Activate

by Damon Suede

  PAMPER (←): accommodate, amuse, appease, assuage, baby, blandish, butter, cajole, calm, caress, charm, cherish, coddle, comfort, conciliate, console, content, cosset, cotton, court, cradle, cuddle, delight, divert, dulcify, ease, endow, entertain, favor, featherbed, flannel, fondle, foster, furnish, gladden, glad-hand, gratify, guard, help, humor, indulge, infantilize, ingratiate, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, mollycoddle, mother, nourish, nurse, nurture, oblige, offer, overindulge, overprotect, pacify, pet, pity, placate, please, pleasure, propitiate, protect, provide, regale, relax, relieve, reward, romance, satiate, satisfy, schmooze, shelter, smooth, smother, soft-pedal, soothe, spoil, spoon-feed, subdue, sugarcoat, supply, sweeten, sweet-talk, tame, tickle, tolerate, treat, woo (≠ abuse, affront, aggravate, anger, anguish, annoy, antagonize, bother, bridle, brutalize, bug, -bypass, chafe, check, constrain, control, cross, curb, -deny, deprive, discipline, disfavor, distress, disturb, enrage, exasperate, forget, fret, gall, gaslight, harass, harm, hassle, hector, incense, infuriate, injure, irk, lynch, malnourish, maltreat, manhandle, menace, mistreat, nag, needle, -neglect, oppress, outrage, persecute, pester, rankle, restrain, rile, sadden, sicken, skimp, starve, stint, terrorize, threaten, torment, torture, traumatize, troll, unsettle, upset, vex, victimize, violate, worry, wound, wrong)

  PANIC (/): affright, agitate, alarm, amaze, appall, astound, awe, brutalize, chill, clutch, confound, daunt, demoralize, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, emasculate, floor, fluster, frighten, horrify, intimidate, jolt, perturb, psych, rattle, scare, scarify, shake, shock, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize, unman, unnerve, unsettle, unstring, upset, worry (≠ amuse, anchor, appease, assuage, bolster, buoy, calm, comfort, console, content, encourage, humor, hush, inspire, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, placate, reassure, relax, sedate, soothe, stabilize, steady, steel, tranquilize)

  PARALYZE (/): anesthetize, arrest, attenuate, cripple, daze, deactivate, deaden, debilitate, devitalize, disable, disqualify, drug, dull, dumbfound, enervate, enfeeble, fix, freeze, -halt, hamstring, hobble, hypnotize, immobilize, inactivate, incapacitate, kneecap, lame, maim, mesmerize, mutilate, numb, palsy, petrify, pinion, prostrate, sap, shock, stagnate, stale, stall, stiffen, stop, stun, stupefy, suspend, terrify, tire, torpefy, transfix, undercut, undermine, unnerve, weaken (≠ activate, animate, empower, energize, fortify, galvanize, goad, invigorate, melt, refresh, regenerate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, restore, revitalize, revive, stimulate, strengthen, thaw, wake, weaponize)

  PARDON (+): absolve, accept, acquit, allow, clear, commute, condone, defray, discharge, -discount, dismiss, dispel, -disregard, except, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, explain, forget, forgive, free, gloss, -ignore, justify, legalize, liberate, mitigate, -omit, -overlook, palliate, permit, rationalize, redeem, release, relieve, remit, reprieve, rescue, shrive, spare, spring, tolerate, unburden, vindicate, waive, whitewash (≠ abhor, abominate, accuse, allege, attack, avenge, begrudge, blame, castigate, charge, chasten, chastise, condemn, convict, -despise, -detest, discipline, execrate, fault, fine, finger, frame, -hate, heed, impeach, implicate, impugn, incriminate, indict, -loathe, mind, note, penalize, prosecute, punish, rebuke, redress, resent, revenge, scapegoat, -scorn, sentence, shame)

  PARENT (+): baby, bear, bequeath, bestow, bottle-feed, carry, cherish, coddle, cradle, cultivate, discipline, educate, father, foster, generate, gestate, guard, harbor, hatch, host, indulge, infantilize, mother, nanny, nourish, nurse, nurture, overprotect, pamper, produce, protect, raise, rear, respect, reward, school, scold, shelter, sire, spoil, teach, tend, train, welcome (≠ -abandon, abuse, betray, -deny, -desert, disavow, discard, disclaim, -disown, exterminate, -forsake, murder, -neglect, orphan, -reject, -repudiate, uproot, wrong)

  PARRY (→): anticipate, -avert, -avoid, bend, block, -bypass, challenge, -circumvent, counter, counterpunch, deflect, divert, -dodge, -duck, -elude, -evade, fence, field, foil, forestall, miss, monkey-wrench, -preclude, -prevent, protest, -rebuff, rebuke, redirect, reorient, repel, repulse, resist, retort, reverse, shift, -shirk, -shun, shunt, -sidestep, sidetrack, stop, sway, swivel, -thwart, transfer, turn, twist (≠ accost, allow, attack, attract, brave, compel, confront, demand, face, fight, invite, lance, meet, obligate, oppose, penetrate, render, request, stab, submit, tackle, take, taunt, thrust, welcome, wrestle)

  PART (/): bisect, break, chunk, cleave, detach, disassemble, disconnect, disengage, disentangle, disintegrate, dismantle, dissect, dissolve, divide, divorce, estrange, fracture, halve, insulate, isolate, orphan, oust, partition, pull, quarter, rend, resolve, rip, rive, rupture, seclude, segment, segregate, separate, sequester, sever, split, subdivide, sunder, tear, uncouple, unlink, unravel, untie, unyoke (≠ accumulate, assemble, associate, attach, bind, blend, cement, cinch, close, combine, connect, couple, fasten, fuse, hybridize, integrate, join, knit, link, mingle, mix, mortar, network, reintegrate, reunite, stick, stockpile, synthesize, unify, unite, weld)

  PASS (→): beat, best, better, checkmate, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, eclipse, exceed, lap, leave, lick, lose, master, one-up, outclass, outdistance, outdo, outgrow, outlast, outpace, outperform, outrank, outreach, outrun, outshine, outstrip, outweigh, overcome, overshadow, overtake, rout, shame, skunk, subdue, surmount, surpass, thrash, top, topple, transcend, trim, trounce, trump, wallop, whip (≠ -abandon, aggrandize, amplify, augment, back, bolster, boost, cede, coach, concede, defend, defer, develop, elevate, enhance, fail, forfeit, -forsake, glorify, lose, magnify, maximize, miss, nurture, promote, protect, relinquish, -renounce, sacrifice, support, survive, train)

  PASS (→): advance, assign, bear, bequeath, bestow, buck, carry, cede, commend, commit, confer, confide, consign, contribute, delegate, deliver, deposit, dispense, disperse, distribute, divide, dole, dollop, entrust, finger, furnish, give, grant, hand, handle, leave, lend, loan, offload, paw, reach, recommend, relay, release, relinquish, render, submit, supply, surrender, transfer, transmit, trust, vest, will, yield (≠ accept, coopt, demand, -deny, deprive, detain, hold, keep, own, poach, possess, receive, reserve, retain, steal, stint, take, withhold)

  PASS (+): accept, administer, adopt, allow, approve, authorize, confirm, constitute, decree, dictate, effect, enact, execute, legalize, legislate, legitimate, legitimize, make, ordain, permit, proclaim, ratify, sanction, validate, warrant (≠ abolish, abrogate, annul, -cancel, delegitimize, invalidate, kill, -nullify, overturn, repeal, -rescind, reverse, revoke, void)

  PASTE (+): adhere, affix, attach, cement, connect, fasten, fix, glue, gum, hang, join, link, mend, pin, plaster, reaffix, reattach, refasten, repair, stick, tack, unite (≠ detach, divide, loose, loosen, part, rip, separate, sever, split, sunder, tear, unbind, undo, unfasten)

  PATCH (+): aid, ameliorate, bandage, better, bind, condition, cover, cure, doctor, dress, enhance, enrich, fix, freshen, furbish, heal, help, improve, maintain, mend, overhaul, prepare, ready, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, refresh, refurbish, regenerate, reinforce, rejuvenate, renew, renovate, repair, restimulate, restore, revamp, revitalize, revive, service, sew, splint, stitch, wrap (≠ blemish, break, cripple, damage, deface, disable, disfigure, efface, flaw, harm, harshen, hurt, impair, injure, maim, mangle, mar, monkey-wrench, mutilate, rip, ruin, savage, spoil, tear, unsew, vandalize, wreck)

  PATROL (→): -avert, check, conserve, cover, cruise, defend, guard, inspect, keep, monitor, oppose, oversee, police, pound, preserve, -prevent, protect, resist, safeguard, screen, secure, sentinel, shield, tour, withstand (≠ -abandon, assail, assault, attack, beset, besiege, bombard, boobytrap, burgle, forfeit, -forsake, -ignore, kill, murder, -neglect, overrun, pickpocket, poach, rob, sabotage, shelve, slay, steal, storm, swipe, vandalize)

  PATRONIZE (+): abet, adopt, advance, advocate, aid, assist, back, bankroll, befriend, bolster, boost, buttress, champion, embrace, encourage, endorse, espouse, favor, finance, forward, foster, fund, furnish, further, help, maintain, plug, preach, prioritize, promote, protect, push, reinforce,
second, sponsor, supply, support, underwrite (≠ antagonize, attack, baffle, cheat, check, checkmate, counter, defund, -desert, disappoint, discredit, disfavor, disinherit, -disown, fail, fight, foil, -frustrate, monkey-wrench, muzzle, oppose, sabotage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shelve, stiff, stint, stymie, subvert, -thwart, undercut, undermine, withhold)

  PATRONIZE (/): affront, belittle, brandish, -cold-shoulder, -cut, -despise, -disdain, disparage, -disregard, disrespect, flaunt, flourish, high-hat, humble, humiliate, -ignore, indulge, insult, miff, mortify, offend, parade, -rebuff, rebuke, ridicule, -scorn, shame, -shun, -slight, -snub, -spurn, squash, wave (≠ assist, commend, compliment, elevate, encourage, glorify, gratify, honor, idolize, praise, respect, serve, support, treasure, venerate)

  PAW (→): caress, clap, claw, clutch, dig, feel, finger, fondle, grab, grate, grope, handle, manhandle, maul, mishandle, molest, palpate, pat, poke, rake, rasp, riffle, rub, scratch, search, slap, smite, stroke, strum, touch (≠ -avoid, defend, -dodge, drop, -elude, -escape, -evade, guard, hit, -ignore, leave, miss, please, protect, stab, strike)

  PAWN (→): bond, borrow, commercialize, commodify, deposit, guarantee, hazard, hock, hook, monetize, mortgage, offload, pledge, risk, sell, stash, stow (≠ advance, buy, lend, loan, recover, redeem, refund, reimburse, repay, steal, stiff, stint, win)

  PAY (→): adjust, bequeath, bestow, blow, clear, compensate, confer, defray, disburse, discharge, dissipate, drop, expend, extend, foot, fritter, give, grant, handle, honor, indemnify, invest, lavish, liquidate, offer, outlay, pony, prepay, present, proffer, purchase, rain, recompense, recoup, refund, reimburse, remit, remunerate, render, repay, restitute, reward, satisfy, settle, slather, spare, spend, squander, stake, stand, subsidize, underwrite, volunteer, waste (≠ acquire, borrow, cache, cheat, defraud, disinherit, -disown, dupe, earn, filch, fool, gain, garner, hoard, make, palm, pillage, plunder, procure, realize, -repudiate, rifle, rob, save, secure, steal, stiff, stint, swindle, swipe, win)

  PEDDLE (→): advertise, auction, ballyhoo, barter, boost, bootleg, bundle, carry, cold-call, commercialize, commodify, deal, disburse, dispense, display, distribute, dump, endorse, exchange, export, flog, franchise, handle, hard-sell, hawk, hustle, hype, keep, launch, leverage, market, merchandize, monetize, offer, offload, outsell, package, pimp, plug, presell, promote, promulgate, provide, publicize, push, reissue, remainder, retail, sell, shill, stock, supply, swap, tout, trade, traffic, vend, wholesale (≠ acquire, archive, bank, borrow, buy, collect, conceal, discard, hide, hoard, hold, import, keep, lend, loan, maintain, obtain, possess, preserve, procure, purchase, retain, secure, source, store, withhold)

  PEEL (/): bare, bark, denude, disrobe, divulge, excoriate, expose, find, flake, flay, hull, husk, pare, remove, scale, scalp, shell, shuck, skin, strip, unbuckle, unbutton, uncover, undress, unveil (≠ apparel, clothe, conceal, costume, cover, drape, dress, envelop, garb, hide, jacket, pall, swathe, tog, wrap)

  PEG (→): bowl, buck, cant, cast, catapult, chuck, dart, dash, eject, fire, fling, flip, gun, heave, hook, hurl, hurtle, impel, launch, lob, loft, pass, pelt, pitch, precipitate, project, propel, rifle, roll, shoot, skitter, sling, throw, thrust, toss, wing (≠ accept, acquire, block, bring, carry, catch, clutch, collect, convey, draw, gain, gather, get, give, grab, grasp, grip, hand, hold, keep, obtain, receive, retain, seize, snatch, take)

  PEG (→): alphabetize, array, ascertain, catalog, categorize, clump, cluster, control, cull, deduce, detect, determine, diagnose, discern, dispose, file, fix, freeze, hierarchize, identify, index, limit, list, order, organize, pigeonhole, pinpoint, prioritize, recategorize, reclassify, recognize, refer, scan, screen, scrutinize, set, shelve, sieve, sift, slot, stabilize, stereotype, systematize, typecast, understand, winnow (≠ baffle, believe, confound, confuse, deceive, disarrange, disguise, -disregard, hide, -ignore, jumble, lump, mask, misclassify, misread, missort, mistype, misunderstand, mix, muddle, mystify, obscure, perplex, puzzle, scatter, scramble, wonder)

  PELT (→): bowl, cast, catapult, chuck, dart, dash, eject, fire, fling, flip, gun, heave, hook, hurl, hurtle, impel, launch, lob, loft, pass, peg, pitch, precipitate, project, propel, rifle, roll, shoot, sling, throw, thrust, toss, wing (≠ accept, block, bring, carry, catch, clutch, collect, contain, convey, draw, gain, gather, give, grab, grasp, grip, hand, hold, keep, obtain, receive, restrain, retain, save, seize, snatch, take, welcome)

  PELT (/): assail, assault, attack, bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, beset, birch, bludgeon, bombard, box, buffet, bust, charge, clobber, clout, club, crack, cudgel, cuff, drub, flog, hammer, hide, hit, knock, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mortar, paddle, paste, pepper, pound, pour, pummel, punch, rain, rush, shower, slam, slap, slate, sling, slog, smack, smash, sock, spank, speed, stone, storm, strike, swat, swipe, switch, tan, tear, thrash, thresh, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, wham, whip, whomp, whup (≠ armor, -avoid, brush, caress, counterpunch, cover, defend, deflect, expose, fondle, guard, -ignore, lose, miss, nurture, parry, pat, pet, protect, repel, safeguard, screen, secure, shelter, shield, slow, stroke, support, tap, tickle)

  PEN (+): chronicle, communicate, compose, concoct, copy, create, draft, draw, email, impart, inscribe, jot, journalize, mark, message, notate, note, print, record, register, schedule, scrawl, scribble, transcribe, write (≠ anonymize, censor, cut, delete, destroy, efface, erase, expunge, gag, hush, obliterate, purge, quash, read, redact, silence)

  PEN (/): armor, bound, box, cage, circumscribe, closet, confine, contain, coop, corral, delimit, encapsulate, encase, encircle, enclose, encompass, enfold, envelop, fence, frame, hedge, hem, herd, house, immure, include, leash, limit, mew, restrict, ring, shut, surround, wall, wrangle, wrap (≠ bail, deliver, discharge, emancipate, free, loose, manumit, ransom, release, rescue, spring, uncage, unchain, unfetter, unleash, unshackle)

  PENALIZE (/): assess, blackball, blister, -boycott, castigate, charge, chasten, chastise, condemn, convict, correct, criticize, crucify, damn, denounce, disadvantage, discipline, dock, exile, expel, fine, ground, handicap, impose, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, judge, keelhaul, levy, mulct, punish, rebuke, reprimand, reprove, scold, sentence, torture, wreak (≠ absolve, acquit, alibi, coddle, commute, compensate, condone, defend, excuse, exonerate, forfeit, forgive, honor, incriminate, indemnify, indulge, lionize, outlay, overindulge, -overlook, overpay, pamper, pardon, pay, praise, protect, ransom, release, remunerate, reward, shield, spare, vindicate)

  PENETRATE (→): access, bayonet, bore, broach, charge, core, crack, crash, crucify, cut, disembowel, drill, drive, enter, fill, force, gaff, gash, gate-crash, gimlet, gore, gut, harpoon, honeycomb, hurt, imbue, impale, impregnate, infest, infiltrate, injure, inseminate, insert, insinuate, introduce, invade, jab, kebab, knife, lance, occupy, perforate, permeate, pervade, pick, pierce, pike, pink, poke, poniard, pop, prick, probe, prong, punch, puncture, ram, ravage, ream, riddle, rupture, saturate, screw, shank, shiv, sink, skewer, slit, spear, spike, spindle, spit, split, stab, stake, stick, storm, suffuse, thrust, transfix, wound (≠ armor, bandage, bar, barricade, block, buffer, cloak, close, clothe, cloud, cordon, cover, defend, deflect, disguise, draw, eject, expel, extract, fill, -forbid, guard, heal, help, invite, leach, leave, leech, mend, miss, open, oust, parry, patch, plaster, pluck, plug, prize, protect, pull, remove, restore, seal, secure, sheathe, shield, tug, veil, welcome, withdraw, wrench, yank)

  PERFECT (+): advance, ameliorate, amend, augment, better, boost, correct, cultivate, debug, develop, edit, elaborate, emend, enhance, enrich, fine, fine-tune, flavor, fortify, glitz, heighten, help, hone, idealize, improve, intensify, machine, magnify, marinate, maximize, mitigate, optimize, overhaul, polish, prioritize, punctuate, realign, rectify, redraft, refine, reform, refurbish, rehab, rehabilitate, reimagine, reinforce, remedy, repair, rephrase, restore, rethink, retool, retouch, revamp, revise, revolutionize, rework, right, season, shine, slick, smooth, sophisticate, spice, strengthen, upgrade, weed (≠ -abandon, afflict, aggravate, barbarize, blemish, blight, callous, coarsen, compromise, dama
ge, deface, degrade, -desert, destroy, diminish, -discontinue, disfigure, doom, drop, efface, eradicate, exacerbate, flaw, -forsake, harm, harshen, hurt, impair, injure, lessen, lower, mar, reduce, ruin, spoil, taint, tarnish, vitiate, vulgarize, worsen, wreck)

  PERFECT (+): accomplish, achieve, actualize, ameliorate, amend, better, cap, claim, complete, consummate, crest, crown, discharge, effect, enhance, enrich, execute, finalize, finish, fulfill, improve, mature, optimize, overhaul, perform, polish, realize, refine, round (≠ -abandon, begin, -cancel, commence, -desert, -discontinue, drop, -forsake, initiate, instigate, launch, level, -nullify, originate, -quit, ruin, start)

  PERFORATE (→): bore, broach, burst, core, cut, drill, drive, enter, gaff, gash, gimlet, gore, gouge, groove, harpoon, hollow, honeycomb, impale, insert, invade, jab, kebab, knife, lance, notch, peck, penetrate, permeate, pierce, pike, pin, pink, pit, poke, poniard, prick, probe, punch, puncture, ream, rend, riddle, rupture, shank, shiv, shoot, skewer, slash, slit, spear, spike, spindle, spit, split, stab, stake, stick, tap, tear, thrust, transfix (≠ armor, bandage, block, buffer, close, cover, defend, deflect, draw, eject, extract, fill, guard, heal, mend, parry, patch, plaster, plug, protect, pull, remove, repair, seal, secure, shield, withdraw)