| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | support idea or cause publicly |
| Synonyms: | advance, advise, argue for, back, be in corner, bless, bolster, boost*, brace up, build up, campaign for, champion, countenance, defend, encourage, favor, further, get on bandwagon, give a leg up, give a lift, go for, go to bat for, go with, hold with, justify, plead for, plug*, plump for, press for, promote, propose, push, recommend, ride shotgun for, root for, run interference for, say so, side, speak for, spread around, stump for, support, tout, uphold, urge, vindicate |
| Antonyms: | assail, attack, criticize, impugn, oppose, protest |
| Main Entry: | ease |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | alleviate, help |
| Synonyms: | abate, aid, allay, ameliorate, anesthetize, appease, assist, assuage, attend to, calm, cheer, clear the way, comfort, cure, disburden, disengage, doctor, expedite, facilitate, forward, free, further, improve, lessen, let up on, lift, lighten, make easier, meliorate, mitigate, moderate, mollify, nurse, open the door, pacify, palliate, promote, quiet, relax, release, relent, relieve, run interference for, simplify, slacken, smooth, soften, soothe, speed, speed up, still, tranquilize, untighten |
| Antonyms: | annoy, increase, irritate, perplex, vex, worsen |
| Main Entry: | facilitate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | assist the progress of |
| Synonyms: | aid, ease, expedite, forward, further, grease the wheels, hand-carry, help, make easy, open doors, promote, run interference for, simplify, smooth, speed, speed up, walk through |
| Antonyms: | block, check, delay, detain, hinder, prohibit, stop |
| Main Entry: | untighten |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | ease |
| Synonyms: | abate, aid, allay, ameliorate, anesthetize, appease, assist, assuage, attend to, calm, cheer, clear the way, comfort, cure, disburden, disengage, doctor*, expedite, facilitate, forward, free, further, improve, lessen, let up, let up on, lift, lighten, loose*, loosen, make easier, meliorate, mitigate, moderate, mollify, nurse, open the door, pacify, palliate, promote, quiet, relax, release, relent, relieve, run interference for, simplify, slack, slacken, smooth*, soften*, soothe, speed, speed up, still, tranquilize |