate, flail, flay, flog, hammer, harm, hide, hit, horsewhip, injure, knock, lace, lacerate, lather, lick, mangle, martyr, maul, mortify, paddle, paste, pelt, pistol-whip, pound, pummel, punch, punish, rawhide, scourge, slap, slash, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, spank, sting, strap, strike, swat, swipe, switch, tan, thrash, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, whip, whup (≠ aid, alleviate, assist, assuage, block, buffer, comfort, console, content, cushion, defend, delight, ease, gratify, guard, heal, help, nurture, pity, protect, save, shield, soothe, succor, suffer, support, weather)<
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  LASH (+): affix, attach, bind, chain, cinch, clamp, clinch, clip, confine, connect, constrain, curb, entangle, fasten, fetter, fix, hamper, hang, harness, hinder, hobble, hogtie, impede, join, knot, lace, latch, leash, limit, link, pin, pinion, reaffix, reattach, refasten, resecure, restrict, rope, secure, seize, shackle, stick, strap, tack, tangle, tether, tie, toggle, trammel, truss, unite, yoke (≠ cut, detach, disconnect, disengage, divide, drop, emancipate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, lose, open, part, release, rescue, separate, sever, slice, split, sunder, tear, unbind, uncouple, unfasten, unhook, unlace, unlash, unlink, untangle, untie, unyoke)

  LASH (/): abuse, attack, belabor, belittle, berate, blame, blister, castigate, censure, chasten, chastise, chide, criticize, dehumanize, demonize, denigrate, deride, disparage, fault, flay, fulminate, hammer, harangue, humiliate, insult, lambaste, lampoon, malign, menace, mistreat, mock, neg, pan, persecute, pillory, plague, razz, rebuke, reprimand, reprove, ridicule, satirize, scold, -scorn, slate, tongue-lash, tyrannize, upbraid, victimize (≠ approve, blandish, boost, cherish, commend, compliment, congratulate, defend, endorse, flannel, flatter, glorify, gratify, help, idealize, idolize, lionize, praise, protect, respect, reward, sanction, support, treasure, uplift, venerate)