Activate

by Damon Suede

  MONOPOLIZE (←): absorb, appropriate, buttonhole, command, consume, control, corner, demand, dictate, direct, dominate, engross, govern, handle, hog, hold, manage, obsess, occupy, own, possess, preoccupy, rule, syndicate, waylay (≠ allocate, apportion, -avoid, -bypass, chunk, denounce, diffuse, -discount, distribute, divide, drop, dump, forget, give, grant, -ignore, lose, offer, -omit, portion, -reject, release, -repudiate, scatter, share, -shun, -sidestep, subvert, volunteer)

  MOOCH (←): abuse, appropriate, beg, bilk, blackmail, bleed, bluff, borrow, buffalo, bum, cadge, cheat, crib, drain, embezzle, employ, exploit, fleece, gouge, hunt, leech, lift, manipulate, milk, panhandle, pilfer, scam, schnorr, scrounge, seek, sponge, stiff, sucker, swindle, tap, use, weasel, wheedle (≠ bestow, comp, contribute, deserve, dispense, donate, earn, endow, furnish, give, help, lend, merit, offer, patronize, pay, provide, recoup, replace, restore, serve, supply, support, volunteer)

  MORTIFY (/): abase, abash, affront, agitate, annoy, appall, belittle, blacken, blackguard, blister, bother, chagrin, chasten, chastise, confound, confuse, control, crush, debase, deflate, degrade, demean, -deny, diminish, disappoint, discipline, discomfit, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, discountenance, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, dismay, displease, disquiet, distress, disturb, embarrass, expose, faze, fluster, harass, heckle, horrify, hound, humble, humiliate, hurt, insult, malign, mock, nag, needle, nettle, niggle, nitpick, nonplus, offend, out, outrage, perturb, pillory, rattle, ridicule, shame, shrivel, -slight, -snub, subdue, taunt, unhinge, unsettle, upset, vex, wither, worry, wound (≠ assure, blandish, bolster, brace, buoy, buttress, calm, cheer, comfort, compliment, console, encourage, flannel, flatter, gratify, help, humor, inspire, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, nurture, pacify, placate, please, praise, reassure, relieve, settle, soothe, steady, support)

  MORTIFY (/): abuse, afflict, agonize, anguish, avenge, bench, burden, castigate, chasten, chastise, confine, conquer, control, correct, crucify, deduct, demote, -deny, discipline, -discount, distress, encumber, fine, forfeit, handicap, imprison, incarcerate, judge, lambaste, penalize, persecute, pillory, punish, reduce, reprise, restrain, sentence, sideline, subdue, subjugate, suppress, torture, wrong (≠ animate, assist, boost, coddle, comfort, ease, forgive, fortify, gratify, heal, indulge, mend, pamper, prioritize, promote, rally, release, reward, stimulate, stroke, supply)

  MOTHER (←): accommodate, adopt, aid, appease, assist, attend, baby, bear, benefit, bequeath, bestow, bottle-feed, carry, cherish, coddle, cosset, cotton, cradle, create, cuddle, cultivate, develop, discipline, educate, embrace, encourage, endow, facilitate, favor, feed, form, foster, fuel, generate, gestate, gratify, guard, help, host, humor, indulge, infantilize, mollycoddle, motivate, nag, nanny, nourish, nurse, nurture, originate, overindulge, overprotect, pacify, pamper, parent, produce, protect, raise, rear, relieve, respect, reward, satisfy, school, scold, serve, shelter, sire, soothe, spoil, spoon-feed, support, sustain, teach, tend, tolerate, train, treat, welcome (≠ -abandon, abuse, anguish, antagonize, betray, bother, brutalize, cripple, crucify, damage, -desert, destroy, -disown, -disregard, end, -forsake, harm, hurt, impair, infect, injure, irritate, kill, malnourish, molest, murder, -neglect, orphan, persecute, poison, -reject, sacrifice, savage, sicken, smother, stifle, strangle, stunt, terrorize, threaten, -thwart, torment, torture, traumatize, underfeed, upset, victimize, wound, wrong)

  MOTIVATE (→): activate, actuate, animate, arouse, assist, bribe, bring, compel, convince, direct, draw, drive, electrify, encourage, energize, enliven, excite, facilitate, fire, galvanize, goad, goose, impel, incite, incur, induce, influence, initiate, inspire, inspirit, instigate, invigorate, kick-start, kindle, lead, lubricate, move, persuade, prod, prompt, propel, provoke, push, quicken, rouse, spark, spearhead, spur, stimulate, stir, suggest, supercharge, sway, trigger, urge, vitalize, whet (≠ blackjack, blackmail, confuse, cripple, daunt, deactivate, demoralize, demotivate, depress, discourage, dissuade, hamper, hobble, impede, intimidate, nobble, paralyze, perplex, sadden, sicken, torpefy, undermine, weaken)

  MOUNT (→): ascend, boost, cant, climb, crest, elevate, escalate, incline, lean, lift, raise, ride, scale, slant, slope, surmount, thrust, tilt, tip, top, uplift, vault (≠ -decline, descend, dismount, drop, lower, plunge, settle, sink, slide)

  MOUNT (→): affix, arrange, carry, clinch, depict, display, dramatize, enact, exhibit, expose, extend, fit, frame, give, install, juxtapose, launch, offer, organize, parade, perform, place, play, portray, position, prepare, present, preview, produce, proffer, render, represent, show, showcase, stage, tender, unveil (≠ bury, -cancel, close, conceal, conclude, disband, dismantle, end, -forbid, hide, stymie, terminate, -thwart, withdraw)

  MOVE (→): alter, beam, bear, bring, budge, bustle, carry, cart, chauffeur, convey, deliver, dislocate, dispatch, displace, distribute, disturb, drive, express, fetch, haul, juxtapose, lug, modify, operate, pass, position, pull, push, recline, redo, refashion, relegate, relocate, remake, remodel, remove, replace, reposition, revamp, revise, rework, roll, run, schlep, send, shift, ship, shove, shunt, shuttle, smuggle, stir, supersede, supplant, swing, switch, take, tote, transfer, transmit, transplant, transport, transpose, vary, waft (≠ anchor, block, cage, drop, dump, embed, fix, freeze, hamper, hoard, hog, implant, leave, lodge, lose, monopolize, moor, paralyze, pause, pin, pinion, root, secure, set, stabilize, stash, stop, stow, -thwart, withhold)

  MOVE (→): activate, actuate, advance, advocate, affect, agitate, animate, arouse, bribe, bring, catalyze, convert, convince, drive, excite, facilitate, fast-forward, fast-track, fire, foment, frogmarch, galvanize, generate, hurry, hustle, ignite, impel, impress, incite, incline, induce, influence, inspire, instigate, introduce, lead, lubricate, march, motivate, persuade, prompt, propel, propose, provoke, pull, punt, push, quicken, rabble-rouse, raise, recommend, rouse, shift, shove, spearhead, start, stimulate, stir, strike, suggest, sway, touch, trigger, trip, tug, turn, urge, wag, wave, wiggle, work (≠ bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, cripple, curb, deactivate, demotivate, discourage, dissuade, freeze, -halt, hamper, hinder, hobble, impair, impede, inhibit, jam, pace, regulate, rein, restrain, stall, stop, straightjacket, suppress, terrify, -thwart)

  MOVE (←): affect, afflict, agitate, allure, amuse, anger, arouse, astound, attract, awe, bewitch, bias, bother, captivate, charm, cheer, color, concern, dazzle, depress, discomfort, discompose, disgust, disquiet, distress, disturb, enchant, energize, engage, engross, enrage, enrapture, entertain, enthrall, entice, entrance, excite, fascinate, fluster, galvanize, gladden, grip, harass, harry, hypnotize, impact, impress, influence, infuriate, inspire, interest, intrigue, involve, irritate, mesmerize, monopolize, obsess, overawe, overpower, overwhelm, penetrate, perturb, pester, pierce, plague, predetermine, prejudice, preoccupy, rally, rattle, ravish, razzle-dazzle, reach, rouse, sadden, scare, shake, shock, smite, stimulate, stir, strain, stress, strike, sway, tantalize, tease, tempt, terrify, tickle, touch, transport, trigger, trouble, try, upset, worry, wow, wring (≠ anesthetize, annoy, bore, bother, bug, deaden, debilitate, demoralize, desensitize, discourage, dispirit, drain, enervate, exhaust, fatigue, frustrate, irk, irritate, jade, knacker, numb, pall, paralyze, sedate, stagnate, tire, trouble, underwhelm, vex, wear, weary) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  MUDDY (/): bedaub, bedraggle, befoul, begrime, besmirch, bespatter, blacken, cloud, confuse, contaminate, daub, defile, dirty, disarrange, disarray, discolor, dishevel, disorder, draggle, foul, grime, jumble, mess, mire, muck, muddle, pollute, puddle, smear, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully, taint, untidy (≠ brighten, brush, clean, cleanse, decontaminate, deodorize, disinfect, dry-clean, dust, freshen, launder, mop, purge, purify, quarantine, rarefy, renew, rinse, sanitize, scour, scrub, straighten, sweep, tidy, wash, wipe)

  MUDDY (/): abash, addle, agitate, baffle, bamboozle, beat, becloud, befog, befuddle, beguile, bemuse, bewilder, blur, bother, buffalo, chagrin, churn, cloud, complicate, confound, confuse, cozen, deceive, delude, disarrange, disarray, discombobulate, discomfit,
discomfort, discompose, disconcert, dishevel, dismay, disorder, disorganize, disorient, disquiet, disrupt, distress, disturb, double-talk, dupe, embarrass, entangle, faze, flummox, fluster, fog, fool, fox, gaslight, gull, hoax, hocus-pocus, hoodwink, humbug, jumble, manipulate, misguide, mislead, mix, mortify, muddle, mystify, nonplus, obfuscate, perplex, perturb, puzzle, rattle, scramble, shuffle, snarl, snow, sophisticate, stump, stun, tangle, tousle, trick, trouble, unhinge, unsettle, upset, vex (≠ analyze, assure, clarify, clear, decipher, decode, deduce, detect, disentangle, enlighten, floodlight, illuminate, inform, order, organize, profile, reassure, regiment, satisfy, simplify, straighten, streamline, uncloud, uncomplicate, undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle)

  MUFFLE (←): bandage, blanket, bower, bundle, camouflage, circle, cloak, cocoon, cover, curtain, disguise, drape, embed, embosom, embower, embrace, encase, encircle, enclose, encompass, enfold, enlace, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, invest, lap, mantle, mask, overlay, pack, shroud, surround, swaddle, swathe, veil, wrap, wreathe (≠ bare, denude, expose, open, peel, reveal, shuck, strip, tear, uncover, unwrap)

  MUFFLE (/): baffle, bleep, censor, cloak, conceal, cover, cushion, dampen, deaden, decrease, devoice, drown, dull, envelop, gag, hide, hush, insulate, mellow, minimize, mute, muzzle, pad, quiet, quieten, repress, silence, smother, soften, soft-pedal, soundproof, squelch, stifle, strangle, subdue, suppress, swaddle, swathe, throttle, underemphasize, wrap (≠ accent, accentuate, accost, amplify, assert, bare, blab, blaze, blurt, boost, confess, confront, deafen, deepen, disclose, divulge, emphasize, encourage, enhance, expose, free, heighten, increase, intensify, magnify, maximize, open, punctuate, release, reveal, sharpen, strengthen, uncover)

  MUG (→): assail, assault, attack, bash, batter, boost, grab, haul, hijack, hold, jump, lift, pocket, rob, rustle, seize, shanghai, snatch, steal, swipe, waylay (≠ defend, -evade, guard, police, repel, replace, rescue, restore, save, secure, skirt)

  MULTIPLY (+): accelerate, accentuate, accrue, accumulate, add, aggrandize, aggregate, amass, amplify, augment, boost, breed, build, collect, complement, compound, cube, deepen, develop, double, elongate, emphasize, enhance, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, foster, generate, grow, heighten, hype, increase, inflate, intensify, lengthen, magnify, maximize, mount, populate, prioritize, produce, proliferate, prolong, propagate, protract, raise, reinforce, repeat, reproduce, spread, square, stretch, supersize, supplement, swell, triple (≠ abate, abbreviate, abridge, compress, concentrate, condense, constrict, contract, curtail, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, divide, downsize, lessen, lower, minimize, reduce, shorten, shrink, subtract)

  MURDER (/): abolish, annihilate, asphyxiate, assassinate, axe, behead, bludgeon, butcher, club, crush, decapitate, defeat, depopulate, destroy, dispatch, doom, drown, dust, electrocute, eliminate, eradicate, erase, execute, exterminate, extinguish, finish, garrote, guillotine, hang, hit, ice, kill, knife, liquidate, lynch, mangle, massacre, neutralize, purge, remove, ruin, sacrifice, savage, shank, shiv, shoot, slaughter, slay, smite, smother, snuff, spoil, stab, strangle, suffocate, terminate, thrash, throttle, waste, whack (≠ aid, bear, begin, build, continue, create, defend, develop, encourage, establish, feed, foster, guard, heal, help, initiate, institute, keep, maintain, nourish, nurture, preserve, protect, raise, rescue, resuscitate, revive, save, shelter, shield, spare, spark, start, survive, withstand)

  MUSCLE (→): abuse, affright, alarm, appall, assault, awe, badger, blackjack, blackmail, bleed, bludgeon, bluff, bogart, browbeat, brutalize, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, coerce, compel, constrain, cow, daunt, demoralize, discompose, disconcert, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, drag, dragoon, drive, entreat, force, frighten, harass, hector, hijack, horrify, hound, impel, implore, importune, impose, impress, intimidate, make, manhandle, mau-mau, menace, molest, nobble, obligate, oblige, oppress, perturb, petrify, press, pressure, push, railroad, sandbag, scare, shame, shock, shove, spook, startle, steamroller, strong-arm, terrify, terrorize, threaten, trash-talk, unman, unnerve, upset, victimize, violate, wound, wrong (≠ accommodate, allow, amuse, assuage, baby, bamboozle, bribe, cajole, calm, cheer, coax, coddle, comfort, con, console, convince, court, delight, embolden, encourage, gratify, hearten, help, hint, humor, induce, influence, lubricate, lull, manipulate, mellow, midwife, mitigate, moderate, mollify, nurture, outmaneuver, outslick, outsmart, outwit, pacify, palaver, pamper, permit, persuade, placate, please, reassure, reward, satiate, satisfy, schmooze, solace, soothe, spoil, steel, suggest, sway, tantalize, tease, tempt, trick, trigger, wheedle, woo)

  MUSTER (←): accumulate, activate, arrange, assemble, call, cluster, collect, compile, concentrate, congregate, conjure, convene, enlist, enroll, gather, group, herd, include, invite, marshal, mass, meet, mobilize, order, organize, raise, rally, reconvene, scavenge, scrounge, summon, throng, welcome (≠ adjourn, -avoid, banish, block, -cancel, deactivate, demobilize, destroy, diffuse, disband, discharge, dismiss, disorganize, disperse, dissolve, divide, -dodge, -exclude, -forbid, -ignore, -neglect, prorogue, remove, scatter, separate, split, stop)

  MUTATE (/): adapt, adjust, alter, change, convert, deform, evolve, metamorphose, modify, modulate, remake, remodel, reshape, transfigure, transform, translate, transmogrify, transmute, transpose, transubstantiate, vary (≠ balance, clone, copy, distill, duplicate, establish, fix, freeze, maintain, purify, refine, secure, settle, stabilize, steady, sustain)

  MUTILATE (/): amputate, axe, bash, batter, behead, bludgeon, break, bruise, brutalize, butcher, castrate, chop, circumcise, cleave, contort, cripple, crush, cut, damage, deball, decapitate, deface, deform, disable, disfigure, dismember, distort, drub, efface, emasculate, eviscerate, excise, gash, gore, hack, hammer, hamstring, harm, hew, hobble, hurt, impair, incapacitate, injure, kill, kneecap, lacerate, lame, lash, lop, maim, mangle, mar, maul, murder, paralyze, pummel, ravage, razor, remove, ruin, savage, scalp, scar, scratch, separate, sever, slash, slice, smash, split, spoil, sunder, thump, torment, torture, truncate, unman, whip, wing, wound (≠ adorn, aid, armor, assist, bandage, beautify, build, craft, create, cultivate, cure, decorate, defend, doctor, embellish, enable, fancify, fashion, fix, garnish, guard, heal, help, manufacture, mend, nurse, nurture, ornament, pamper, patch, preserve, protect, rectify, refurbish, rehabilitate, rejuvenate, remedy, renew, repair, rescue, restore, save, sculpt, secure, shield, splint, stitch, strengthen, support, suture, toughen)

  MUZZLE (/): block, censor, check, choke, clog, close, constrict, cover, curb, dampen, devoice, fetter, gag, hinder, hush, inhibit, minimize, muffle, mute, obstruct, quiet, redact, restrain, shush, silence, stifle, stop, straightjacket, subdue, suppress, underemphasize (≠ accent, accentuate, affirm, amplify, assert, bellow, blab, blurt, boost, broadcast, confess, confirm, declare, dish, emphasize, expose, free, intensify, loose, magnify, maximize, prioritize, release, restore, share, shout, show, telegraph, trumpet)

  MYSTIFY (/): abash, addle, agitate, amaze, astonish, astound, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, beguile, bemuse, bewilder, blur, bother, buffalo, bullshit, chagrin, cloud, clutter, confound, confuse, cozen, daze, deceive, delude, discombobulate, discomfit, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, dismay, disorient, disquiet, distress, disturb, dizzy, double-talk, dumbfound, dupe, -elude, embarrass, -escape, faze, floor, flummox, fluster, fog, foil, fool, forestall, fox, gaslight, gobsmack, gull, hoax, hobble, hocus-pocus, hoodwink, humbug, jumble, manipulate, misguide, mislead, mismatch, mortify, muddle, muddy, nonplus, obfuscate, obscure, outwit, perplex, perturb, puzzle, rattle, shock, snooker, snow, stick, stump, stun, stupefy, surprise, tangle, throw, -thwart, trick, trouble, unhinge, unsettle, upset, vex (≠ aid, assist, assure, catalog, clarify, classify, comfort, decipher, deduce, demystify, detect, determine, educate, encourage, enlighten, explain, expose, floodlight, guide, help, illuminate, index, inform, instruct, lead, order, organize, orient, reassure, satisfy, school, settle, simplify, solve, soothe, stabilize, steer, streamline, support, teach, uncloud, uncomplicate, uncover, untangle)

  N

  NAB (←): abduct, acquire, amass, annex,
apprehend, appropriate, arrest, bag, bust, capture, catch, clutch, collar, collect, commandeer, confiscate, cop, deprive, detain, download, ensnare, gather, get, glean, grab, harvest, impound, levy, monopolize, nail, net, nick, nobble, obtain, pinch, pluck, procure, reap, salvage, scavenge, secure, seize, select, snaffle, snag, snatch, source, take, usurp (≠ accuse, acquit, alibi, deliver, dismiss, drop, emancipate, enhance, exonerate, forgive, free, give, liberate, lose, miss, misunderstand, pardon, receive, reinstate, release, restore, return, spring, unfasten, unlock, vindicate)

  NAG (→): aggravate, alarm, annoy, antagonize, arouse, badger, bait, bedevil, berate, besiege, blame, bother, browbeat, bug, bully, burden, chafe, chastise, chide, concern, criticize, critique, crowd, denigrate, deride, discompose, distress, disturb, dog, earbash, enrage, exasperate, fault, force, fret, frighten, gall, hack, harass, harry, hassle, heckle, hector, henpeck, hound, inflame, infuriate, intimidate, irk, irritate, needle, nettle, niggle, nitpick, noodge, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, plague, provoke, rankle, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, ruffle, scold, tease, threaten, torment, trouble, unsettle, upbraid, upset, vex, worry (≠ aid, answer, appease, approve, assist, assuage, blandish, cajole, coax, commend, compliment, delight, discourage, dissuade, ease, flatter, gladden, glad-hand, glorify, gratify, help, lionize, mollify, please, praise, schmooze, soften, soft-soap, soothe, support, sweet-talk, thrill, titillate, wheedle, woo)