Activate

by Damon Suede

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  ULCERATE (/): anger, annoy, bleed, blister, brew, chafe, damage, erode, gall, harm, hurt, infect, irk, nag, needle, nettle, perforate, rankle, wound (≠ aid, calm, coat, cool, delight, doctor, grow, heal, improve, lessen, medicate, mellow, nurse, palliate, please, sedate, soothe, tranquilize, treat)

  UMPIRE (+): adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, ascertain, broker, chair, command, conclude, consider, control, decide, determine, direct, equalize, examine, handle, inspect, judge, manage, mediate, moderate, mull, negotiate, pacify, ponder, propitiate, prosecute, reconcile, referee, renegotiate, resolve, reunite, rule, scrutinize, settle, size, skirt, solve, unskew, weigh (≠ baffle, bias, challenge, cheat, confound, confront, confuse, debate, defy, demand, dismiss, -disregard, exacerbate, favor, fight, -ignore, inflame, instigate, manipulate, misrepresent, miss, mistake, muddle, oppose, -overlook, predetermine, prejudge, prejudice, provoke, skew, skirt, slant, twist)

  UNBALANCE (/): agitate, anger, annoy, bother, bug, confuse, convulse, crack, craze, dement, derange, destabilize, discomfit, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, disturb, dizzy, enrage, exasperate, faze, fluster, frenzy, incense, inebriate, inflame, infuriate, intoxicate, irk, irritate, madden, needle, nettle, nitpick, perturb, provoke, rattle, ruffle, shake, shock, spook, threaten, throw, trigger, trouble, unhinge, unnerve, unsettle, unsteady, unstring, upset, vex, worry (≠ balance, calm, center, coddle, comfort, compose, defend, gratify, help, humor, lull, maintain, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, nurture, pacify, placate, preserve, protect, quiet, relax, settle, shelter, soothe, steady, tranquilize)

  UNBURDEN (→): clear, discharge, disclose, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, divest, emancipate, enfranchise, extricate, free, grant, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, redeem, release, relieve, rescue, rid, soothe, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, uncover, unfetter (≠ burden, bury, cloak, conceal, disavow, disguise, encumber, fetter, hamper, restrain, saddle, shackle, short-circuit, subject, withhold)

  UNBURDEN (+): alleviate, cast, clear, deliver, disburden, discharge, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, -ditch, drop, dump, ease, empty, evacuate, free, lessen, liberate, lighten, offload, reduce, release, relieve, remove, rescue, unchain, unfetter, unleash, unload, unpack, vacate, void (≠ acquire, burden, charge, cram, encumber, fill, handicap, heap, jam, jam-pack, load, lumber, obtain, overload, overstuff, pack, saddle, sardine, stuff, weight)

  UNBUTTON (/): access, disconnect, disengage, disentangle, expose, free, locate, loose, loosen, open, relax, release, relieve, retrieve, reveal, separate, split, thaw, unbuckle, unclasp, undo, unfasten, unfetter, unfreeze, unhook, unlock, untie, unwind, unwrap, unzip (≠ affix, attach, belt, bind, buckle, button, cinch, clasp, close, clothe, cover, dress, fasten, join, lace, seal, secure, stress, tie, worry, wrap, zip)

  UNCOVER (←): acknowledge, admit, advertise, announce, avow, bare, betray, blab, blurt, broadcast, circulate, communicate, concede, confess, confide, crack, debunk, declare, disclose, discover, disinter, display, disseminate, divulge, exhibit, exhume, expose, flaunt, flay, illustrate, impart, inform, investigate, leak, manifest, open, own, placard, post, probe, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, relate, reveal, share, show, showcase, skin, sound, spill, squeal, strip, suss, talk, telegraph, tell, unbosom, uncloak, unclothe, undrape, undress, unearth, unmask, unveil, unwrap, unzip (≠ becloud, bedim, befog, camouflage, cloak, clothe, cloud, conceal, costume, cover, darken, disguise, eclipse, enshroud, eye, gild, gloss, hide, mask, obscure, overshadow, shade, shroud, spackle, suppress, varnish, veil, whitewash)

  UNCOVER (→): confide, confirm, confront, convince, debunk, deflate, demolish, disclose, discredit, disprove, divulge, explode, expose, invalidate, lampoon, mock, nail, out, puncture, quash, ridicule, tell, trust, uncloak, undress, unmask, unveil (≠ attest, authenticate, camouflage, certify, cloak, conceal, confirm, corroborate, disguise, document, evidence, hide, mask, prove, ratify, secrete, substantiate, support, uphold, validate, veil, verify)

  UNDERESTIMATE (/): anticipate, belittle, bench, criticize, decry, deemphasize, denigrate, depersonalize, deprecate, depreciate, -despise, diminish, -discount, -disdain, dismiss, disparage, -disregard, disrespect, divine, downplay, gauge, insult, judge, marginalize, minimize, miscalculate, miscarry, misgauge, misjudge, miss, mock, modulate, -overlook, ridicule, -scorn, second-guess, sideline, -slight, soften, soft-pedal, trivialize, underemphasize, underrate, undersell, undervalue, vilify (≠ accentuate, admire, adore, affirm, appreciate, assert, belabor, cherish, emphasize, esteem, exaggerate, fetishize, heighten, heroicize, heroize, honor, idealize, idolize, inflate, maximize, overestimate, overrate, oversell, overstate, overvalue, prize, regard, respect, revere, reverence, romanticize, sentimentalize, treasure, value, venerate, worship)

  UNDERMINE (/): attenuate, block, blunt, boobytrap, break, bugger, canker, castrate, checkmate, compromise, contaminate, corrode, corrupt, counteract, cripple, damage, debilitate, deep-six, demoralize, deplete, destroy, devitalize, diminish, disable, disarm, disqualify, disrupt, disturb, doom, emasculate, enfeeble, erode, foil, -frustrate, half-ass, -halt, hamper, hamstring, harm, hinder, hobble, hollow, honeycomb, hurt, impair, impede, inactivate, incapacitate, inhibit, injure, interrupt, invalidate, kneecap, mar, monkey-wrench, muzzle, obstruct, overextend, paralyze, pervert, pickle, poison, queer, rock, ruin, sabotage, sandbag, sap, scotch, scupper, scuttle, shelve, shrivel, sideline, soften, spoil, subvert, taint, threaten, -thwart, torpedo, undercut, unhinge, unman, unnerve, unsettle, upset, vandalize, warp, weaken, wear, whittle, wither, wizen, wobble, wreck (≠ animate, assist, augment, bolster, boost, brace, build, buoy, buttress, calibrate, catalyze, choreograph, compose, defend, develop, devise, embolden, enable, encourage, energize, enhance, enshrine, expedite, facilitate, fix, fortify, galvanize, guard, help, heroicize, heroize, idolize, improve, inspire, maintain, mend, midwife, motivate, optimize, orchestrate, organize, overhaul, patrol, perfect, preserve, prioritize, protect, rebuild, rectify, relieve, remedy, repair, rescue, restructure, revolutionize, safeguard, save, stabilize, steady, strengthen, support, sustain, tidy, tweak, vitalize, worship)

  UNDERPIN (/): back, bear, beef, bolster, brace, build, buttress, carry, construct, defend, derive, establish, fortify, found, ground, locate, plant, predicate, prop, reinforce, rest, root, settle, stay, steady, strengthen, support, sustain, truss, uphold (≠ assail, attack, demolish, destroy, dismantle, erode, impugn, leave, move, raze, ruin, sabotage, scotch, scupper, scuttle, undermine, unsettle)

  UNDRESS (←): bare, bark, denude, dismantle, disrobe, divest, doff, expose, flay, husk, peel, remove, rend, rip, shed, shred, shuck, skin, strip, tatter, tear, unbuckle, unbutton, uncloak, unclothe, uncover, undrape, unfasten, unhook, unlace, unmask, unveil, unzip (≠ accoutre, apparel, array, attire, buckle, button, caparison, cloak, clothe, costume, cover, deck, drape, dress, garb, gown, mantle, outfit, robe, swaddle, swathe, zip)

  UNEARTH (←): ascertain, detect, discover, disinter, dredge, excavate, exhume, explore, expose, ferret, find, investigate, probe, rake, reveal, sleuth, spotlight, suss, uncover, uproot (≠ bury, conceal, cover, disguise, ensconce, entomb, hide, inter, mask, obscure, seal, shroud, stash, store, stow, suppress, vault)

  UNFASTEN (/): access, disconnect, disengage, disentangle, expose, free, locate, loose, loosen, open, ravel, release, relieve, retrieve, reveal, separate, split, unbind, unbraid, unbuckle, unbutton, unclasp, undo, unfetter, unhook, unlace, unlash, unlock, unravel, unsnarl, untangle, untie, unwind, unzip (≠ bind, braid, buckle, button, cage, cinch, clasp, close, connect, corset, entangle, fasten, fix, hook, interlace, interweave, knot, lace, lash, leash, lock, seal, secure, snarl, tangle, tie, tighten, wind, zip)

  UNFOLD (→): clarify, describe, disclose, display, elaborate, expand, explain, expound, extend, fan, flatten, illustrate, interpret, iron, narrate, present, press, relate, resolve, reveal, show, smooth, straighten, tell, tidy, uncrumple, unfurl, unspool, unwind, unwrap (≠ bend, crease, crimp, crinkle, crumple, curl, fold, gather, package, pleat, rumple, tuck, wrap, wriggle, wrinkle)
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br />   UNHINGE (/): aggravate, agitate, alarm, anger, annoy, bedevil, bother, confound, confuse, crack, craze, dement, derange, destabilize, disable, discombobulate, discompose, disorder, disquiet, distract, disturb, enrage, faze, fluster, freak, frenzy, haunt, incite, inebriate, infuriate, irritate, madden, needle, nettle, nitpick, panic, perturb, plague, rattle, rile, terrify, unbalance, undermine, unnerve, unsettle, unstring, upset, vex (≠ anchor, appease, assuage, balance, buoy, calm, compose, conciliate, gratify, hush, hypnotize, lull, mellow, mesmerize, mitigate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, quiet, relax, sedate, settle, soothe, stabilize, steady, still, tranquilize)

  UNHOOK (/): breach, detach, disengage, dismantle, display, expose, extricate, free, loose, loosen, open, release, replace, retrieve, reveal, separate, strip, unbind, unblock, unbuckle, unbutton, unclasp, unclothe, uncover, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, untie, unzip (≠ affix, bar, barricade, bolt, buckle, button, cinch, clasp, clench, clinch, clip, close, cordon, deadbolt, fasten, fix, hook, join, latch, lock, padlock, peg, seal, secure, shut, tie, zip)

  UNITE (+): alloy, ally, amalgamate, associate, band, blend, cement, close, coalesce, combine, conjoin, connect, consolidate, couple, embody, fuse, graft, herd, hybridize, incorporate, integrate, join, knit, knot, lap, link, lock, marry, meld, merge, mingle, mortar, network, pool, rally, reintegrate, reunite, splice, synthesize, team, tie, twist, unify, wed, weld (≠ alienate, atomize, break, cleave, diffuse, disaffect, disconnect, disengage, disperse, divide, divorce, estrange, -exclude, fracture, halve, isolate, -omit, oppose, orphan, -ostracize, oust, part, pulverize, scatter, seclude, section, separate, sever, share, shatter, split, spread)

  UNLEASH (→): advertise, air, announce, bellow, blab, blare, blurt, brandish, broadcast, circulate, communicate, convey, declare, describe, disseminate, enunciate, evince, exhibit, expound, express, flaunt, loose, offer, parade, proclaim, publish, raise, release, showcase, sound, spitball, state, submit, telegraph, tender, trumpet, vent, ventilate, voice, volunteer, write (≠ allay, bottle, bridle, check, choke, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, handle, hold, holster, inhibit, lull, manage, muffle, pocket, quell, quiet, rein, repress, restrain, sheathe, smother, soothe, squelch, squench, stifle, still, strangle, suppress, swallow, tame)

  UNLEASH (+): accelerate, brainstorm, bustle, catalyze, catapult, deliver, discharge, disengage, disentangle, drive, egg, emancipate, encourage, energize, enfranchise, expedite, fast-forward, fast-track, fire, foment, force, free, galvanize, goad, hasten, heave, hurl, hurry, hustle, induce, inflict, inspire, instigate, jolt, launch, liberate, lob, loose, loosen, lubricate, manumit, mobilize, motivate, nudge, poke, prod, propel, provoke, push, quicken, rabble-rouse, relax, release, rush, shoot, shove, speed, spring, stimulate, throw, thrust, trigger, unbind, unbridle, unburden, uncage, unchain, uncork, unfetter, unlace, unlock, unmoor, unshackle, untether, untie, urge (≠ bind, bottle, bridle, cage, check, confine, constrain, contain, control, curb, deactivate, domesticate, enchain, fetter, freeze, govern, -halt, halter, hamper, handcuff, hold, holster, housebreak, housetrain, impair, impede, inactivate, incapacitate, inhibit, manacle, pace, paralyze, regulate, rein, repress, reset, restrain, shackle, smother, stop, straightjacket, stymie, suppress, tame, -thwart, trammel, truss)

  UNLOCK (+): air, break, crack, decipher, decode, decrypt, deduce, detect, discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, express, free, jimmy, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, open, pop, release, solve, spring, unbar, unbind, unbolt, unbuckle, unbutton, uncage, unchain, uncork, unfasten, unfetter, unhook, unlatch, unleash, unmoor, unravel, unseal, unshackle, vent (≠ bind, bridle, cage, check, confine, constrain, contain, control, curb, enchain, encode, fasten, fetter, govern, halter, hamper, handcuff, hold, inhibit, lock, manacle, regulate, restrain, seal, shackle, shut, straightjacket, tame, trammel)

  UNMASK (+): advertise, announce, bare, betray, blab, blaze, blurt, broadcast, communicate, confess, confide, confirm, confront, debunk, declare, demolish, detect, disclose, discover, discredit, disinter, display, disprove, divulge, exhibit, expose, impart, inform, invalidate, leak, manifest, nail, out, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, rake, relate, reveal, share, shatter, show, sound, spill, squeal, strip, talk, telegraph, tell, uncloak, unclothe, uncover, undrape, undress, unearth, unveil (≠ becloud, bedim, befog, camouflage, cloak, clothe, cloud, conceal, costume, cover, darken, disguise, eclipse, enshroud, gild, gloss, hide, mask, obscure, overshadow, secrete, shade, shroud, spackle, varnish, veil, whitewash)

  UNNERVE (/): afflict, agitate, alarm, appall, blackjack, bother, browbeat, brutalize, buffalo, bug, bully, castrate, chill, confound, confuse, cow, craze, damp, dampen, daunt, deaden, debilitate, dement, demoralize, depress, derange, disarm, discombobulate, discompose, disconcert, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, faze, floor, fluster, frighten, frustrate, harrow, haunt, hocus-pocus, horrify, incapacitate, intimidate, irk, madden, mismatch, needle, neuter, panic, paralyze, perturb, petrify, prostrate, provoke, rattle, sadden, sap, scare, shake, shock, soften, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize, threaten, tire, trash-talk, trouble, try, unbalance, undermine, undo, unhinge, unman, unsettle, unsteady, unstring, upset, vex, waste, weaken, weigh, worry (≠ agitate, alarm, alleviate, animate, assure, boost, buoy, calm, cheer, embattle, embolden, encourage, energize, enliven, excite, fortify, galvanize, gladden, gratify, hearten, help, humor, inspire, invigorate, lift, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, nerve, order, organize, pacify, placate, quicken, quiet, rally, reassure, regulate, reinforce, settle, soothe, stabilize, steady, steel, stimulate, stir, strengthen)

  UNRAVEL (/): clarify, comprehend, contextualize, decipher, deduce, detect, disentangle, explain, extricate, fathom, fray, free, fret, grasp, grok, interpret, investigate, penetrate, profile, read, resolve, scrutinize, separate, smooth, solve, sort, straighten, suss, unbraid, uncoil, understand, undo, unknot, unlace, unroll, unsnarl, unspool, unstring, untangle, unthread, untie, untwine, untwist, unweave, unwind (≠ braid, cipher, code, complicate, conceal, cypher, -disregard, encipher, encode, encrypt, entangle, fuse, garble, hide, -ignore, knit, knot, lace, mend, misconstrue, misinterpret, misread, miss, mistake, misunderstand, obscure, -overlook, plait, ply, raddle, ravel, scramble, snarl, splice, stitch, tangle, tie, wind)

  UNSCRAMBLE (+): adjust, crack, debug, decipher, decode, decrypt, deduce, detect, fix, interpret, jack, order, organize, read, remedy, solve, sort, translate, troubleshoot, uncomplicate, understand, unravel, untangle (≠ complicate, confuse, destroy, disarrange, disorganize, encode, entangle, entwine, garble, jumble, knot, misdiagnose, mystify, obscure, scramble, tangle, twist)

  UNSEAL (+): aerate, assail, breach, break, broach, clear, crack, disclose, discover, expose, force, oxygenate, pry, unblock, unbolt, uncap, uncork, uncover, undo, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unstop, untie, ventilate (≠ bolt, bury, close, conceal, cork, deadbolt, fasten, hide, lock, plug, screw, seal, secure, shut, stopper, stopple, tighten)

  UNSETTLE (/): abash, aggravate, agitate, ail, alarm, anger, annoy, bedevil, bother, bug, chafe, concern, confound, confuse, daunt, demoralize, derail, derange, destabilize, disarrange, disarray, discomfit, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, discountenance, discourage, dishearten, dishevel, dismay, disorder, disorganize, dispirit, displace, disquiet, disrupt, distemper, distract, distress, disturb, dizzy, embarrass, exasperate, exercise, faze, fluster, frazzle, freak, fret, fuss, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, haunt, irk, irritate, jar, jumble, mortify, nag, needle, nettle, niggle, nitpick, nonplus, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, plague, rattle, rile, ruffle, shake, shock, sicken, spook, throw, trigger, trouble, unbalance, undo, unhinge, unnerve, unsteady, upset, vex, worry (≠ adjust, allay, alleviate, anchor, appease, assuage, balance, buoy, calibrate, calm, center, compose, conciliate, coordinate, dispose, govern, gratify, group, help, humor, lull, maintain, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, order, pacify, placate, propitiate, protect, quiet, regiment, regulate, settle, soothe, sort, stabilize, steady, sugarcoat, sustain, tranq
uilize, tune)

  UNSHACKLE (+): absolve, acquit, bail, clear, deliver, detach, discharge, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, dismiss, drop, emancipate, enfranchise, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, extricate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, open, oust, pardon, ransom, recover, redeem, release, rescue, salvage, save, spring, unbind, unburden, unchain, unfasten, unfetter, unhook, unleash, unlock, untie, unyoke (≠ bind, burden, capture, compel, condemn, confine, convict, cuff, detain, enslave, fasten, handcuff, hogtie, hold, imprison, incarcerate, incriminate, intern, jail, keep, leash, limit, lock, maintain, pinion, -prevent, restrain, restrict, retain, sentence, shackle, suppress, tame, tie, trap, withhold)

  UNTANGLE (+): catalog, classify, clear, deliver, discharge, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, emancipate, explain, extricate, fray, free, fret, liberate, order, organize, redeem, release, relieve, rescue, resolve, save, smooth, solve, sort, straighten, unbraid, unburden, unchain, uncoil, undo, unfetter, unhook, unknot, unlace, unleash, unravel, unroll, unscramble, unshackle, unsnarl, unstring, unthread, untie, untwine, untwist, unweave, unwind (≠ block, braid, burden, embroil, encumber, entangle, hamper, hinder, impede, interweave, knot, lace, link, load, mat, mix, muddle, obstruct, occlude, plait, ply, raddle, ravel, snare, snarl, spin, splice, tangle, tie, tousle, twist, weave, weigh, wind)