by Damon Suede
VENERATE (+): acclaim, admire, adore, adulate, aggrandize, apotheosize, applaud, appreciate, approve, beatify, blandish, bless, boost, cajole, canonize, celebrate, cheer, cherish, commemorate, commend, compliment, congratulate, consecrate, deify, delight, dignify, endorse, enjoy, enshrine, esteem, eulogize, exalt, extol, fête, fetishize, flannel, flatter, glorify, gold-star, gratify, hail, hallow, hero-worship, high-five, honor, hype, idealize, idolize, immortalize, laud, limelight, lionize, love, magnify, memorialize, observe, panegyrize, please, plug, praise, presell, prioritize, prize, promote, protect, publicize, push, recommend, regard, respect, revere, reverence, romanticize, salute, sanction, satisfy, sentimentalize, solemnize, stroke, treasure, trumpet, value, worship (≠ abominate, accuse, admonish, affront, anathematize, attaint, badmouth, belittle, berate, bestialize, blame, blaspheme, blast, boo, castigate, censure, chastise, chide, condemn, criticize, critique, debase, defame, demean, demonize, denigrate, denounce, deride, desecrate, -detest, -disdain, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, displease, disrespect, execrate, fault, frame, fulminate, humiliate, incriminate, insult, lambaste, libel, malign, offend, oppose, -ostracize, oust, outrage, pillory, pique, profane, rebuke, regret, repent, reprimand, reproach, ridicule, rue, scathe, scold, -scorn, shame, slander, -slight, slur, smear, trash, vilify, violate) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
VENTURE (→): act, advance, aim, approach, assay, attempt, bet, brave, challenge, commit, compromise, contract, dare, defy, endanger, engage, exploit, gamble, grant, hazard, imperil, initiate, jeopardize, maneuver, perform, presume, pretend, pursue, risk, scheme, spitball, suggest, undertake, volunteer (≠ block, -decline, -deny, hamper, hamstring, hinder, hoard, hobble, impede, -prevent, -refuse, scotch, short-circuit, -sidestep, skirt, withhold)
VERBALIZE (→): advertise, affirm, air, allege, announce, articulate, assert, attest, broadcast, clarify, communicate, convey, couch, declare, depict, describe, disclose, discuss, divulge, draft, enunciate, expand, explain, expound, express, formulate, intimate, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, report, reveal, share, sound, speak, state, testify, utter, vent, ventilate, vocalize, voice, whisper, word, write (≠ -avoid, bowdlerize, bury, censor, conceal, confuse, corrupt, disguise, distort, expurgate, gag, garble, hide, hush, -ignore, misrepresent, muddle, muffle, mute, muzzle, quell, quiet, silence, stifle, still, subdue, suppress, twist, withhold) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
VERIFY (←): accredit, affirm, argue, ascertain, assert, attest, audit, authenticate, avow, certify, check, compute, confirm, consult, corroborate, crosscheck, debunk, declare, demonstrate, detect, determine, document, double-check, endorse, ensure, establish, eye, eyeball, guarantee, interview, notarize, profess, prove, reinforce, scrutinize, settle, substantiate, support, test, testify, validate, vindicate, warrant, witness (≠ challenge, contest, contradict, debate, debunk, -deny, disavow, disclaim, discredit, disprove, dispute, distrust, doubt, gainsay, invalidate, oppose, question, rebut, refute, -reject, scruple, suspect, warn, wonder)
VET (←): analyze, anatomize, appraise, audit, case, catechize, certify, check, consider, critique, dissect, evaluate, examine, explore, eye, eyeball, frisk, gauge, inspect, interrogate, investigate, judge, monitor, observe, parse, peruse, probe, prove, prowl, query, quiz, read, reconnoiter, reference, research, review, sample, scan, scope, screen, scrutinize, sift, sound, study, survey, test, validate, verify, weigh, winnow (≠ accept, allow, baffle, believe, blind, blindfold, -bypass, confound, confuse, -disregard, forget, -ignore, misgauge, misread, miss, mistake, misunderstand, -neglect, -overlook, perplex, puzzle, -reject, skim, skip, trust)
-VETO (/): ban, blackball, blacklist, block, -cut, -decline, defeat, -deny, disallow, disapprove, dismiss, -forbid, kill, -negate, negative, -nix, -nullify, oppose, override, overrule, -prohibit, -refuse, -reject, subvert (≠ admit, allow, approve, champion, confirm, elect, legalize, okay, pass, promote, propose, ratify, sanction, spitball, submit, support)
VEX (/): afflict, aggravate, agitate, anger, annoy, antagonize, arouse, badger, bait, bedevil, bother, bug, burden, chafe, chagrin, depress, discompose, discountenance, discourage, distress, disturb, earbash, embarrass, enrage, envenom, exacerbate, exasperate, fluster, fret, gall, harass, harry, hassle, hound, incense, inflame, infuriate, irk, irritate, molest, nag, needle, nettle, niggle, nitpick, noodge, offend, oppose, -ostracize, peeve, perplex, persecute, perturb, pester, plague, provoke, rankle, ride, rile, ruffle, tease, torment, traumatize, troll, trouble, unnerve, upset, victimize, weary, worry (≠ aid, amuse, appease, assist, assuage, baby, calm, coddle, comfort, console, defend, delight, entertain, gratify, guard, help, humor, indulge, inspire, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, mollify, pacify, pamper, placate, please, protect, reassure, relieve, restore, salve, satisfy, settle, shield, soothe, spoil, stabilize, steady, sugarcoat, support, thrill, tranquilize, treat, uplift, wow)
VICTIMIZE (/): bamboozle, beat, betray, bilk, blackjack, blackmail, bleed, bludgeon, bluff, browbeat, brutalize, bully, burn, cheat, chisel, clip, coerce, con, convince, cozen, daunt, deceive, defraud, discredit, disfavor, disgrace, double-cross, double-deal, double-talk, dupe, excruciate, exploit, extort, fast-talk, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, fool, frame, frighten, frogmarch, gazump, gouge, gull, hoodwink, hustle, intimidate, lynch, manipulate, martyr, menace, milk, mulct, muscle, nick, oppose, oppress, -ostracize, oust, overcharge, persecute, pluck, ream, rook, rope, sandbag, scare, screw, shake, short, shortchange, skin, slam, snooker, snow, soak, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, terrorize, threaten, trash-talk, trick, underpay, use, wrench, wrest, wring (≠ advantage, aid, assist, benefit, bless, boost, cherish, defend, favor, heal, help, nourish, nurture, optimize, pity, praise, prioritize, profit, protect, regard, regret, rescue, respect, save, shield, strengthen, trust, value)
VILIFY (/): abase, abuse, accuse, assail, attack, attaint, backbite, badmouth, belittle, berate, besmirch, bestialize, blacken, blackguard, blame, blast, blister, boo, castigate, chastise, condemn, criticize, crucify, curse, debase, decry, defame, defile, degrade, dehumanize, demean, denigrate, denounce, denunciate, detract, dirty, discredit, -disdain, disfavor, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, disrespect, diss, embarrass, excoriate, fault, flay, fulminate, hammer, harangue, harm, hector, humble, humiliate, impugn, incriminate, injure, insult, jinx, judge, knock, lambaste, libel, malign, misrepresent, mock, mortify, neg, -ostracize, pan, pillory, pollute, rag, ream, rebuke, regret, reprimand, reproach, revile, roast, rue, scorch, -scorn, scourge, shame, slam, slander, slate, slur, smear, soil, stain, stigmatize, sully, taint, tarnish, traduce, trash, trash-talk, traumatize, victimize, villainize, vituperate, wrong, zap (≠ acclaim, admire, adore, applaud, benefit, blandish, bless, boost, buoy, celebrate, cheer, cherish, commend, compliment, congratulate, defend, deify, elevate, emulate, encourage, endorse, esteem, eulogize, exalt, expiate, favor, flannel, flatter, glorify, gratify, honor, hype, idealize, idolize, imitate, ingratiate, inspire, lionize, mimic, plug, praise, promote, protect, publicize, purify, regard, rescue, respect, revere, sanctify, save, showcase, uphold, uplift, venerate, vindicate, worship)
VINDICATE (+): absolve, acquit, alibi, avenge, clear, condone, consult, corroborate, defend, discharge, disprove, endorse, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, expiate, forgive, free, justify, liberate, pardon, prove, redeem, redress, rehabilitate, release, remit, revenge, second, shield, spare, substantiate, support, unburden, uphold, warrant, whitewash (≠ accuse, allege, arraign, attack, blame, charge, condemn, contradict, convict, damn, -desert, destroy, discredit, -disown, disprove, dispute, distrust, doom, doubt, fault, finger, forget, frame, gainsay, impeach, implicate, imprison, impugn, incriminate, indict, interview, jail, oppose, prove, punish, question, rebut, refute, -reject, resent, ruin, scapegoat, sentence)
VIOLATE (/): abase, abuse, affront, anguish, assail, assault, attack, bait, bastardize, bed, befoul, belittle, besmear, besmirch, bestialize, betray, blaspheme, boink, contaminate, curse, debase, debauch, deconsecrate, defame, defile, deflower, degrade, demean, demoniz
e, desacralize, desanctify, desecrate, despoil, disgrace, dishonor, disrupt, disturb, foul, fuck, gate-crash, humiliate, hurt, impugn, injure, insult, invade, libel, lower, malign, molest, mortify, offend, outrage, pillory, poison, pollute, profane, rape, ravish, -rebuff, reduce, ridicule, screw, shame, slander, slur, soil, spoil, stain, sully, taint, taunt, torment, wound, wreck, wrong (≠ bless, cleanse, compliment, consecrate, dedicate, defend, dignify, exalt, expiate, guard, hallow, heal, heed, honor, mind, nourish, nurse, nurture, patrol, pity, protect, purge, purify, regret, respect, revere, sanctify, shield, withstand, worship)
VIOLATE (/): abuse, assail, assault, attack, breach, break, contradict, contravene, defy, -deny, dismiss, disobey, -disregard, disrespect, flout, fracture, -ignore, infringe, -neglect, offend, oppose, -ostracize, -overlook, pooh-pooh, resist, -scorn, -slight, -snub, subvert, traduce, trample, transgress, trespass, withstand (≠ attend, follow, fulfill, hear, heed, honor, mark, mind, note, notice, obey, observe, regard, respect, serve, watch)
VITIATE (/): adulterate, afflict, anesthetize, bastardize, blemish, blight, botch, contaminate, corrupt, cramp, cripple, deaden, debase, debauch, defile, deform, degrade, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, devalue, disable, disarm, dull, enfeeble, hamper, hamstring, handicap, harm, hinder, hobble, impair, incapacitate, infect, injure, invalidate, lame, mar, neutralize, -nullify, overextend, paralyze, pervert, poison, pollute, prostrate, ruin, sap, scotch, spike, spoil, stagnate, stale, stun, stupefy, sully, taint, torpefy, twist, undermine, warp, weaken (≠ assist, better, cure, doctor, elevate, enhance, ennoble, fix, glorify, hallow, heal, help, mend, nurture, optimize, overhaul, patch, perfect, purify, rehabilitate, remedy, repair, revamp, revolutionize, strengthen, validate)
VIVISECT (/): anatomize, carve, cleave, cut, disarticulate, dismember, dissect, divide, examine, inspect, joint, probe, quarter, razor, scrutinize, section, sever, slice, sunder (≠ amalgamate, assimilate, combine, connect, consolidate, fix, fuse, heal, -ignore, integrate, join, meld, mend, repair, restore, revive, sew, stitch, suture, unify, unite)
-VOID (/): abate, abnegate, abolish, -abort, abrogate, annihilate, annul, -avoid, ban, call, -cancel, countermand, -cut, delegitimize, -deny, deprive, disallow, discharge, -discontinue, dismiss, dissolve, drop, eliminate, enjoin, eradicate, erase, -forbid, gut, invalidate, launder, liquidate, -negate, null, -nullify, -omit, -ostracize, oust, outlaw, override, overrule, overturn, -prohibit, quash, recall, -reject, remove, repeal, -rescind, retract, reverse, revoke, sanitize, sterilize, strike, suspend, trim, vacate, -veto, withdraw (≠ allow, approve, authorize, clear, command, decree, enact, endorse, establish, formalize, found, institute, legalize, legislate, legitimate, legitimize, mandate, order, pass, permit, prescribe, ratify, sanction, validate, warrant, weather, withstand)
VOLUNTEER (→): administer, advance, afford, aid, allocate, allot, apportion, assist, authorize, award, benefit, bequeath, bestow, commend, commit, comp, concede, confer, consign, contribute, deliver, disburse, dish, dispense, distribute, dole, donate, endow, entrust, extend, forward, furnish, gift, give, grant, hand, help, impart, issue, lavish, mete, offer, outlay, overpay, pay, permit, pledge, present, proffer, promise, propose, propound, provide, regale, relegate, render, replenish, restore, sacrifice, suggest, supply, tender, tithe, trust, vouchsafe, will, yield (≠ accept, advance, appropriate, beg, begrudge, bully, claim, coerce, commandeer, compel, debit, demand, -deny, deprive, force, hoard, hog, hold, keep, lend, loan, monopolize, obligate, obtain, order, overcommit, pinch, pocket, preserve, -prevent, purchase, receive, refund, -refuse, reimburse, -reject, remove, request, require, resent, reserve, retain, save, sell, snatch, solicit, source, steal, stiff, swipe, take, wean, withdraw, withhold)
VOLUNTEER (→): advise, announce, articulate, bare, bellow, betray, blab, blurt, breathe, broadcast, communicate, confess, confirm, counsel, declare, deliver, direct, disclose, display, divulge, enunciate, exhibit, expose, express, frame, impart, leak, manifest, offer, present, proclaim, pronounce, propose, proposition, publicize, publish, recommend, reveal, show, speak, spitball, state, suggest, supply, trumpet, uncover, undeceive, unearth, unfold, unmask, unveil, utter, verbalize, vocalize, voice, warn (≠ annul, -avoid, blind, bury, camouflage, censor, cloak, compel, conceal, delete, disguise, enshroud, expunge, expurgate, -forbid, force, hide, hush, -ignore, mask, obscure, -omit, redact, sanitize, screen, silence, stifle) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
VOW (+): affirm, assert, assure, attest, avow, betroth, consecrate, contract, convince, covenant, declare, dedicate, depose, devote, ensure, forswear, guarantee, maintain, pledge, promise, prove, stipulate, swear, testify, trust, warrant (≠ abjure, abnegate, betray, cheat, contradict, counter, debate, deceive, -deny, discredit, disprove, dispute, distrust, double-talk, doubt, fool, forswear, invalidate, recant, -renounce, -repudiate, retract, scruple, stiff, suspect, withdraw) (¿) ABSTRACTION ALERT. Concrete goals essential!
VULGARIZE (/): abase, adulterate, bastardize, cheapen, coarsen, contaminate, corrupt, damage, debase, defile, degrade, demean, democratize, devalue, dirty, disgrace, dishonor, disseminate, familiarize, generalize, hype, lessen, lower, plug, pollute, popularize, propagate, roughen, simplify, spread, sully, taint, tarnish, universalize (≠ burnish, civilize, clarify, cultivate, edify, educate, elevate, enhance, enlighten, hone, humanize, improve, indulge, instruct, perfect, polish, purify, refine, shine, smooth, socialize, soften, sophisticate, spoil, tame, upgrade, withhold)
W
WAGE (+): accomplish, achieve, administer, begin, commence, complete, conduct, consummate, deliver, discharge, dispatch, effect, enact, enforce, engineer, execute, expedite, finish, fulfill, implement, levy, make, perform, practice, prosecute, pursue, realize, render, serve, stage, undertake, validate (≠ -avert, cease, destroy, doom, end, -eschew, fail, foil, -forbid, forget, -halt, lose, miss, monkey-wrench, -neglect, -prevent, -prohibit, -quit, -refuse, stop)
WAGER (→): bet, bid, chance, endanger, expose, gamble, game, hazard, hustle, imperil, jeopardize, lay, offer, parlay, play, pledge, propose, put, risk, stake, tender, venture, volunteer (≠ bank, deposit, ensure, guarantee, guard, hoard, hold, invest, keep, lose, preserve, protect, prove, safeguard, secure, stash, stockpile, win, withhold)
WAIVE (/): -abandon, abdicate, -cancel, cede, deep-six, defer, disclaim, dismiss, -disown, eliminate, forfeit, forgo, grant, leave, -nullify, -omit, pardon, postpone, -reject, release, relinquish, remit, remove, -renounce, -rescind, resign, shelve, spare, surrender, suspend, table, undercharge, vacate, -void, yield (≠ affirm, assert, claim, command, compel, decree, demand, employ, enact, enforce, expect, maintain, mandate, necessitate, obtain, owe, propose, request, require, sustain)
WAKE (→): activate, agitate, alert, animate, arouse, awaken, buzz, disturb, enliven, excite, fire, galvanize, generate, goad, ignite, incite, inspire, jab, jostle, kindle, notify, nudge, poke, prod, provoke, raise, reawaken, reinvigorate, restimulate, revive, rouse, roust, rout, signal, sober, spur, stimulate, stir, vitalize, vivify, warn, whet (≠ anesthetize, bewitch, bore, calm, deaden, drug, dull, entrance, hypnotize, impair, incapacitate, lull, mellow, mesmerize, numb, quiet, relax, sedate, tire, trank, tranquilize, weary)
WANGLE (+): accomplish, achieve, arrange, attain, brew, broker, captain, chart, command, compass, conclude, concoct, conduct, contrive, cook, direct, engineer, exploit, fiddle, finagle, finesse, finish, fix, frame, gerrymander, handle, hatch, improv, improvise, lobby, machinate, manage, maneuver, manipulate, mastermind, negotiate, obtain, plot, quarterback, reach, renegotiate, run, scheme, shuffle, source, steer, transact, weaponize, wing, work (≠ block, blow, bobble, bomb, botch, bugger, bungle, butcher, challenge, combat, contest, drop, fight, flub, flunk, fumble, half-ass, lose, mangle, mishandle, misjudge, misread, miss, mistake, muff, oppose, -prevent, ruin, spoil, stop, stymie, -thwart, wreck)
WARD (+): anticipate, -avert, -avoid, battle, block, bulwark, check, conserve, cover, defend, deflect, -deter, divert, -dodge, -evade, fence, fight, foil, forestall, forfend, -frustrate, guard, keep, -omit, opp
ose, outlast, parry, -preclude, preserve, -prevent, protect, -rebuff, rebut, repel, resist, safeguard, save, screen, secure, shield, stymie, -thwart, withstand (≠ accept, allow, assail, assault, attack, beset, besiege, betray, blitz, bombard, encourage, expel, expose, gather, invite, meet, offend, open, overrun, -refuse, -reject, storm, welcome)
WARM (→): bake, barbecue, boil, braise, brighten, broil, burn, char, cook, fire, frizzle, fry, griddle, grill, heat, ignite, irradiate, kindle, light, melt, overheat, panfry, parboil, parch, poach, reheat, reignite, roast, sauté, scald, scorch, sear, simmer, singe, steam, stew, stoke, superheat, thaw, toast (≠ chill, cool, darken, dim, douse, drench, extinguish, freeze, frost, ice, quench, refrigerate, smother, snuff, stifle, suffocate, supercool, wet)
WARM (+): amuse, animate, appease, arouse, assuage, calm, captivate, charm, cheer, coddle, comfort, content, delight, divert, entertain, enthuse, excite, feast, galvanize, gladden, gratify, humor, indulge, interest, lull, mellow, melt, mollify, mollycoddle, pacify, pamper, placate, please, prepare, quench, rejoice, rouse, sate, satiate, satisfy, soothe, spoil, stimulate, stir, suit, thrill, tickle, titillate, treat (≠ aggravate, agitate, anger, annoy, bother, chafe, cross, depress, displease, distress, disturb, enrage, exasperate, fret, gall, harass, harry, incense, infuriate, irk, irritate, madden, nettle, nitpick, outrage, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, provoke, rankle, rile, roil, rouse, ruffle, upset, vex)