by Damon Suede
LASSO (←): apprehend, arrest, bridle, capture, catch, collar, corner, corral, ensnare, entrap, harness, herd, hook, nab, net, nick, recapture, rope, secure, seize, snaffle, snag, snare, tie, trap, wrangle (≠ drop, emancipate, expel, free, loose, lose, miss, -reject, release, skip, unbind, unchain, unleash)
LATHER (+): bathe, foam, froth, launder, lave, massage, rub, scrub, shampoo, slather, soap, wash (≠ bedraggle, clean, cleanse, dirty, flatten, lose, marinate, presoak, rinse, soak, surrender)
LAUNCH (→): barrage, bombard, bowl, buck, bung, cast, catapult, chuck, dart, dash, discharge, dispatch, drive, eject, fire, fling, flip, float, gun, heave, hook, hurl, hurtle, impel, lob, loft, mortar, pass, peg, pelt, pitch, precipitate, project, propel, punt, rifle, roll, send, shoot, skitter, sling, throw, thrust, toss, trigger, wing (≠ barricade, blockade, bulwark, defend, deflect, encumber, grasp, grip, guard, hoard, hold, keep, load, pin, protect, repel, reset, retain, shield)
LAUNCH (+): arrange, author, bankroll, begin, bow, brainstorm, brew, commence, conceive, concoct, constitute, construct, contrive, cook, create, develop, devise, endow, enlarge, establish, expand, fabricate, father, finance, foster, found, fund, galvanize, generate, hatch, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, instigate, institute, introduce, invent, manufacture, open, organize, originate, patent, pioneer, plant, produce, sire, start, subsidize, systematize, underwrite (≠ abolish, -abort, annihilate, annul, -cancel, cease, close, defund, dismantle, -disown, end, finish, -halt, kill, -nullify, ruin, sabotage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shelve, shut, stop, terminate, wrap, wreck)
LAUNDER (+): abbreviate, anonymize, bleep, blue-pencil, bowdlerize, censor, censure, clean, cleanse, condemn, delete, delouse, denounce, edit, examine, excise, expunge, expurgate, gut, presoak, purge, purify, redact, red-pen, red-pencil, repress, review, screen, scrub, scrutinize, shorten, silence, suppress, wash (≠ allege, approve, authorize, bedraggle, besmirch, contaminate, dirty, draggle, endorse, implicate, incriminate, rubber-stamp, sanction, smear, smudge, sully, taint)
LAVISH (→): bestow, blow, bombard, consume, deluge, deplete, disburse, dissipate, exhaust, expend, flood, fritter, give, heap, impoverish, indulge, inundate, lard, lose, misspend, overindulge, overspend, overwhelm, pamper, pour, rain, scatter, shoot, shower, slather, spend, squander, swamp, syrup, waste (≠ bank, budget, conserve, debit, -deny, deprive, divest, drizzle, economize, famish, hoard, keep, limit, malnourish, pinch, preserve, protect, reserve, retain, save, scant, scrimp, skimp, starve, stint, underfeed, withdraw, withhold)
LEACH (←): bleed, cannibalize, consume, cripple, debilitate, deplete, depredate, drain, drink, empty, exhaust, extract, filter, filtrate, knacker, leech, quaff, remove, sap, sluice, slurp, strain, suck, swallow, vacuum, void, withdraw (≠ cram, fill, furnish, hoard, imbue, keep, lavish, maintain, preserve, provide, refresh, reload, replace, replenish, restore, retain, saturate, stock, stuff, supply)
LEAD (→): boss, bring, captain, chair, choreograph, command, contribute, control, convert, convince, direct, dominate, draw, govern, handle, head, helm, incline, induce, introduce, manage, motivate, move, orchestrate, oversee, pace, persuade, produce, prompt, quarterback, regulate, rule, run, serve, shepherd, spearhead, spur, superintend, supervise, tend, trail-blaze (≠ deregulate, follow, liberate, loose, loosen, lose, mind, mislead, mismanage, misrule, obey, serve, subvert, unleash)
LEAD (→): accompany, attend, chaperone, coerce, compel, conduct, control, convey, convoy, direct, drive, escort, force, get, guard, guide, impel, induce, manage, marshal, muscle, persuade, pilot, protect, quarterback, route, safeguard, see, shepherd, show, span, squire, steer, traverse, usher, watch (≠ -abandon, -desert, -ditch, dog, follow, -forsake, haunt, hound, maroon, mind, obey, shadow, tail, tailgate, track, trail)
LEAD (→): beat, best, better, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, eclipse, exceed, lick, master, outbalance, outclass, outdistance, outdo, outpace, outperform, outrank, outreach, outrun, outsell, outshine, outstrip, outweigh, overcome, overshadow, overtake, rout, shame, skunk, subdue, surmount, surpass, thrash, top, transcend, trounce, trump, wallop, whip (≠ aggrandize, back, bolster, boost, cede, concede, defend, defer, develop, elevate, enhance, forfeit, -forsake, highlight, hype, improve, magnify, maximize, plug, promote, protect, publicize, relinquish, sacrifice, serve, showcase, spotlight, support, survive)
LEAD (+): accompany, affect, alter, attend, brief, change, coach, counsel, cultivate, direct, dispose, drill, encourage, engineer, enlighten, foster, godfather, guide, impact, incline, inculcate, indoctrinate, induce, influence, inform, instruct, mentor, modify, motivate, move, nurture, oversee, persuade, pilot, prompt, school, shepherd, show, steer, supervise, sway, teach, train, transform, tutor (≠ arrest, ban, bar, block, checkmate, cripple, demotivate, -deter, discourage, dissuade, -frustrate, -halt, hamstring, harm, hinder, impede, inhibit, obstruct, -prevent, restrain, stall, undercut, weaken)
LEAK (→): blab, blaze, blurt, break, circulate, clue, concede, confess, confide, confirm, disclose, divulge, impart, out, publicize, relate, reveal, spill, spread, squeal, tell (≠ block, bury, censor, cloak, cloud, conceal, control, costume, disguise, expurgate, gag, hide, hush, mask, mute, muzzle, redact, secrete, stifle, suppress)
LEARN (←): absorb, acquire, apprehend, assimilate, comprehend, cram, digest, discern, gain, gather, get, glean, grasp, imbibe, incorporate, integrate, internalize, know, master, memorize, procure, read, receive, study, train, understand (≠ -blank, -disregard, forget, -ignore, miss, misunderstand, -neglect, -overlook, unlearn)
LEARN (←): ascertain, calculate, catch, clock, descry, detect, determine, discern, discover, divine, espy, find, gather, get, glean, hear, locate, mind, note, observe, perceive, realize, scan, scout, scrutinize, search, see, seek, sight, spot, suss, track, understand, unearth (≠ bewilder, blanket, bury, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, -disregard, enshroud, forget, hide, -ignore, lose, mask, mislay, misplace, miss, occult, -overlook, screen, shroud, unlearn, veil)
LEARN (←): absorb, accept, apprehend, comprehend, con, digest, grasp, know, memorize, mourn, recall, recollect, regret, relive, remember, retain, study, understand (≠ addle, baffle, bury, confuse, -disregard, forget, -ignore, misremember, mystify, -neglect, -overlook, unlearn) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
LEASE (←): arrange, bespeak, book, charter, contract, engage, hire, let, license, loan, order, possess, register, rent, reserve, sublet (≠ banish, buy, commodify, dismiss, eject, -exclude, expel, fire, hold, keep, monetize, oust, purchase, release, sell, take)
LEASH (/): bind, break, bridle, calm, check, conquer, control, curb, discipline, domesticate, dominate, guide, harness, hogtie, hold, housebreak, housetrain, humble, lead, lull, master, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, overcome, pacify, placate, quell, rein, repress, restrain, soften, straightjacket, subdue, subjugate, suppress, tame, temper, tether, tie, train (≠ -abandon, agitate, -desert, dismiss, free, liberate, loose, manumit, outrage, provoke, rankle, release, rouse, spring, stir, subvert, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, unhinge, unhook, unleash, untie)
LEAVE (→): -abandon, cease, cede, chuck, -desert, -ditch, drop, dump, forgo, -forsake, hand, jettison, jilt, maroon, offload, plonk, -quit, relinquish, -renounce, resign, stop, surrender, terminate, waive, yield (≠ chauffeur, defend, guard, hold, keep, maintain, preserve, protect, remember, retain)
LEAVE (→): allocate, allot, apportion, assign, bequeath, bestow, cede, commit, confer, consign, deliver, donate, dower, endow, entrust, hand, legate, refer, tender, transfer, transmit, will (≠ block, clutch, -deny, dispute, grasp, grip, hoard, hold, keep, -refuse, squander, withhold)
LECTURE (+): address, admonish, brief, catechize, coach, consult, deliver, direct, drill, edify, educate, enlighten, expound, familiarize, filibuster, guide, harangue, impart, implant, inculcate, indoctrinate, inform, initiate, instill, instruct, introduce, mentor, mouth, preach, prepare, prime, qualify, read, recite, school, sermonize, show, spiel, spout, talk, teach, tutor, update (≠ abbreviate, abridge, censor, confound, confuse
, cross-examine, disrespect, doubt, forget, grill, -ignore, interrogate, interview, learn, mystify, -neglect, obscure, question, -repudiate, restrain, -scorn, scruple, stifle, stonewall, study, suspect, withhold) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
LECTURE (/): abuse, admonish, assail, attack, badmouth, belittle, berate, blame, blast, blister, castigate, censure, chastise, chide, condemn, criticize, critique, crucify, denounce, disparage, disrespect, diss, excoriate, fault, flay, hammer, harangue, impugn, keelhaul, knock, lambaste, lash, mock, pan, rag, rate, ream, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, revile, ridicule, scold, -scorn, scourge, slam, tongue-lash, upbraid, vituperate (≠ absolve, acclaim, adopt, applaud, approve, blandish, celebrate, cheer, commend, compliment, congratulate, emulate, endorse, exalt, exonerate, extol, flatter, forgive, gratify, help, honor, idealize, laud, pardon, praise, revere, romanticize, sanction, spare, venerate)
LEECH (←): beg, bilk, bleed, bum, cadge, cannibalize, coerce, consume, cripple, debilitate, exhaust, extract, leach, milk, mooch, overextend, schnorr, scrounge, sluice, sponge, tap, tax, weasel (≠ clasp, clutch, compensate, confess, expose, grasp, hoard, keep, replace, replenish, restore, retain, withhold)
LEGISLATE (+): administer, allow, approve, authorize, codify, confirm, constitute, control, decree, dictate, effect, enact, establish, execute, formulate, govern, legalize, make, manage, ordain, order, pass, permit, prescribe, proclaim, ratify, regulate, rule, sanction, set (≠ abolish, abrogate, annul, -blank, -cancel, invalidate, kill, misrule, -nullify, overturn, repeal, -rescind, reverse, revoke, void)
LEGITIMIZE (+): accredit, allow, approve, authorize, back, certificate, certify, charter, commission, confirm, decriminalize, empower, enable, endorse, entitle, guarantee, legalize, legitimate, license, mandate, notarize, permit, ratify, reward, rubber-stamp, sanction, support, sustain, underwrite, validate, warrant (≠ abolish, abrogate, annul, -cancel, chastise, criminalize, -exclude, -forbid, invalidate, marginalize, -negate, -nix, -nullify, outlaw, proscribe, punish, rectify, -rescind)
LEND (→): add, advance, afford, allot, allow, assign, assist, attribute, award, bankroll, bequeath, bestow, confer, consign, contribute, credit, deliver, devote, disburse, dispense, dole, endow, entrust, expend, extend, fund, furnish, give, grant, help, impart, lavish, lease, lend-lease, let, loan, mortgage, oblige, offer, pawn, pay, permit, pledge, present, provide, ration, render, send, serve, share, shower, stake, sublet, submit, supply, tender, trust, underwrite, volunteer (≠ acquire, appropriate, bestow, bilk, borrow, cadge, cheat, chisel, claim, contribute, defraud, defund, derive, disinherit, -disown, donate, draw, earn, give, obtain, procure, scrounge, secure, seize, source, sponge, steal, stiff, tithe, use)
LESSEN (/): abate, abbreviate, abridge, accent, allay, alleviate, amplify, amputate, assuage, attenuate, bob, calm, clip, compact, compress, concentrate, condense, contract, crop, cull, curtail, cut, deaden, debit, decrease, deduct, deflate, deplete, deprive, diffuse, dilute, diminish, -discount, downgrade, downsize, drain, dull, ease, erode, impair, leach, leech, lighten, lower, lull, mellow, minimize, mitigate, moderate, narrow, nip, palliate, pare, prune, rarefy, reduce, relieve, shave, shear, shorten, shrink, slow, soft-pedal, soothe, subordinate, taper, trim, truncate, unload, weaken, weed (≠ accelerate, accent, accentuate, accrue, accumulate, add, adjoin, affirm, affix, aggrandize, ameliorate, amend, amp, amplify, annex, append, assert, assess, attach, augment, balloon, belabor, boost, brew, broaden, compile, consolidate, deepen, double, emphasize, enhance, enlarge, enrich, escalate, expand, extend, flavor, foist, gather, glitz, heighten, impose, improve, increase, intensify, lengthen, magnify, marinate, maximize, multiply, optimize, overhaul, prioritize, proliferate, prolong, punctuate, recoup, redouble, refine, revolutionize, season, sophisticate, spice, stoke, strengthen, supplement, treble, triple, underscore)
LEVEL (+): adjust, align, approximate, balance, burnish, calibrate, center, compose, counteract, counterbalance, defray, equalize, equate, even, flatten, flush, glaze, gloss, grade, grind, homogenize, iron, juggle, lay, match, mow, neutralize, offset, override, pave, plane, polish, press, right, roll, sand, set, shine, slick, smooth, spackle, square, stabilize, steady, straighten, surface, tune, tweak, unbend, uncrumple, uncurl, unfold, unwrinkle (≠ bend, coarsen, crease, deform, dent, disfigure, fold, harshen, jar, mismatch, nock, pit, pock, roughen, ruffle, rumple, serrate, sharpen, unbalance, unsettle, warp, wrinkle)
LEVEL (/): abolish, annihilate, atomize, bulldoze, compress, crop, decimate, deflate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, disintegrate, dismantle, doom, down, drop, eradicate, erase, exterminate, extirpate, fell, flatten, floor, ground, mow, obliterate, pulverize, raze, remove, ruin, scythe, shear, smash, squish, topple, vaporize, waste, wipe, wreck (≠ assemble, build, concoct, configure, construct, craft, create, devise, engineer, erect, fabricate, fashion, found, make, manufacture, plan, raise, survive, weather, withstand)
LEVERAGE (→): abuse, adapt, adopt, apply, bleed, cannibalize, channel, cheat, commercialize, commodify, control, develop, direct, embrace, employ, exercise, exploit, fleece, handle, harness, lobby, manipulate, milk, misappropriate, mistreat, misuse, mobilize, muster, operate, organize, overcharge, pimp, process, rally, recycle, reuse, run, salvage, skin, soak, stick, use, utilize, wield, work (≠ -abandon, -avoid, -boycott, -bypass, -circumvent, -discount, -eschew, -exclude, -forbid, forfeit, -forsake, -ignore, lose, misapply, -neglect, -nix, -omit, -prohibit, -reject, relinquish, -renounce, sacrifice, -scorn, -spurn, surrender, -veto, weaken, wound)
LIBERATE (+): absolve, acquit, alibi, deliver, discharge, disembody, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, emancipate, enfranchise, enlarge, exonerate, extricate, free, loose, loosen, manumit, pardon, parole, ransom, redeem, release, rescue, save, slack, slacken, spare, spring, unbind, unburden, uncage, unchain, unfetter, unravel, unshackle, unsnarl, untie, untwine (≠ bind, cage, chain, commit, confine, conquer, convict, enchain, enslave, fetter, handcuff, hogtie, immure, imprison, incarcerate, incriminate, institutionalize, intern, jail, keep, limit, lock, manacle, -prevent, restrain, shackle, straightjacket, subdue, subjugate, tie, trammel, truss, unchain, unfetter, unhook, unleash, unshackle, untie)
LICENSE (+): accredit, affirm, allow, approve, authenticate, authorize, bless, certify, commission, confirm, countersign, deputize, designate, empower, enable, enfranchise, entitle, franchise, legalize, legitimize, notarize, ordain, permit, privilege, qualify, sanction, suffer, task, validate, warrant (≠ ban, bar, blacklist, delegitimize, -deny, disallow, -exclude, -forbid, outlaw, -prohibit, -refuse, restrict, sabotage, undermine, -veto, withhold)
LICK (→): brush, calm, caress, clean, contact, fondle, gloss, graze, lap, moisten, osculate, soothe, stroke, sweep, taste, tongue, touch, wash, wet (≠ bite, chew, dry, gnaw, harm, injure, spit, wound)
LICK (/): assail, assault, attack, backhand, bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, beset, birch, blackjack, bludgeon, box, buffet, bust, cane, chop, clobber, clout, club, cowhide, crack, cudgel, cuff, curry, drub, flagellate, flog, hammer, hide, hit, horsewhip, knock, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, maim, mangle, maul, paddle, paste, pelt, pistol-whip, pommel, pound, pummel, punch, raid, rush, scourge, slam, slap, slate, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, strap, strike, swat, swipe, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, wham, whip, whomp, wound (≠ -avoid, block, build, -bypass, caress, -circumvent, defend, deflect, -disregard, dissuade, -dodge, -duck, -elude, -evade, forget, guard, help, -ignore, miss, -neglect, pet, protect, repel, secure, shelter, shield, -sidestep, skip, skirt, tap)
LICK (/): annihilate, beat, best, better, bomb, break, bury, cap, checkmate, clobber, conquer, cream, crush, defeat, demolish, dispatch, down, drub, eclipse, exceed, finish, flatten, master, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outlast, outmaneuver, outperform, outreach, outshine, outstrip, outthink, overcome, overpower, overtake, overthrow, overwhelm, rout, ruin, score, shellac, skin, skunk, slaughter, smoke, stop, subdue, subjugate, surmount, surpass, sweep, take, thrash, throw, top, transcend, trounce, unseat, upend, upset, van
quish, wallop, whip, whup, wrack, wreck (≠ aid, arm, assist, bobble, bomb, defend, empower, enable, equip, flunk, forfeit, fumble, guard, lose, maintain, muff, preserve, protect, release, rescue, restore, save, secure, steady, survive, sustain, unchain, weather, withstand)
LIFT (→): ascend, bear, boost, crane, elevate, erect, escalate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack, levitate, mount, raise, rear, soar, up, upend, uphold, uplift, upraise (≠ anchor, bear, bury, depress, descend, dip, discard, drop, lower, offload, pitch, plonk, plunge, press, push, restrain, root, sink, submerge)
LIFT (→): activate, actuate, advance, ameliorate, animate, arouse, beef, bolster, boost, bring, buoy, cheer, comfort, console, dignify, draw, elevate, embolden, encourage, enhance, enthuse, exalt, excite, goad, goose, hearten, hike, impel, incite, induce, initiate, inspire, kick-start, kindle, lubricate, motivate, move, persuade, please, prompt, propel, provoke, push, raise, rally, reassure, rouse, spur, stimulate, stir, support, trigger, upgrade, uplift, urge (≠ appall, bench, blackjack, blackmail, bore, browbeat, bully, confuse, daunt, demoralize, demote, demotivate, depress, disconcert, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dull, intimidate, menace, prioritize, sadden, sideline, sink, stall, stifle, threaten, upset, weaken, worry)