by Damon Suede
SIGNAL (→): acquaint, advise, alert, beam, beckon, broadcast, buzz, caution, circulate, communicate, convey, diffuse, dispatch, disseminate, express, flag, flash, impart, inform, mark, mime, pantomime, propagate, relate, relay, remit, report, salute, show, sign, spread, telegraph, tell, transfer, transmit, warn, wave (≠ bury, camouflage, cloak, clothe, cloud, conceal, confuse, disguise, -disregard, ensconce, hide, -ignore, misconstrue, misread, perplex, puzzle, translate) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
SILENCE (→): asphyxiate, calm, choke, comfort, curb, curtail, deaden, diminish, dispel, douse, dull, dumbfound, ease, extinguish, gag, hush, lower, lull, mellow, minimize, mitigate, moderate, mollify, muffle, mute, muzzle, pacify, placate, quell, quench, quiet, quieten, reduce, relax, repress, settle, shush, smother, snuff, soften, soothe, squash, squench, startle, stifle, still, stop, strangle, subdue, suffocate, suppress, throttle, tranquilize, weaken (≠ accent, accentuate, affirm, aggravate, agitate, alert, amplify, arouse, assert, broadcast, champion, circulate, communicate, deafen, disseminate, disturb, emphasize, encourage, exacerbate, excite, foment, foster, incite, instigate, intensify, maximize, nourish, nurture, permit, promote, provoke, publicize, release, rouse, spread, stir, support, telegraph, trigger, vex, wake)
SILENCE (/): annihilate, conquer, crush, decimate, defeat, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, dominate, exterminate, master, nuke, obliterate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, quash, quell, rout, ruin, smash, squelch, subdue, subjugate, suppress, vanquish, waste, wreck (≠ abet, advance, aid, assist, back, bolster, boost, cultivate, develop, encourage, foment, forward, foster, further, help, incite, instigate, nourish, nurture, promote, prompt, provoke, raise, stir, support, urge)
SIMPLIFY (+): abridge, chasten, clarify, clean, ease, edit, expedite, facilitate, generalize, mitigate, order, oversimplify, paraphrase, popularize, précis, prune, punctuate, purify, rarefy, reduce, refine, rephrase, shorten, smooth, streamline, strip, summarize, trim, unclog, unriddle (≠ aggrandize, baffle, bewilder, complicate, confuse, decorate, dumbfound, elaborate, embellish, exaggerate, glitz, impede, magnify, muddy, obfuscate, perplex, sophisticate, stud, stump)
SIMPLIFY (+): analyze, annotate, clarify, clear, construe, decipher, decode, define, demonstrate, demystify, disentangle, elucidate, explain, explicate, expound, gloss, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, resolve, solve, specify, spell, uncomplicate, undo, unravel, unriddle, unscramble, untangle (≠ befog, cloud, complicate, confound, confuse, disorder, encode, encrypt, entangle, jumble, knot, muddle, muddy, mystify, obfuscate, obscure, perplex, puzzle, scramble, tangle)
SIMULATE (←): act, adopt, affect, ape, assume, bluff, bootleg, borrow, camouflage, cheat, clone, conceal, concoct, copy, costume, counterfeit, crib, deceive, disguise, dissimulate, double, duplicate, echo, emulate, exaggerate, fabricate, fake, feature, feign, fence, forge, ghostwrite, imitate, impersonate, invent, lift, mask, mimic, mirror, misrepresent, mock, overdramatize, parallel, parrot, phony, pirate, play, playact, pose, pretend, profess, reflect, render, replicate, reproduce, roleplay, steal (≠ bare, coin, conceive, create, destroy, disclose, -disregard, distinguish, expose, face, finger, formulate, generate, identify, -ignore, invent, originate, patent, pioneer, produce, propose, -reject, reveal, start, unmask) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
SINGE (/): bake, barbecue, blacken, blaze, brand, broil, brown, burn, cauterize, char, cook, cremate, crisp, fire, flame, griddle, grill, heat, ignite, incinerate, inflame, kindle, light, parch, scald, scathe, scorch, sear, toast, torch (≠ bleach, chill, cool, douse, extinguish, freeze, heal, ice, mend, oil, protect, remedy, repair, shield, smooth, smother, soothe, stifle, subdue)
SINK (→): bore, bury, conceal, depress, dig, dip, down, drill, drive, drop, drown, embed, ensconce, excavate, force, immerse, implant, insert, lay, lower, penetrate, plumb, plunge, ram, scuttle, set, shank, shiv, stab, stick, submerge, swamp, thrust (≠ buoy, extract, float, lift, pluck, prize, pull, quarry, raise, recover, remove, soar, suck, support, sustain, uproot, withdraw)
SINK (/): abridge, attenuate, bastardize, break, cheapen, compress, contract, debase, deepen, deflate, demonetize, depreciate, depress, devaluate, devalue, downgrade, downsize, lessen, lowball, lower, moderate, reduce, shrink, underbid, underestimate, underprice, underrate, undervalue (≠ amplify, augment, bloat, boost, bump, escalate, extend, fetishize, hike, increase, inflate, intensify, monetize, overestimate, overprice, overrate, overvalue, prioritize, raise)
SINK (/): abate, corrupt, crumble, debilitate, decay, -decline, decompose, de-escalate, degrade, demolish, descend, destroy, deteriorate, devastate, dilapidate, diminish, disintegrate, doom, downsize, foil, lessen, lower, minimize, monkey-wrench, reduce, rot, ruin, scupper, scuttle, sour, spoil, undermine, waste, weaken, wilt, worsen, wreck (≠ accentuate, advance, ameliorate, amplify, better, develop, embattle, enhance, enrich, fortify, foster, heighten, improve, intensify, march, maximize, optimize, overhaul, progress, revolutionize, strengthen, sugarcoat, upgrade)
SINK (/): abase, abash, affront, badmouth, belittle, blackguard, castigate, censure, chasten, cheapen, condemn, confound, confuse, criticize, damn, debase, decry, defame, defile, degrade, demean, denounce, depreciate, detract, diminish, discomfit, disconcert, -discount, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, embarrass, execrate, faze, fluster, foul, fulminate, humble, humiliate, incriminate, insult, libel, lower, malign, minimize, mortify, nonplus, pillory, rattle, ridicule, shame, slander, smirch (≠ acclaim, affirm, aggrandize, applaud, boost, canonize, celebrate, commend, compliment, congratulate, deify, dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, enthrone, exalt, fetishize, float, glorify, hail, heighten, heroicize, honor, idealize, idolize, laud, magnify, praise, prioritize, romanticize, salute, spitball, tout, upgrade)
SIPHON (←): bankrupt, beggar, bleed, catheterize, clean, clear, consume, debilitate, debit, decant, decrease, deplete, divert, draft, drain, draw, drink, effuse, empty, evacuate, exhaust, expend, exploit, express, extract, flush, leech, milk, press, pump, purge, remove, sap, slurp, squeeze, suck, swallow, tap, tax, use, vacate, vacuum, void, waste, withdraw, wring (≠ bank, bathe, clog, constipate, deluge, deposit, douse, drench, drown, fill, flood, furnish, increase, inundate, invest, marinate, replenish, soak, souse, stash, staunch, stock, store, submerge, swamp, wash, water, wet)
SKEWER (→): bayonet, cut, disembowel, gaff, gimlet, gore, gut, harpoon, impale, jab, kebab, knife, lance, peck, penetrate, perforate, pick, pierce, pike, pin, pink, poke, poniard, prick, probe, prod, prong, punch, puncture, ram, riddle, shank, shiv, slice, spear, spike, spit, stab, stick, thrust, transfix (≠ block, close, deflect, extract, extricate, fill, guard, heal, parry, pull, -rebuff, remove, repel, seal, sew, withdraw)
SKEWER (/): ape, badmouth, bait, belittle, blackguard, boo, bug, burlesque, caricature, castigate, catcall, chaff, chide, decry, demean, demonize, deride, disparage, disrespect, diss, harangue, harass, harry, hassle, heckle, hound, imitate, jeer, jive, josh, kid, lampoon, mimic, mock, needle, parody, parrot, pester, pillory, pooh-pooh, quiz, rag, razz, -repudiate, rib, ride, ridicule, satirize, scold, -scorn, shame, target, taunt, tease, torment, travesty, tweak (≠ applaud, approve, commend, congratulate, defend, endorse, glorify, gratify, heroize, honor, idealize, idolize, praise, promote, protect, respect, revere, reward, sanction, treasure, worship)
SKIM (→): bounce, brush, bump, caress, contact, cuddle, float, fly, fondle, glide, graze, kiss, love, miss, nudge, osculate, pat, pet, plane, ricochet, sail, scrape, shave, sideswipe, skip, skirt, skitter, strike, stroke, strum, sweep, swipe, touch (≠ bang, bash, bump, clash, clench, crash, grasp, grip, hit, hold, impact, knock, press, punch, ram, slam, slap, smack, smash, swipe, thwack, whack)
SKIM (←): browse, check, con, consult, dip, flip, glimpse, graze, observe, peruse, preview, read, riffle, scan, skip, spot, spy, surf, thumb, view (≠ blind, blindfold, examine, explore, grill, heed, inspect, interrogate, investigate, learn, memorize, ogle, oversee, prowl, question, scrutinize, study, survey, suss)
SKIN (/): abr
ade, bare, bark, denude, excoriate, expose, flay, fleece, gall, grate, graze, hull, husk, pare, peel, pull, remove, rind, scale, scalp, scrape, shave, shed, shell, shuck, slough, strip, trim, uncover (≠ adorn, bandage, clothe, cover, decorate, drape, enfold, garnish, hide, regenerate, robe, shroud, trim, veil, wrap)
SLAKE (←): abate, allay, alleviate, assuage, cater, cloy, extinguish, gratify, humor, indulge, lighten, mitigate, moderate, moisten, oblige, quench, reduce, relieve, sate, satiate, satisfy, saturate, surfeit (≠ amplify, arouse, entice, exacerbate, excite, frustrate, intensify, lure, pique, provoke, stimulate, tantalize, taunt, tease, tempt, trigger)
SLAM (→): backhand, bang, bash, bat, batter, bean, beat, belt, bludgeon, bonk, bop, box, brain, buffet, bulldoze, bump, bung, bunt, bust, butt, cane, chop, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, club, concuss, conk, crack, crash, cream, cudgel, cuff, dash, deck, drub, fell, fling, flog, floor, hammer, hit, hurl, impact, jab, jostle, kick, knee, knock, lambaste, level, lick, maul, muscle, nail, paste, pelt, poke, pommel, pound, prod, propel, pummel, punch, push, rabbit-punch, ram, rap, rough, sap, shove, skull, slap, sledge, sledgehammer, slog, slug, smack, smash, smite, sock, stamp, strike, sucker-punch, swat, swipe, thrash, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, wing, zap (≠ aid, armor, -avoid, block, caress, defend, guard, heal, help, miss, protect, riffle, save, secure, shield, sideswipe, skim, skirt, stroke)
SLAM (→): bang, bar, batten, bolt, chain, close, deadbolt, fasten, latch, lock, seal, secure, shut, stop (≠ clear, crack, open, unbar, unbolt, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unseal)
SLAM (/): abuse, affront, assail, attack, badmouth, bash, belabor, belittle, berate, blackguard, blast, castigate, chastise, chide, criticize, critique, curse, damn, decry, defame, denounce, denunciate, deride, disparage, excoriate, execrate, fault, flay, fulminate, harangue, harass, harry, impugn, incriminate, insult, lambaste, libel, neg, pan, profane, rebuke, reprimand, revile, rubbish, savage, scathe, scold, scourge, shred, slander, slap, slash, slate, slur, traduce, vilify, vituperate, whip, wrong, zap (≠ acclaim, blandish, cajole, commend, compliment, elevate, flannel, flatter, gratify, hail, ingratiate, laud, lionize, praise, promote, recommend, revere, schmooze, venerate)
SLANDER (/): assail, attack, backbite, badmouth, belittle, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, curse, damage, decry, defame, denigrate, discredit, disfavor, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, impugn, insult, knock, libel, malign, muckrake, revile, roast, scorch, slam, -slight, slur, smear, sully, tarnish, taunt, traduce, vilify (≠ applaud, blandish, cherish, commend, compliment, congratulate, defend, esteem, eulogize, extol, favor, flatter, glorify, gratify, honor, idealize, idolize, ingratiate, laud, praise, protect, respect, revere, shield, uphold, venerate, vindicate, worship)
SLAP (→): bang, bash, bat, bump, burst, bust, clap, clip, clock, clout, crash, cuff, drub, flap, hit, knock, lash, lick, punch, rap, slam, smack, snap, strike, swat, swipe, tap, thump, thwack, wallop, whack (≠ block, brush, coddle, deflect, -dodge, -duck, miss, nudge, parry, repel, save, shave, shield, skim)
SLASH (/): amputate, anatomize, bruise, butcher, carve, chip, chisel, chop, cleave, cut, dice, dissect, gash, gouge, hack, incise, injure, knife, lacerate, mangle, mince, notch, pierce, razor, rend, rip, rive, saw, score, section, sever, shank, shear, shiv, slice, slit, split, stab, strike, tear, vivisect, wound (≠ aid, block, close, combine, create, cure, defend, enlarge, expand, extend, fix, heal, help, increase, lengthen, mend, raise, sew, unite)
SLATHER (+): anoint, apply, bedaub, befoul, begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, burnish, butter, coat, cover, daub, dirty, foul, glaze, gloss, grease, grime, gum, lard, mire, moisturize, mop, muck, muddy, oil, paint, perfume, pigment, pitch, plaster, polish, pomade, shine, smear, smirch, smooth, smudge, soil, spray, spread, stain, sully, swab, syrup, tar, wax, wet (≠ abrade, bathe, bedraggle, chafe, clean, cleanse, clear, dehydrate, desiccate, dry, erase, harden, mop, purify, remove, rinse, scour, sterilize, swab, wash, wipe)
SLAUGHTER (/): annihilate, assassinate, behead, blitzkrieg, butcher, decimate, defeat, demolish, depopulate, destroy, devastate, dispatch, doom, eliminate, eradicate, erase, execute, expunge, exterminate, extinguish, fell, finish, guillotine, kill, liquidate, mangle, massacre, molochize, murder, mutilate, obliterate, orphan, overwhelm, purge, remove, rout, slay, smite, snuff, terminate, trounce, vanquish, waste (≠ absorb, armor, bear, birth, build, conserve, construct, create, cultivate, defend, develop, doctor, embalm, endure, foster, gestate, guard, hatch, heal, help, lose, maintain, nourish, nurture, outlast, preserve, produce, protect, remain, repair, repel, resuscitate, revive, save, shield, spawn, support, surrender, survive, sustain, weather, withstand)
SLAY (/): annihilate, assassinate, butcher, claim, croak, decimate, destroy, dispatch, doom, eliminate, eradicate, execute, exterminate, fell, finish, get, kill, martyr, massacre, mow, murder, off, orphan, retire, slaughter, smite, snuff, take, terminate, waste (≠ animate, assist, create, defend, doctor, heal, mend, nurse, nurture, protect, raise, rescue, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive, save, support, survive)
SLICE (/): amputate, anatomize, bite, butcher, carve, chip, chisel, chop, circumcise, cleave, clip, crop, dice, dismember, dissect, divide, dock, excise, gash, gouge, hack, hash, hew, hurt, incise, knife, lacerate, lop, mangle, mince, nick, notch, part, perforate, pierce, prick, prune, raze, razor, rend, rip, rive, saw, scissor, score, scratch, scythe, section, segment, separate, sever, shred, slash, slit, sliver, snip, splinter, split, stab, sting, strike, tatter, tear, unsew, vivisect, wound (≠ aid, bandage, block, combine, create, cure, expand, extend, fix, fuse, grow, heal, increase, join, leave, lengthen, meld, mend, nurse, repair, restore, seal, sew, shield, smooth, stitch, stretch, suture, unite, unspool)
-SLIGHT (/): abhor, abominate, affront, belittle, boo, contemn, defame, deplore, deprecate, -despise, -detest, -disdain, disfavor, disgrace, disparage, displease, disrespect, distress, disturb, execrate, -hate, high-hat, hurt, insult, jeer, libel, -loathe, malign, miff, mock, offend, oppress, outrage, pain, persecute, revile, ridicule, -scorn, scout, slander, slap, slur, smear, -snub, taunt, torment, torture, trouble, upset, victimize, wound, wrong (≠ admire, applaud, appreciate, blandish, buoy, cherish, commend, compliment, delight, esteem, eulogize, exalt, favor, flatter, glad-hand, glorify, gratify, hail, hallow, honor, lionize, persuade, please, praise, prize, respect, revere, satisfy, sweet-talk, thrill, treasure, uplift, value, venerate, worship)
-SLIGHT (/): alienate, -blank, -bypass, -cold-shoulder, -cut, -disdain, disparage, -disregard, fail, forget, high-hat, -ignore, isolate, miss, -neglect, -omit, -ostracize, -overlook, pass, pooh-pooh, -rebuff, -reject, repel, repulse, scant, -scorn, skimp, slur, -snub, -spurn, wrong (≠ advance, appreciate, attend, boost, cherish, cultivate, follow, foster, heed, indulge, mark, mind, note, notice, nurse, nurture, observe, pamper, prize, regard, remark, remember, serve, spoil, spoon-feed, tend, treasure, value, watch)
SLOT (→): allocate, allot, appoint, arrange, array, assign, banish, cage, choose, commend, commission, consign, convey, delegate, deliver, deploy, designate, detail, determine, devote, dispense, dispose, distribute, ensconce, entrench, establish, fit, fix, give, grant, insert, install, juxtapose, locate, lodge, name, nestle, niche, nominate, pigeonhole, place, position, prioritize, put, range, rank, regiment, relegate, select, send, set, settle, shackle, site, situate, specify, stand, station, stereotype, stipulate, straightjacket, task, transfer, transmit, trap (≠ confuse, disarrange, disorder, disorganize, displace, extract, extricate, free, invalidate, liberate, loose, move, remove, uninstall, unleash, unsettle, upset)
SLOW (←): arrest, baffle, brake, check, constrain, curb, decelerate, delay, detain, ease, encumber, foil, -frustrate, -halt, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold, impair, impede, inhibit, leash, monkey-wrench, obstruct, pause, postpone, reduce, rein, restrain, restrict, retard, shelve, short-circuit, slacken, stall, stop, stymie, -thwart, weight (≠ accelerate, advance, aid, dispatch, drive, ease, encourage, expedite, facilitate, fast-forward, fast-track, forward, frogmarch, further, goad, grea
se, hasten, help, hurry, lubricate, march, propel, punt, push, quicken, rush, speed, spur, stampede, stir, urge)
SMACK (→): 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, crash, cream, cudgel, cuff, deck, drub, fell, flail, flick, flog, floor, hammer, hit, jab, jostle, kick, knee, knock, lace, lambaste, lash, level, lick, mangle, maul, nail, paste, pat, pelt, pepper, poke, pommel, pound, prod, pummel, punch, push, rabbit-punch, rap, rough, sap, scuff, shove, sideswipe, skull, slam, slap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, slug, smite, snap, sock, spank, spear, stab, stamp, strike, sucker-punch, swat, swipe, switch, tag, tap, thrash, thump, thwack, wallop, whack (≠ armor, block, caress, -circumvent, defend, deflect, -deter, -dodge, -duck, -escape, -evade, grasp, grip, guard, massage, miss, -prevent, protect, repel, riffle, shield, squeeze, stroke, strum)
SMASH (→): bang, bash, bump, crash, disrupt, drive, hit, knock, overthrow, overturn, plow, run, strike, thump, topple, trash, trounce, tumble, unhorse, unman, unseat, wrack, wreck (≠ -avoid, block, -bypass, -circumvent, defend, -evade, guard, miss, parry, preserve, protect, secure, shelter, shield, skip)
SMASH (/): annihilate, atomize, bang, belt, blast, break, burst, clobber, crack, crash, crush, dash, decimate, defeat, deform, demolish, destroy, disintegrate, doom, efface, eradicate, fracture, fragment, hit, kibble, mangle, pound, powder, pulverize, ram, raze, rive, ruin, scrunch, shatter, shiver, slam, slog, slug, splinter, squash, squish, topple, trash, wallop, wreck (≠ assemble, build, cherish, construct, erect, fashion, fix, forge, form, fortify, gather, guard, mend, mold, organize, patch, preserve, produce, promote, protect, raise, rebuild, reconstruct, recover, renew, renovate, repair, restore, sculpt, shape, support, sustain, weather, withstand)