| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | enlarge, intensify |
| Synonyms: | aggrandize, aggravate, amplify, augment, bless, blow up, boost, build up, deepen, dignify, dilate, distend, enhance, ennoble, eulogize, exalt, expand, extend, glorify, heighten, hike, hike up, increase, inflate, intensate, jack up, jump up, mount, multiply, pad, pyramid, redouble, rise, rouse, run up, step up, sweeten, swell |
| Antonyms: | decrease, diminish, lessen, miniaturize, weaken |
| Main Entry: | advance |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | increase in amount, number, or position |
| Synonyms: | boost, break the bank, develop, elevate, enlarge, get fat, get rich, grade, grow, hit pay dirt, hit the jackpot, improve, magnify, make a killing, make out, multiply, pan out, prefer, prosper, raise, strike gold, strike it rich, thrive, up, upgrade, uplift |
| Notes: | advance means 'steady progress' and stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end, while advancement suggests progression that is bigger, more, or beyond normal |
| Antonyms: | decrease, take back, withdraw |
| Main Entry: | aggrandize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cause something to seem or be greater, bigger |
| Synonyms: | acclaim, applaud, augment, beef up, boost, commend, dignify, distinguish, enlarge, ennoble, expand, extend, glorify, heighten, hike, hike up, honor, hype, increase, intensify, jack up, jump, magnify, multiply, parlay, praise |
| Antonyms: | belittle, debase, degrade, depress, disgrace, humble, lower |
| 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: | amplify |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | increase in size or effect |
| Synonyms: | add, augment, beef up, boost, build up, deepen, develop, elaborate, enlarge, exaggerate, expand, expatiate, extend, flesh out, heighten, hike up, inflate, intensify, jack up, lengthen, magnify, pad, pyramid, raise, soup up, strengthen, stretch, supplement, swell, up, widen |
| Antonyms: | abridge, compress, condense, contract, curtail, decrease, lessen, reduce, shorten, summarize |
| Main Entry: | applaud |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | clap for; express approval |
| Synonyms: | acclaim, approve, boost, cheer, commend, compliment, encourage, eulogize, extol, give a hand, give ovation, glorify, hail, hear it for, kudize, laud, magnify, plug, praise, rave, recommend, root* |
| Antonyms: | keep silent |
| 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: | bless |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | sanctify |
| Synonyms: | absolve, anoint, baptize, beatify, canonize, commend, confirm, consecrate, cross, dedicate, enshrine, eulogize, exalt, extol, give thanks to, glorify, hallow, honor, invoke benefits, invoke happiness, laud, magnify, make holy, offer, offer benediction, ordain, panegyrize, praise, pray for, pronounce holy, sacrifice, sign, sprinkle, thank |
| Antonyms: | condemn, curse, damn |
| Main Entry: | bless |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | grant, bestow |
| Synonyms: | celebrate, endow, favor, give, glorify, grace, laud, magnify, praise, provide |
| Antonyms: | deny, disallow, disapprove, refuse, veto |