Definitions

make waves

VERB

annoy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate bore bother displease disturb exasperate fire up gall irk peeve perturb rile trouble turn off vex worry

STRONG

abrade badger bedevil beleaguer break bug chafe distress get gnaw harass harry madden miff nag needle nettle nudge pester plague provoke ride ruffle tease

WEAK

T-off ask for it be at be on the back of burn up egg on heat up henpeck hit where one lives push button tick off work on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid appease assist calm charm cheer comfort delight enchant help make happy please quiet reassure soothe

STRONG

mollify support

WEAK

gratify

VERB

complicate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

convolute impede involve muddle obscure perplex upset

STRONG

bedevil clog combine confound derange disarrange disorder elaborate embroil entangle fold interrelate interweave jumble multiply ravel snafu snag tangle twist

WEAK

add fuel to fire foul up infold interfuse make intricate mix up muck up open can of worms render unintelligible screw up snarl up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clear up enlighten explain order

STRONG

arrange clarify divide exclude free straighten uncomplicate untangle untwist

WEAK

disentangle ease facilitate make simple

VERB

effect

Synonyms

STRONGEST

achieve bring about enact enforce implement realize

STRONG

actualize actuate begin buy cause complete conceive conclude consummate create effectuate execute follow through fulfill generate induce initiate invoke make perform procure produce render secure sell unzip yield

WEAK

bring off bring on carry through do a number do one's thing do the job do the trick do to a T draw on get across get to give rise to make it pull it off put across turn out turn the trick

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fail halt hinder lose neglect stop

STRONG

close deny destroy disallow discourage end finish forget give up ignore miss prevent refuse ruin veto

WEAK

overlook

VERB

exasperate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate annoy disturb embitter enrage excite gall incense infuriate irk irritate peeve rankle rile vex

STRONG

aggravate anger bug exacerbate get inflame madden needle nettle pique roil rouse

WEAK

T-off drive up the wall get under one's skin try the patience of work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid appease assist calm comfort compose delight help lull make happy pacify please quiet soothe tranquilize

STRONG

alleviate gladden mollify

WEAK

ease placate

VERB

fluster

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate bewilder confound confuse discombobulate distract muddle mystify nonplus perplex unhinge

STRONG

addle bother craze discompose disquiet disturb excite flip flurry frustrate fuddle hassle heat hurry puzzle rattle ruffle spook

WEAK

get to make nervous psych stir up throw off balance work up

Antonyms

STRONG

calm comfort compose help pacify quiet soothe

WEAK

settle

VERB

instigate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abet bring about foment incite inflame initiate kindle plot prompt spur whip up

STRONG

actuate encourage goad hint impel insinuate move needle persuade plan raise rouse scheme start stimulate suggest urge

WEAK

add fuel egg on fire up put up to rabble-rouse set on steam up stir up turn on work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deter discourage dissuade halt neglect put out stop

STRONG

calm conclude depress finish ignore repress suppress

WEAK

prevent

VERB

irk

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annoy bother disturb gall inconvenience irritate peeve provoke rile vex

STRONG

abrade bug discommode eat fret harass incommode miff nettle rasp ruffle trouble

WEAK

get on nerves get to give a hard time put out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist calm delight help make happy please soothe

STRONG

appease mollify

VERB

perturb

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate alarm annoy bewilder confound confuse disconcert dismay disturb fluster irritate muddle perplex vex

STRONG

bother bug disarrange discompose discountenance disorder disquiet flurry needle pester ruffle trouble worry

WEAK

make a scene stir up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist assure calm clarify clear up comfort enlighten explain help make happy order organize please quiet reassure soothe

VERB

pique

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annoy arouse displease excite gall galvanize ignite incense irk irritate kindle offend rile stimulate whet

STRONG

absorb affront bother bug exasperate get goad goose grab miff mortify motivate move nettle peeve prick quicken rouse spur sting stir vex wound

WEAK

egg on fire up get a rise out of get under skin give a hard time give the business put out work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid calm compose delight extinguish lull make happy please quiet soothe

STRONG

appease compliment dissuade help misunderstand mollify placate satisfy

VERB

provoke

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate anger enrage foment incite inflame infuriate irk irritate offend raise

STRONG

abet abrade affront annoy bother bug chafe exasperate exercise fret gall get grate incense insult madden nag perturb pique rile roil ruffle set upset vex

WEAK

get on one's nerves get under one's skin hit where one lives make blood boil put out set on try one's patience whip up work into lather work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

alleviate appease calm delight discourage help make happy pacify placate please soothe stop

STRONG

aid assuage comfort compliment dissuade fail gratify hinder ignore lose

WEAK

end halt prevent

VERB

rebel

Synonyms

STRONGEST

defy overthrow renounce resist revolt secede take up arms

STRONG

boycott censure combat criticize denounce disobey dissent fight mutiny oppose overturn remonstrate riot strike upset

WEAK

be insubordinate break with come out against drop out get out of line insurrect opt out rise up rock the boat run amok turn against

Antonyms

STRONGEST

comply give in obey surrender yield

STRONG

agree approve compliment endorse laud lose make peace praise sanction support

VERB

revolt

Synonyms

STRONGEST

defy mutiny overthrow take up arms

STRONG

arise boycott break defect oppose overturn renounce resist riot strike

WEAK

drop out get out of line insurrect opt out rock the boat turn against

Antonyms

STRONGEST

give in obey surrender yield

STRONG

allow comply join support

WEAK

delight harmonize make happy please submit

VERB

rock the boat

Synonyms

WEAK

cause trouble challenge the status quo complain disagree disturb disturb the balance make a stink not conform object protest stir things up upset the apple cart

VERB

rouse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate arouse awaken disturb fire up galvanize heighten incite inflame kindle provoke rile startle stir trigger wake up whip up work up

STRONG

aggravate anger animate bestir bug challenge craze deepen enhance enliven exhilarate foment innervate instigate intensify magnify mount move needle pique quicken rally redouble rise urge vivify wake waken whet

WEAK

ask for it get going innerve intensate key up pep up steam up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

appease calm comfort deter discourage dissuade halt lull make happy pacify please put out quiet soothe stop tranquilize

STRONG

dampen decline decrease dishearten drop dull fall fix lessen lower regress slow slump soften weaken

WEAK

disenchant nap sleep

VERB

shake

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disturb frighten horrify intimidate rattle throw undermine unnerve unsettle upset weaken worry

STRONG

bother consternate daunt discompose dismay distress impair jar move unstring

WEAK

knock the props out (from under) throw a curve

Antonyms

STRONGEST

appease calm comfort delight encourage help make happy please reassure soothe

STRONG

aid

WEAK

placate

VERB

stir

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affect arouse energize galvanize inflame inspire kindle prompt provoke raise rouse spark spur touch trigger whip up

STRONG

abet actuate agitate animate awaken bestir challenge craze drive electrify excite foment impel motivate move quicken rally rile rout set spook thrill urge vitalize wake waken whet

WEAK

add fuel to fire feed the fire psych roust stir embers stir up switch on work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm depress discourage disenchant dissuade halt prevent stop

STRONG

bore dampen deaden dishearten dull hinder impede lull quiet repress retard slow tranquilize weaken

WEAK

laze leave alone rest wait

VERB

trouble

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afflict agitate annoy burden concern disconcert disturb irk irritate perplex perturb plague sadden strain torment upset vex

STRONG

ail bug discommode discompose disoblige disquiet distress fret grieve harass harry inconvenience pain pester spook stress try

WEAK

burn up drive up the wall flip out get to give a bad time give a hard time impose on make a fuss make a scene psych put out stir up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist calm comfort delight help make happy order please quiet soothe

STRONG

support

WEAK

be content be happy

VERB

undo

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish annul destroy mar negate offset overturn quash reverse ruin shatter spoil subvert undermine wipe out wreck

STRONG

abate abrogate annihilate break cancel cramp craze crimp decimate defeat demolish have impoverish injure neutralize outfox outmaneuver outsmart overreach overthrow raze skin smash stymie unsettle upset vitiate wrack

WEAK

bring down bring to naught screw up unbuild

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid allow assist build construct create grow help permit repair restore support uphold

STRONG

approve balance encourage establish fix mend revive save

WEAK

validate

VERB

upset

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate bewilder dismay distract disturb perturb unnerve unsettle

STRONG

afflict ail bug confound cramp craze debilitate derange discombobulate discompose disconcert disquiet distress flip floor flurry fluster grieve incapacitate indispose pother rattle ruffle sicken spook turn unhinge

WEAK

egg on fire up flip out get to give a hard time key up lay up make a scene pick on psych rock the boat stir up throw off balance turn on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm encourage explain quiet soothe

STRONG

aid allow assist clear up comfort cure help mend please settle

WEAK

delight make happy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But clips from the show often make waves on social media, and have a way of changing how the tech crowd thinks about the issues of the day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

That set off days of intensive efforts using boats to make waves, then excavators to dig up sand and free the whale, as fears grew for its life.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

In a performance that could make waves during awards season, Fiennes' character goes on manoeuvres as he attempts to shape the outcome of the race.

From BBC • Oct. 11, 2024

Ali Abbasi’s controversial Trump biopic “The Apprentice,” which continued to make waves at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month, will also screen ahead of its release nationwide on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2024

He didn’t like to make waves because, he told himself, he’d already made waves by being who he was: Not black.

From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau

make waves

Example Sentences

Related Words