Activate

by Damon Suede

  REINFORCE (+): accent, accentuate, affirm, amplify, assert, augment, back, beef, belabor, bolster, boost, brace, buttress, case-harden, confirm, consolidate, corroborate, echo, embattle, emphasize, establish, fortify, fuel, harden, improve, increase, inure, overemphasize, parrot, prioritize, prop, prove, punctuate, raise, replenish, secure, shore, stabilize, stay, steady, steel, stiffen, strengthen, stress, strut, substantiate, supplement, support, toughen, underline, validate, verify (≠ attack, boobytrap, damage, disrupt, harm, incapacitate, sabotage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, subvert, undercut, underemphasize, undermine, weaken)

  REINVIGORATE (+): aid, assist, bolster, boost, enliven, exhilarate, feed, force-feed, fuel, liven, modernize, nourish, prioritize, reanimate, recondition, refresh, refurbish, regenerate, rehabilitate, rejuvenate, renew, renovate, restimulate, restore, retread, revitalize, revive, revolutionize, rouse, stimulate, strengthen, update, upgrade (≠ blight, castrate, daunt, debilitate, demotivate, depress, destroy, discourage, dissuade, doom, drain, emasculate, encumber, enervate, eradicate, erase, hamper, harm, incapacitate, kill, leech, paralyze, ruin, sedate, unman, weaken, wither, wizen)

  -REJECT (/): -abandon, banish, betray, blackball, blacklist, -boycott, chuck, condemn, -decline, deflect, defy, -deny, deselect, -desert, -despise, disallow, disbelieve, discard, disclaim, -discount, discredit, -disdain, disgorge, dismiss, -disown, -disregard, -ditch, divorce, drop, dump, eject, eliminate, enjoin, -exclude, exorcise, expel, -forsake, -ignore, jettison, jilt, kill, -nix, offload, -omit, oppose, -ostracize, oust, picket, pooh-pooh, -rebuff, -refuse, -renounce, repel, -repudiate, repulse, -scorn, scrap, shed, -shun, -sidestep, -snub, -spurn, -veto (≠ accept, adopt, allow, assimilate, await, choose, colonize, concede, crave, demand, desire, embrace, expect, fancy, grant, hunt, incorporate, integrate, invite, permit, possess, pursue, request, sanction, seek, select, solicit, welcome)

  REJUVENATE (+): activate, animate, electrify, encourage, energize, exhilarate, galvanize, invigorate, modernize, motivate, provoke, quicken, reanimate, recharge, reclaim, recondition, reconstruct, recover, refresh, refurbish, regenerate, rehab, reinvigorate, rekindle, renew, renovate, restimulate, restore, retread, revitalize, revive, revolutionize, rouse, spruce, spur, stimulate, stir, strengthen, update, upgrade, uplift (≠ abuse, afflict, damage, destroy, doom, drain, eradicate, erase, harm, injure, kill, leech, ruin, shrivel, weaken, weary, wither, wizen)

  RELAX (+): abate, allay, alleviate, anesthetize, appease, assuage, calm, comfort, diminish, ease, gratify, hush, lessen, lighten, loose, loosen, lower, lull, massage, mellow, mitigate, moderate, modify, modulate, mollify, pacify, placate, quiet, reduce, release, relieve, remit, sedate, settle, slack, slacken, slow, soften, soothe, tranquilize, weaken (≠ bond, constrain, exacerbate, exercise, flex, grow, hump, hustle, increase, intensify, man, panic, pucker, restrain, stiffen, strain, stretch, sweat, tense, tighten, work, worry)

  RELEASE (→): air, belch, cast, discharge, disgorge, drizzle, effuse, ejaculate, eject, eliminate, emit, erupt, evacuate, evolve, excrete, exhale, expel, express, exude, gush, irradiate, issue, jet, ooze, pour, radiate, regurgitate, secrete, send, shoot, spew, splutter, spout, spray, spurt, squirt, throw, trickle, uncork, upchuck, vent, vomit (≠ absorb, contain, fill, gather, glean, holster, inhale, marinate, slurp, smell, smother, sniff, soak, sponge, suck, swallow, take, throttle)

  RELEASE (→): advertise, advise, announce, apprise, bark, bellow, blare, blaze, blazon, blurb, broadcast, bulletin, circulate, communicate, concede, confess, confirm, confront, declare, disclose, disseminate, divulge, enunciate, feature, flash, herald, hype, impart, inform, intimate, introduce, launch, manifest, notify, pitch, placard, plug, post, presell, proclaim, produce, promote, promulgate, publicize, publish, puff, report, reveal, show, sound, spotlight, spread, telegraph, trumpet (≠ bury, censor, collect, conceal, contain, ensconce, erase, hide, hoard, hush, keep, kill, mask, obscure, quiet, recall, recant, redact, restrict, retract, revoke, silence, suppress, withhold)

  RELEASE (+): clear, deliver, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, extricate, free, liberate, redeem, rescue, save, unburden, unravel, unsnarl, untangle, untie, untwine (≠ block, burden, embroil, encumber, entangle, hamper, hinder, impede, load, lumber, obstruct, overextend, weigh)

  RELEASE (+): absolve, acquit, bail, deliver, discharge, disengage, disentangle, emancipate, enfranchise, excuse, exempt, exonerate, extricate, loose, loosen, manumit, parole, ransom, redeem, relieve, slack, slacken, spring, unbind, unbridle, unburden, uncage, unchain, unclasp, undo, unfasten, unfetter, unhook, unlace, unleash, unlock, unmoor, unshackle, untie (≠ bind, bridle, burden, capture, catch, check, cinch, commit, conceal, confine, conquer, constrain, control, convict, curb, detain, enslave, fetter, govern, halter, hamper, handcuff, harness, hoard, hogtie, hold, immure, implicate, imprison, incarcerate, incriminate, inhibit, institutionalize, intern, jail, keep, lock, manacle, niche, pace, regulate, rein, restrain, shackle, straightjacket, subdue, subjugate, tame, trammel)

  RELEASE (/): axe, bench, boot, bounce, can, cashier, chuck, close, degrade, demote, discharge, -discontinue, dismiss, downsize, end, fire, furlough, -halt, interrupt, pink-slip, reduce, remit, remove, retire, sack, separate, sideline, suspend, terminate, trim, unseat (≠ contract, employ, engage, hire, induct, keep, recruit, reemploy, rehire, retain, sign, subcontract)

  RELEGATE (→): array, assign, assort, banish, bench, blackball, boot, -boycott, categorize, charge, class, classify, codify, commit, compartment, compartmentalize, consign, cull, declass, degrade, delegate, demote, deport, digest, dispatch, dispose, distinguish, distribute, downgrade, eject, entrust, exile, expatriate, expel, file, grade, group, index, list, marshal, order, organize, peg, pigeonhole, place, prioritize, range, rank, reduce, refer, screen, separate, set, shelve, sideline, sieve, sift, slot, sort, stereotype, systematize, transfer, type, typecast, winnow (≠ accept, admit, advance, allow, assume, benefit, better, confuse, -deny, disarrange, elevate, entertain, harbor, hold, honor, house, jumble, keep, lump, naturalize, permit, promote, receive, repatriate, scramble, upgrade, welcome)

  RELIEVE (+): abate, aid, allay, alleviate, ameliorate, amend, appease, assist, assuage, better, clear, comfort, console, correct, cure, cushion, defang, ease, emend, enhance, enrich, fix, free, heal, help, improve, lessen, lighten, lull, mend, mitigate, moderate, mollify, pacify, palliate, perfect, reassure, rectify, reduce, refine, reform, relax, release, remedy, repair, rescue, save, settle, slacken, soften, soothe, spare, support, sustain, temper, unburden (≠ aggravate, damage, deepen, exacerbate, exasperate, harm, heighten, hurt, impair, injure, intensify, panic, sharpen, terrify, troll, worry, worsen)

  RELIEVE (+): clear, deliver, discharge, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, divest, emancipate, enfranchise, extricate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, redeem, release, rescue, rid, slack, slacken, spring, unbind, unburden, uncage, unchain, unfetter (≠ bog, burden, encumber, fetter, hamper, lumber, overextend, restrain, saddle, shackle, subject, tire, weary, weight)

  RELINQUISH (→): -abandon, abdicate, abjure, abnegate, cede, commit, consign, deliver, -deny, -desert, disavow, discard, disclaim, -discontinue, -disown, drop, entrust, forfeit, forgo, -forsake, give, hand, jilt, leave, -quit, release, render, -renounce, -repudiate, resign, shed, surrender, transfer, vacate, waive, yield (≠ adopt, appropriate, arrogate, assume, claim, colonize, confiscate, defend, guard, inhabit, keep, maintain, obtain, protect, recover, rescue, retain, safeguard, secure, seek, seize, source, take, tenant, usurp, withhold, wrest)

  RELISH (←): admire, adore, applaud, appreciate, celebrate, cherish, clock, congratulate, consume, detect, devour, dig, drink, eat, enjoy, esteem, experience, extol, eye, fancy, favor, gobble, heed, idolize, indulge, inhale, love, mull, note, observe, ponder, prefer, prize, recognize, respect, revere, savor, scrutinize, sense, smell, sniff, taste, touch, treasure, value, venerate, whiff, wolf, worship (≠ abhor, abominate, boo, chide, condemn, criticize, -despise, -detest, -disdain, disfavor, disrespect, -dodge, -hate, -loathe, protest, -refuse, regret, -reject, -re
nounce, repent, -repudiate, resent, ridicule, rue, scold, -scorn, -shun, -sidestep, -spurn) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  REMEDY (+): aid, allay, alleviate, assuage, attend, bandage, clean, control, correct, counteract, cure, diagnose, doctor, dose, drug, ease, fix, heal, help, hospitalize, improve, lighten, medicate, mend, mitigate, moderate, nurse, palliate, quarantine, realign, recalibrate, rectify, redress, reform, relieve, renew, repair, restore, right, salve, scrub, solve, soothe, sort, splint, temper, treat (≠ afflict, aggravate, blemish, break, contaminate, damage, harm, hurt, impair, indispose, infect, injure, misdiagnose, nauseate, overdose, palsy, poison, pollute, ruin, sicken, spike, spoil, sprain, traumatize, trouble, worsen, wound, wreck)

  REMEDY (+): adjust, alter, ameliorate, amend, better, blue-pencil, calibrate, change, control, correct, cut, debug, defray, edit, emend, fix, improve, launder, mend, mitigate, modify, modulate, override, pace, perfect, polish, punctuate, realign, rebate, rectify, red-pen, red-pencil, redraft, redraw, redress, reform, regulate, repair, rephrase, restore, restyle, rethink, retool, retouch, revamp, revise, rework, rewrite, right, shine, shorten, square, tune, tweak, upgrade (≠ aggravate, callous, coarsen, compromise, damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, spoil, vulgarize, worsen)

  REMIND (→): bare, confess, confide, confirm, disclose, discover, divulge, evince, evoke, expose, hint, impel, nudge, prod, prompt, reveal, spur, uncover, unmask, unveil (≠ bury, conceal, -disregard, erase, forget, hide, -ignore, miss, -negate, -neglect, -nullify, -overlook, secrete, shroud) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  REMODEL (+): adapt, adjust, align, alter, amend, change, commute, convert, customize, deform, exchange, fashion, fit, harmonize, match, metamorphose, modernize, modify, mutate, prepare, qualify, ready, recast, reconceive, reconceptualize, redo, refashion, regenerate, reimagine, reinvent, rejigger, remake, reshape, restructure, rethink, retool, revamp, revise, revolutionize, rework, sculpt, shape, suit, tailor, transfigure, transform, transmute, vary, weaponize (≠ boobytrap, damage, destroy, eradicate, fix, freeze, harm, hurt, monkey-wrench, paralyze, ruin, sabotage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, set, shelve, stabilize, topple, undermine, vandalize, wreck)

  REMOVE (→): abolish, anonymize, blue-pencil, boot, delete, delouse, discard, discharge, dislodge, dismiss, efface, eject, eliminate, evacuate, evict, excise, -exclude, expel, expunge, exterminate, extract, extricate, junk, -omit, purge, relegate, sack, scratch, shed, strip, take, throw, uninstall, uproot (≠ affix, commission, conceive, concoct, connect, create, draft, fix, install, invent, mount, preserve, retain, submit)

  REMOVE (→): axe, ban, banish, boot, bounce, bump, bust, can, cashier, chuck, deselect, discard, discharge, dismiss, displace, dispossess, downsize, drum, eject, excuse, exempt, exorcise, expel, fire, furlough, -nix, -ostracize, oust, pink-slip, release, relieve, replace, retire, rout, sack, separate, sideline, spare, supersede, supplant, suspend, terminate, toss, trim, turf, unload, unseat (≠ appoint, assign, contract, delegate, employ, engage, hire, invite, keep, promote, protect, recruit, reemploy, rehire, retain, sign, subcontract, task, welcome)

  REMOVE (←): abstract, alter, bear, budge, carry, cart, clear, convey, -cut, detach, dislocate, dislodge, displace, disturb, -ditch, drag, draw, drive, drop, extract, extricate, haul, lose, lug, manhandle, modify, move, pull, redo, refashion, relegate, relocate, remake, remodel, replace, reposition, revamp, revise, rework, schlep, separate, shift, ship, shuttle, skim, smuggle, supersede, supplant, take, tote, transfer, transmit, transplant, transport, transpose, unload, vary, withdraw (≠ affix, anchor, clamp, clinch, control, embed, entrench, fix, freeze, hitch, implant, ingrain, juxtapose, lodge, moor, mount, pin, place, position, -prevent, put, reclaim, recoup, recover, rescue, retrieve, root, salvage, secure, set, site, situate, stabilize, stay, stick)

  REMOVE (/): change, disrobe, doff, douse, excoriate, expose, husk, peel, reveal, shed, strip, unbuckle, unbutton, undress, unwrap (≠ apparel, array, attire, bedeck, clothe, costume, don, dress, garb, hide, holster, jacket, mask, rig, robe, sheathe, sport, suit, wear)

  REMOVE (/): annihilate, asphyxiate, assassinate, behead, bump, butcher, chill, claim, croak, deep-six, delouse, depopulate, destroy, dispatch, doff, doom, drown, eliminate, eradicate, erase, execute, exterminate, fell, get, guillotine, hang, ice, kill, liquidate, massacre, murder, obliterate, orphan, purge, sacrifice, shoot, slaughter, slay, smite, smother, snuff, sterilize, strangle, suffocate, terminate, uproot, waste, weed, zap (≠ animate, bear, benefit, birth, defend, embalm, guard, help, nourish, pickle, raise, reinvigorate, rescue, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive, save, survive, sustain)

  REMOVE (/): alter, amputate, anatomize, behead, butcher, carve, castrate, chop, circumcise, cut, deball, decapitate, desex, dismember, eliminate, emasculate, eviscerate, excavate, excise, extract, extricate, geld, gore, harvest, lop, maim, mangle, mutilate, razor, rip, savage, select, separate, sever, slice, split, sunder, truncate, unsex, vivisect, withdraw (≠ attach, create, doctor, generate, graft, heal, implant, insert, introduce, mend, nurse, nurture, plant, repair, restore, revive, sew, stitch, suture, transplant, unite, weld)

  RENEW (+): automate, beautify, boost, brace, enhance, exhilarate, extend, freshen, gentrify, groom, improve, innovate, jump-start, kick-start, manicure, mend, modernize, optimize, overhaul, prioritize, prolong, reactivate, reaffirm, reanimate, reawaken, recharge, reclaim, recondition, reconstitute, recreate, redesign, redevelop, reengineer, reestablish, refill, refit, reform, refresh, refurbish, regenerate, rehabilitate, reinvent, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, remodel, renovate, reopen, repair, repeat, replace, replenish, reshuffle, restart, restimulate, restock, restore, resume, resupply, resuscitate, retread, revitalize, revive, revolutionize, spiff, spruce, steady, stimulate, survive, transform, update, upgrade (≠ -abandon, annihilate, break, can, -cancel, cease, check, complete, conclude, consummate, cut, damage, deep-six, drop, dump, exhaust, extinguish, finalize, finish, -halt, kill, obliterate, offload, quench, ruin, sabotage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shelve, snuff, subvert, suppress, terminate, undermine, wreck)

  -RENOUNCE (→): -abandon, abdicate, abjure, -boycott, cede, -deny, -desert, disavow, discard, disclaim, -disown, -eschew, -forsake, jettison, leave, -nullify, picket, -quit, -refuse, -reject, relinquish, -repudiate, resign, revoke, sacrifice, -shun, -spurn, surrender, vacate, waive, yield (≠ accept, advocate, appropriate, arrogate, assume, claim, confiscate, defend, embrace, espouse, guard, permit, protect, reap, reclaim, recover, redeem, safeguard, secure, seize, support, take, usurp, wrest)

  -RENOUNCE (/): -abandon, abjure, bolt, contradict, controvert, -deny, disallow, disavow, disclaim, discredit, -disown, disprove, dispute, doubt, drop, -forsake, forswear, gainsay, -negate, rebut, recall, recant, refute, relinquish, repeal, -repudiate, retract, revoke, -spurn, surrender, withdraw (≠ accept, acknowledge, adhere, admit, adopt, affirm, assert, avow, back, claim, confess, confirm, contend, declare, defend, embrace, endorse, espouse, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, support, uphold, vow)

  RENOVATE (+): aid, ameliorate, automate, better, clean, cleanse, computerize, condition, cure, doctor, enhance, enrich, face-lift, fix, freshen, furbish, gentrify, heal, help, improve, mend, modernize, optimize, overhaul, patch, prepare, reactivate, ready, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, recreate, redecorate, refit, reform, refresh, refurbish, regenerate, rehabilitate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, rekindle, remake, remedy, remodel, renew, repair, reprogram, reshuffle, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, retread, revamp, revitalize, revive, revolutionize, service, spiff, spruce, stimulate, update, upgrade, wallpaper (≠ annihilate, blemish, boobytrap, break, bulldoze, condemn, cripple, damage, deface, demolish, disable, disfigure, efface, flaw, harm, harshen, hurt, impair, injure, level, maim, mangle, mar, mutilate, ruin, sabotage, savage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shelve, spoil, vandalize, wreck)

  RENT (←): acquire, arrange, bespeak, book, charter, contract, engage, hire, lease, let, lodge, obtain, order, procure, reserve, secure, sublease, sublet (≠ borrow, buy, close, commandeer, lend, l
oan, outbid, own, possess, purchase, steal)

  REPAIR (+): adjust, aid, align, ameliorate, amend, automate, balance, better, calibrate, center, compose, condition, connect, coordinate, correct, cure, darn, debug, defray, doctor, edit, enhance, enrich, fine-tune, fit, fix, focus, freshen, furbish, grind, heal, help, improve, maintain, mechanize, mend, modernize, motorize, optimize, overhaul, patch, polish, prepare, readjust, ready, realign, reassemble, rebuild, recalibrate, reclaim, recondition, reconstitute, reconstruct, recover, rectify, redesign, redevelop, redo, redress, reengineer, refit, reform, refresh, refurbish, regenerate, regulate, rehab, rehabilitate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, remake, remedy, remodel, renew, renovate, repaint rephrase, reshuffle, restore, retool, retread, retrieve, retrofit, revamp, revise, revitalize, revive, revolutionize, right, service, set, settle, sew, sharpen, shine, square, tighten, troubleshoot, tune, tweak, update, upgrade (≠ blemish, botch, break, bungle, callous, coarsen, compromise, cripple, damage, deface, destroy, disable, disfigure, doom, efface, eradicate, erase, flaw, harm, harshen, hurt, impair, incapacitate, injure, kneecap, maim, mangle, mar, monkey-wrench, mutilate, ruin, savage, spoil, unsew, vandalize, wreck)

  REPAY (→): avenge, bankroll, compensate, counter, counteract, defray, disburse, discharge, dole, exchange, indemnify, liquidate, outlay, overpay, pay, rebate, recompense, redress, refund, reimburse, remit, remunerate, render, reprise, retort, revenge, reward, satisfy, settle, square, substitute, swap, switch (≠ absolve, acquit, beggar, damage, deprive, disinherit, excuse, extort, forget, forgive, lend, loan, mortgage, -neglect, -overlook, owe, pardon, penalize, poach, -refuse, seize, -slight, spare, steal, stiff, stint, take, withhold)