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| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | improve, embellish |
| Synonyms: | add to, adorn, aggrandize, amplify, appreciate, augment, beautify, boom, boost, build up, complement, elevate, embroider, enlarge, exaggerate, exalt, flesh out, heighten, increase, intensify, lift, magnify, pad, pyramid, raise, reinforce, strengthen, swell, upgrade |
| Antonyms: | decrease, fix, lower, minimize, reduce, worsen |
| Main Entry: | aggravate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cause to become worse |
| Synonyms: | complicate, deepen, enhance, exacerbate, exaggerate, heighten, increase, inflame, intensify, magnify, mount, rise, rouse, worsen |
| Notes: | to aggravate is to make something worse, while to exacerbate is to increase something's bitterness or harshness aggravate means 'to add to' an already troublesome or vexing matter or condition while irritate means 'to vex, annoy, or chafe' irritate means 'inflame' (originally 'excite, rouse'); aggravate means 'worsen' |
| Antonyms: | alleviate, help, improve, relieve, soothe |
| Main Entry: | amend |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | improve, correct |
| Synonyms: | alter, ameliorate, better, change, elevate, enhance, fix, help, lift, make up for, mend, modify, pay one's dues, raise, rectify, reform, remedy, repair, revise, right, square* |
| Notes: | when you amend a text, you change it - usually for the better and when you emend a text, you simply correct the mistakes; whereas one can amend various aspects of conduct or behavior, emend is used if the issue at hand is that of a manuscript, speech, or literary product |
| Antonyms: | blemish, corrupt, debase, depress, harm, impair, injure, mar, reduce, subtract, worsen |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | appreciate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | increase in worth |
| Synonyms: | enhance, gain, grow, improve, inflate, raise the value of, rise |
| Notes: | the use of 'appreciate' should involve valuing something or understanding it sympathetically, and when there is no value or sympathy, use 'recognize' or 'understand'; appreciate first meant 'set at a price; appraised' |
| Antonyms: | decrease, depreciate, lose value |
| Main Entry: | augment |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make greater; improve |
| Synonyms: | add to, aggrandize, amplify, beef up, boost, build, build up, compound, develop, enhance, enlarge, expand, extend, grow, heighten, increase, inflate, intensify, magnify, mount, multiply, pad, piggyback, progress, raise, reinforce, strengthen, sweeten, swell, tag on |
| Notes: | augment means to add more of the same thing; supplement means to add something, usually to make up for a deficiency |
| Antonyms: | decrease, degrade |
| Main Entry: | beautify |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make more physically attractive |
| Synonyms: | adorn, array, bedeck, deck, decorate, dress up, embellish, enhance, garnish, gild, glamorize, grace, improve, make up, ornament, prettify, set off, trim |
| Antonyms: | disfigure, harm, injure, mar, spoil |
| Main Entry: | better |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | improve performance; outdo |
| Synonyms: | advance, ameliorate, amend, beat, best, cap, correct, enhance, exceed, excel, forward, further, help, meliorate, mend, outshine, outstrip, promote, raise, rectify, refine, reform, revamp, surpass, top, transcend |
| Notes: | better is greater in excellence or higher in quality; more useful; more highly skilled; healthier than before - while bettor is someone who bets |
| Antonyms: | deteriorate, get worse, worsen |
| Main Entry: | boom |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | prosper |
| Synonyms: | appreciate, bloom, develop, enhance, expand, flourish, flower, gain, grow, increase, intensify, rise in value, spurt, strengthen, succeed, swell, thrive |
| Antonyms: | collapse, fail, falter, lose |
| Main Entry: | build up |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | amplify, advertise |
| Synonyms: | add to, boost, develop, enhance, expand, extend, fortify, heighten, hype, improve, increase, intensify, plug*, promote, publicize, puff, reinforce, spotlight, strengthen |
| Antonyms: | lessen, let down, play down, weaken |
* = informal/non-formal usage
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
