Activate

by Damon Suede

  SPRING (+): aid, allow, assist, bail, benefit, clear, defend, deliver, detach, discharge, disengage, disentangle, disenthrall, distrust, doubt, drop, emancipate, enfranchise, extract, extricate, free, help, liberate, loose, loosen, lose, manumit, open, outmaneuver, outsmart, outwit, parole, preserve, protect, ransom, recapture, reclaim, recoup, recover, redeem, regain, release, repossess, rescue, retrieve, safeguard, salvage, save, slack, slacken, solve, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, unhand, unleash, unshackle, untangle (≠ abduct, apprehend, arrest, bind, blindside, box, cage, capture, catch, chain, collar, commit, confine, corral, detain, disappear, endanger, enmesh, enslave, ensnare, ensnarl, entangle, entrap, fasten, fetter, grab, handcuff, hold, hook, immure, imperil, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jeopardize, kidnap, lasso, latch, lock, lure, manacle, nab, restrain, risk, secure, seize, shackle, snag, snatch, subdue, subjugate, trammel, trap)

  SPUR (→): accelerate, animate, annoy, arouse, assist, awaken, badger, boost, brainstorm, bribe, bustle, buttonhole, catalyze, coerce, compel, convince, countenance, drive, egg, encourage, energize, excite, exhort, expedite, fast-forward, fast-track, forward, frogmarch, further, galvanize, generate, goad, goose, harass, hasten, hound, hurry, hustle, impel, incite, incur, induce, influence, inspire, instigate, irritate, jolt, lobby, lubricate, march, midwife, mobilize, motivate, muscle, nag, needle, nudge, persuade, poke, prick, prioritize, prod, promote, prompt, propel, provoke, push, quicken, railroad, rouse, rush, sic, spark, speed, stampede, stimulate, sting, stir, strengthen, support, trigger, uphold, urge, vex, vitalize (≠ -abort, axe, block, cage, calm, check, curb, daunt, deactivate, deaden, delay, demotivate, -deter, discourage, dissuade, freeze, -halt, hamper, hamstring, hinder, hobble, hush, impair, impede, inactivate, incapacitate, inhibit, interrupt, kill, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, nobble, paralyze, pause, postpone, -prevent, repress, scotch, shelve, short-circuit, stall, stem, stifle, stop, stymie, throttle, -thwart)

  -SPURN (→): abjure, -avoid, banish, blackball, blacklist, -boycott, -bypass, condemn, contradict, controvert, -cut, -decline, -deny, -desert, -despise, detour, disallow, disavow, discard, disclaim, -disdain, dismiss, -disown, disprove, dispute, -disregard, drop, dump, eject, -exclude, exorcise, expel, flush, -forbid, forswear, gainsay, -ignore, -negate, -nix, -omit, oppose, -ostracize, oust, overrule, pass, picket, -prohibit, proscribe, protest, -rebuff, rebut, recall, recant, -refuse, refute, -reject, -renounce, -repudiate, repulse, retract, revoke, -scorn, scout, -slight, -snub, stick, -veto, withdraw (≠ accede, accept, adopt, approve, brook, choose, condone, countenance, embrace, endure, espouse, face, handpick, receive, select, stomach, support, swallow, take, tolerate, want, welcome, withstand)

  SPY (←): attend, bug, case, clock, consider, cover, detect, discern, discover, espy, examine, eye, eyeball, glimpse, heed, identify, inspect, mark, mind, monitor, note, notice, observe, overhear, perceive, recon, reconnoiter, regard, retrace, scan, scope, scout, scrutinize, search, see, shadow, sight, spot, study, surveil, survey, tail, tap, trace, trail, view, watch, wire, wiretap, witness (≠ baffle, blind, blindfold, bury, -bypass, camouflage, cloak, clothe, cloud, conceal, confound, confuse, costume, deceive, disguise, -disregard, expose, hide, -ignore, mask, miss, mistake, -neglect, -omit, -overlook, puzzle, screen, -sidestep, skim, skip, trick)

  SQUANDER (/): abuse, bankrupt, blow, botch, bungle, bust, cannibalize, compromise, consume, deplete, devastate, devour, diffuse, disburse, disperse, dissipate, down, drain, endanger, erode, exceed, exhaust, expend, flub, fritter, gamble, gorge, half-ass, imperil, impoverish, indulge, jeopardize, lard, lavish, lose, louse, mishandle, misspend, misuse, muck, muddle, neutralize, overdo, overfeed, overindulge, overspend, overuse, pay, plunge, ravage, risk, scatter, shoot, shrink, shrivel, slather, spend, spoil, surpass, threaten, waste, wither (≠ accumulate, assemble, bank, bankroll, budget, collect, concentrate, conserve, deposit, earn, economize, finance, fund, furnish, gather, glean, hoard, invest, manage, preserve, protect, recoup, recover, recycle, retain, salvage, save, scant, scavenge, scrimp, skimp, starve, stash, steal, stiff, stint, stockpile, store, stow, sustain, take, tuck, underwrite, unify, unite, withhold)

  SQUARE (+): accord, adapt, adjust, align, answer, balance, calibrate, center, check, compose, coordinate, customize, dovetail, equal, equalize, even, expiate, fit, harmonize, level, match, parallel, reconcile, register, regulate, remedy, resolve, right, settle, sort, straighten, suit, tailor, tally, tune, tweak (≠ challenge, cheat, contest, contradict, debate, debunk, -deny, deprive, dispute, gainsay, jar, misdiagnose, mismatch, -negate, -nullify, oppose, refute, -repudiate, steal, stiff, stint, withhold)

  SQUASH (/): annihilate, attack, bear, bruise, bulldoze, compress, contort, crowd, crush, defeat, distort, extinguish, flatten, grind, jam, kill, macerate, mash, -negate, obliterate, pack, pound, press, -prevent, pulp, pulverize, push, quash, quell, repress, scrunch, smash, squeeze, squoosh, stamp, subdue, suppress, terminate, trample (≠ advance, assist, brainstorm, build, encourage, establish, expand, extend, fill, foment, further, help, increase, inflate, instigate, nurture, permit, praise, promote, provoke, rouse, stimulate, stir, stretch, support, survive, sustain, uphold, withstand)

  SQUEEZE (→): cram, crowd, crush, fill, heap, jam, jam-pack, jostle, load, overcrowd, pack, ram, ream, sandwich, sardine, saturate, shoehorn, stock, stuff, thrust, wedge (≠ allow, clean, clear, deplete, drain, eliminate, empty, evacuate, exhaust, flush, lighten, open, pull, purge, release, remove, unpack, vacate, void)

  SQUEEZE (→): abbreviate, abridge, capsule, capsulize, collapse, compact, compress, concentrate, condense, consolidate, constrict, contract, cram, crowd, curtail, decrease, diminish, downsize, jam, jam-pack, lessen, narrow, pack, scrunch, shorten, shrink, simplify, streamline, stuff, telescope (≠ broaden, bulge, decompress, diffuse, dilate, disperse, dissipate, distend, expand, free, increase, inflate, lengthen, open, release, scatter, stretch, swell)

  SQUEEZE (←): bear, choke, clasp, clinch, clip, clutch, crush, cuddle, embrace, enfold, express, extract, extrude, force, grip, hug, juice, mash, milk, nip, pack, pincer, pinch, press, pucker, pulp, quash, squash, squish, strain, strangle, suck, throttle, tighten, twist, wedge, wring (≠ cram, fill, implant, inflate, insert, loose, open, replace, replenish, restore, unclench, uncompress, wedge)

  SQUEEZE (←): acquire, attain, bamboozle, betray, bilk, blackmail, bleed, bluff, buffalo, cheat, chisel, clip, con, deceive, defraud, double-cross, draw, dupe, earn, euchre, exploit, extort, extract, fast-talk, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, fool, force, gain, gazump, gouge, gull, hoax, hustle, land, mangle, manipulate, milk, mulct, nick, obtain, oppress, overcharge, pinch, pluck, pressure, procure, ream, rook, rope, scam, screw, scrounge, secure, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, soak, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, sweat, swindle, take, trick, underpay, victimize, wrench, wrest, wring (≠ accuse, afford, audit, bankroll, confess, contribute, debunk, discredit, disperse, donate, expose, fund, furnish, give, grant, offer, -ostracize, permit, provide, respect, restore, reveal, scatter, shame, spare, stuff, substantiate, supply, support, tender, tithe, trust, underwrite, volunteer, withhold, yield)

  SQUELCH (/): annihilate, burke, check, conquer, crush, curb, curtail, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, dominate, doom, douse, exterminate, extinguish, nuke, obliterate, outlast, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, police, quash, quell, quench, reduce, repress, restrain, restrict, ruin, silence, smash, smother, snuff, squash, squeeze, squench, stifle, strangle, subdue, subjugate, suppress, throttle, trample, vanquish, waste, wreck (≠ abet, advance, aid, assist, back, bolster, buttress, cultivate, encourage, foment, forward, foster, further, help, incite, instigate, nourish, nurture, promote, prop, provoke, rabble-rouse, stir, subvert, support, survive, weather)

  SQUIRE (+): accompany, associate, attend, bring, chaperone, chauffeur, conduct, convoy, defend, escort, follow, guard, guide, join, lead, partner, pilot, protect, see, shadow, steer, tag, tail, usher, walk (≠ -abandon, alienate, -desert, -ditch, drop, dump, -forsake, isolate, leave, maroon, -ostracize, seclude, -shun, -s
nub, -spurn)

  SQUIRREL (←): accumulate, acquire, amass, archive, assemble, bank, budget, bury, cache, coffer, collect, conceal, concentrate, conserve, deposit, ensconce, garner, gather, heap, hide, hoard, hold, husband, keep, niche, pile, preserve, procure, reserve, retain, salt, save, secrete, secure, stack, stash, stock, stockpile, store, stow, treasure, tuck, wedge, withhold (≠ blow, circulate, consume, deplete, discard, disperse, dissipate, -ditch, divest, dump, exhaust, expend, fritter, impoverish, jettison, lavish, offload, overfeed, relinquish, scatter, spend, squander, surrender, unload, waste)

  STAB (→): bayonet, bore, broach, burst, chop, cleave, clip, core, crack, cut, disembowel, drill, drive, enter, fill, gaff, gash, gimlet, gore, gouge, groove, gut, harpoon, hollow, honeycomb, hook, hurt, impale, injure, insert, invade, jab, kebab, knife, lance, nick, peck, penetrate, perforate, pick, pierce, pike, pin, pink, plow, plunge, poke, poniard, prick, probe, prong, punch, puncture, ram, razor, ream, rend, riddle, rupture, screw, shank, shiv, skewer, slice, spear, spike, spindle, spit, split, stake, stick, tap, tear, thrust, transfix, wound (≠ aid, armor, assist, bandage, bind, block, buffer, close, cover, cure, defend, deflect, draw, eject, expel, extract, fill, guard, heal, help, mend, miss, nurse, nurture, parry, patch, plaster, plug, protect, pull, remove, repair, restore, seal, secure, sheathe, shield, tug, unite, withdraw, yank)

  STABILIZE (+): adjust, align, anchor, arrange, array, assure, balance, ballast, bolster, bolt, brace, buttress, calibrate, center, compose, control, coordinate, counterbalance, ensure, equalize, establish, fasten, firm, fix, fortify, freeze, harmonize, integrate, maintain, marshal, mediate, normalize, orchestrate, order, organize, pace, place, plan, plot, poise, prepare, preserve, prop, rationalize, referee, regiment, regulate, right, root, schematize, secure, set, settle, shape, sort, splint, square, steady, steel, stiffen, structure, strut, support, sustain, systematize, time, tone, toughen, tune, tweak, untangle, uphold (≠ agitate, attack, boobytrap, change, convulse, damage, disturb, inflame, jumble, monkey-wrench, sabotage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shake, subvert, topple, undermine, unhorse, unman, unnerve, unseat, unsettle, weaken)

  STACK (←): accumulate, amass, assemble, bank, bunch, clump, collect, compile, concentrate, garner, gather, group, heap, hoard, layer, load, lump, mass, mound, pile, pyramid, save, stash, stockpile, store, tuck, wedge (≠ chunk, cut, diffuse, disperse, dissipate, distribute, divide, parcel, portion, scatter, separate, split, unload, waste)

  STAGE (+): act, arrange, carry, choreograph, depict, direct, display, dramatize, enact, engineer, exhibit, expose, extend, give, impersonate, mount, offer, orchestrate, organize, parade, perform, play, playact, portray, present, preview, produce, proffer, render, represent, roleplay, show, showcase, stage-manage, tender, unveil (≠ attend, -cancel, close, conclude, criticize, critique, end, enjoy, finish, shutter, terminate, watch, wrap)

  STAGGER (/): amaze, astonish, astound, boggle, confound, daze, dazzle, deafen, devastate, dumbfound, faze, flabbergast, floor, flummox, gobsmack, nonplus, numb, overpower, overwhelm, paralyze, perplex, puzzle, razzle-dazzle, shake, shatter, shock, startle, stump, stun, stupefy, surprise, wow (≠ balance, bore, calm, center, comfort, compose, enlighten, explain, hush, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, pacify, placate, reassure, settle, soothe, stabilize, steady)

  STAIN (+): brighten, brown, color, dapple, darken, daub, discolor, dye, fleck, lighten, marble, mottle, paint, pattern, pigment, speck, speckle, stipple, streak, striate, stripe, tincture, tinge, tint, variegate, varnish (≠ blanch, bleach, clear, decolorize, strip, whiten, whitewash, wipe)

  STAIN (/): abase, bastardize, bedraggle, befoul, begrime, besmear, besmirch, bestialize, blacken, blemish, blot, blotch, blur, brutalize, cheapen, cloud, confuse, contaminate, corrupt, damage, darken, daub, debase, debauch, defile, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, dirty, disarrange, disarray, discolor, discredit, disgrace, dishevel, dishonor, disorder, draggle, foul, grime, injure, jumble, lower, mar, mark, mess, mire, muck, muddle, muddy, pervert, poison, pollute, shame, sink, smear, smirch, smudge, soil, spoil, spot, suborn, subvert, sully, taint, tar, tarnish, tinge, tint, touch, victimize, vitiate, worsen, wrong (≠ brighten, brush, clean, cleanse, decontaminate, deodorize, dignify, disinfect, dry-clean, dust, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, expiate, freshen, glorify, hallow, launder, magnify, mop, purge, purify, rinse, sanitize, scour, scrub, sweep, uncloud, uplift, wash, wipe)

  STAKE (→): bear, bind, bolster, brace, buttress, carry, fasten, fortify, hold, pierce, prop, reinforce, secure, steady, strengthen, support, sustain, tether, tie, underpin (≠ break, damage, destroy, disrupt, endanger, erode, sabotage, scotch, scupper, subvert, weaken, wreck)

  STAKE (→): assert, base, declare, demand, ensure, establish, institute, lodge, plant, requisition, secure, settle, state (≠ -abandon, betray, challenge, cross-examine, -deny, -desert, distrust, doubt, grill, hinder, interrogate, question, scruple, undermine)

  STAKE (→): ante, bet, bid, chance, compromise, endanger, gamble, hazard, imperil, jeopardize, lay, offer, parlay, play, put, spare, venture, volunteer, wager (≠ assure, ensure, guarantee, indemnify, insure, pledge, promise, protect, recoup, secure, warrant)

  STAKE (→): advocate, aid, back, bankroll, capitalize, champion, clear, cofinance, defray, discharge, dower, endorse, endow, finance, foot, fund, grubstake, liquidate, maintain, nourish, offer, outbid, outlay, overpay, patronize, pay, provide, -quit, recompense, refinance, settle, sponsor, stand, subsidize, support, underwrite (≠ bankrupt, beggar, -cancel, defund, -deny, disinherit, forfeit, hoard, indemnify, keep, lose, owe, refund, -refuse, reimburse, repay, sacrifice starve, steal, stiff, stint, take, withhold)

  STALK (→): ambush, approach, chase, dog, drive, ferret, flush, follow, harass, harry, hassle, haunt, hector, hound, hunt, nag, persecute, pester, pursue, scout, seek, shadow, spoor, surveil, tail, target, track, trail, wheedle (≠ attract, -avoid, bait, charm, -dodge, -elude, -evade, -ignore, invite, -sidestep, skirt, welcome)

  STALL (←): arrest, baffle, -balk, bench, block, blockade, bottleneck, catch, check, choke, clog, conclude, dam, defer, delay, detain, -discontinue, divert, end, -evade, fence, filibuster, -halt, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold, impede, interrupt, obstruct, occlude, parry, pause, postpone, rein, repress, root, shelve, short-circuit, sideline, slow, snag, squash, squelch, stagnate, stale, staunch, stay, stem, still, stonewall, stop, stunt, suppress, suspend, terminate, -thwart (≠ accelerate, actuate, advance, aid, allow, assist, boost, brainstorm, budge, catalyze, coerce, compel, drive, ease, enable, encourage, facilitate, frogmarch, fuel, further, goad, grease, hasten, help, impel, instigate, kindle, march, muscle, nurture, prioritize, propel, push, race, railroad, rush, smooth, spark, speed, spur, stir, trigger)

  STAMP (→): brand, categorize, characterize, claim, designate, dub, emboss, engrave, establish, etch, fix, identify, imbue, implant, impress, imprint, inculcate, infuse, ingrain, inscribe, instill, label, mark, monogram, package, print, seal, set, tool (≠ anonymize, blot, bury, conceal, erase, expunge, garble, hide, mislabel, muddy, -negate, -nullify, obliterate, scramble, smooth, veil)

  STAMP (/): beat, boot, crush, kick, mash, override, overrun, pound, pulp, smash, squash, squelch, stomp, trample, tread (≠ aid, assist, -bypass, -circumvent, cure, -elude, -escape, heal, help, inflate, observe, restore, uncompress)

  STAND (→): build, erect, install, juxtapose, locate, place, position, post, put, raise, rear, set, station, upend (≠ cant, capsize, collapse, overbalance, overset, overturn, pitch, topple, tumble, upset)

  STAND (+): abide, absorb, accept, allow, bear, brook, countenance, endure, experience, face, hack, handle, meet, permit, pocket, reconcile, respect, stick, stomach, suffer, support, sustain, swallow, sweat, take, tolerate, weather, withstand (≠ -avoid, -bypass, -circumvent, combat, contest, -decline, dismiss, -dodge, -elude, -escape, -evade, fight, miss, oppose, -refuse, -reject, -repudiate, resist, -spurn)

  STANDARDIZE (+): accredit, align, average, certify, codify, control, coordinate, depersonalize, equalize, e
ven, formalize, govern, harmonize, homogenize, integrate, marshal, mass-produce, methodize, normalize, order, organize, pace, reconcile, regiment, regularize, regulate, rule, square, stereotype, synthesize, systematize (≠ accommodate, adapt, alter, change, convert, customize, differentiate, disorder, disorganize, individualize, mix, modify, personalize, -prevent, tailor, vary, weaponize)

  STARTLE (/): agitate, amaze, astonish, astound, awe, baffle, befuddle, bewilder, blindside, boggle, bushwhack, confound, confuse, daze, dazzle, deafen, discombobulate, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, dumbfound, electrify, excite, flabbergast, floor, flummox, fluster, galvanize, gobsmack, invigorate, jar, jolt, jump, muddle, nonplus, overwhelm, perplex, rattle, razzle-dazzle, rock, rouse, shake, shock, stagger, start, stimulate, stir, stump, stun, stupefy, surprise, thrill, throw, unsettle, wow (≠ anchor, annoy, anticipate, balance, blunt, bore, buffer, calm, center, clarify, compose, dampen, deaden, demystify, -disregard, dull, elucidate, expect, explain, follow, forecast, foretell, hypnotize, -ignore, jade, lull, mellow, mesmerize, mind, miss, numb, orchestrate, organize, outguess, -overlook, predetermine, predict, regiment, relax, remind, sedate, settle, signal, soothe, stabilize, steady, stultify, tire, weary) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!

  STARTLE (/): affright, alarm, alert, amaze, appall, astound, awe, browbeat, bully, chill, consternate, cow, daunt, demoralize, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disgust, dismay, dispirit, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, emasculate, floor, freak, frighten, gaslight, horrify, intimidate, jolt, nauseate, numb, offend, outrage, panic, paralyze, perturb, petrify, repel, revolt, rile, rock, roil, sandbag, scandalize, scare, shake, shock, sicken, signal, spook, stupefy, terrify, terrorize, traumatize, trigger, undo, unman, unnerve, unsettle, unstring, upset, worry (≠ anticipate, appease, assure, blunt, buffer, calm, caution, charm, cheer, comfort, compose, console, cushion, dampen, deaden, delight, dull, embolden, encourage, entice, gratify, hearten, help, inspire, mitigate, moderate, mollify, pacify, placate, please, quiet, reassure, relax, sedate, soothe, stabilize, steady, steel, tease, tempt, threaten, tranquilize, warn) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!