blow off

insult offend persecute revile

backbite bash belittle berate calumniate cap castigate decry defame derogate discount knock minimize nag oppress reproach ride scold signify slam slap smear sound trash upbraid vilify vituperate zing

bad-mouth cuss out cut down cut to the quick do a number on dump on give a black eye hurl brickbat pick on put down rag on rip up run down sling mud swear at tear apart

compliment

approve exalt flatter laud praise

acclaim adulate benefit care for cherish commend defend esteem help honor preserve prize protect respect revere treasure

abandon break off cease give up halt interrupt quit suspend terminate

close desist disconnect disjoin dissever disunite drop end finish interpose intervene kill part pause scrub separate stop

bag it call it quits give over knock off leave off put an end to refrain from surcease

begin complete continue go initiate start

bear commence connect create give birth join restart unite

carry on retry

carp grumble moan murmur mutter nag squawk

bellyache crab fuss groan grouch grouse kvetch whine yammer yawp

take on

compliment praise speak clearly

please soothe

blacken blemish blister blot brand calumniate cap chop defame denigrate detract discredit disgrace insinuate libel malign miff offend push reproach roast scorch slander slight smear snub spatter stain traduce vilify zing

cut to the quick cut up dump on give a black eye hit where one lives kick in the teeth put down skin alive slap in the face tear down

approve beautify commend compliment conceal exalt flatter hide honor please praise

enunciate pronounce

break cease close drop end halt hold kill pause put an end to quit stall stand stay

conclude desist discontinue finish refrain scrub tarry terminate

be over break off call it a day cold turkey come to a standstill cool it cut out cut short draw up hang it up pull up quit cold run its course shut down sign off wind up wrap up

advance allow begin commence continue do go initiate release start

carry on introduce restart

encourage

apex climax completion pinnacle

acme apogee consummation crown finale finish height limit maximum meridian noon payoff peak perfection summit top zenith

all the way capper critical mass crowning touch ne plus ultra punch line

anticlimax nadir

base beginning bottom introduction start

commencement opening

climax conclusion denouement

afterpiece cessation chaser close closer consummation culmination end epilogue finis finish payoff peroration summation termination wind-up

crowning glory end piece last act swan song

beginning commencement initiation introduction opening start

debut first act