| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | blame, convict |
| Synonyms: | adjudge, belittle, blow whistle on, call down, castigate, censure, chide, come down on, criticize, damn, decry, denounce, denunciate, deprecate, depreciate, disapprove, disparage, doom, find fault with, find guilty, frame, hang something on, judge, knock, lay at one's door, let have it, name, pass sentence on, pin it on, point finger at, pronounce, proscribe, punish, put away, put down, reprehend, reproach, reprobate, reprove, send up, send up the river, sentence, skin, thumbs down on, upbraid |
| Antonyms: | absolve, acquit, approve, clear, discharge, exonerate, free, pardon, release, set free |
| Main Entry: | convict |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | find guilty |
| Synonyms: | adjudge, attaint, bring to justice, condemn, declare guilty, doom, frame, imprison, pass sentence on, pronounce guilty, put away, put the screws to, rap, send up the river, send up, sentence, throw the book at |
| Antonyms: | exonerate, free, liberate, release |
| Main Entry: | curb |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | repress, restrict |
| Synonyms: | abstain, bit, bottle up, box in, bridle, bring to screeching halt, check, clog, constrain, contain, control, cook*, cool down, cool off, deny, entrammel, fetter, hamper, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold down, hold in, ice*, impede, inhibit, keep lid on, keep tight rein on, leash, manacle, moderate, muzzle, refrain, rein in, restrain, retard, scrub, send up, shackle, subdue, suppress, tame, tie, tie up, withhold |
| Antonyms: | aid, assist, encourage, foster, help |
| Main Entry: | demoralize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | depress, unnerve |
| Synonyms: | abash, blow out, blow up, chill, cripple, damp, dampen, daunt, debilitate, deject, disarrange, disconcert, discountenance, discourage, dishearten, disorder, disorganize, disparage, dispirit, disturb, embarrass, enfeeble, get to, jumble, muddle, nonplus, psych out, rattle, sap, send up, shake, snarl, take apart, take steam out, undermine, unglue, unman, unsettle, unzip, upset, weaken |
| Antonyms: | boost, comfort, encourage, uplift |
| Main Entry: | detain |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold, keep back; arrest |
| Synonyms: | apprehend, bog down, bust, buttonhole, check, confine, constrain, decelerate, delay, hang up, hinder, hold up, ice*, impede, inhibit, intern, jail, mire, nab, pick up, pinch*, pull in, put away, reserve, restrain, retard, run in, send up, set back, slow down, slow up, withhold |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, liberate, release |
| Main Entry: | heighten |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | intensify |
| Synonyms: | add to, amplify, augment, boost, build up, elevate, enhance, enlarge, exalt, extend, improve, increase, lift, magnify, make higher, raise, send up, strengthen |
| Main Entry: | imitate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | pretend to be; do an impression of |
| Synonyms: | Xerox, act like, affect, ape, assume, be like, borrow, burlesque, carbon, caricature, clone, copy, counterfeit, ditto*, do like, do likewise, duplicate, echo, emulate, falsify, feign, follow, follow in footsteps, follow suit, forge, impersonate, look like, match, mime, mimic, mirror, mock, model after, parallel, parody, pattern after, personate, play a part, pretend, put on*, reduplicate, reflect, repeat, replicate, reproduce, resemble, send up, sham, simulate, spoof, take off, travesty |
| Notes: | emulate means to strive to equal, excel, or match by imitating; imitate means to reproduce or copy someone's behavior or looks |
| Antonyms: | be original, clash, differ, oppose, reverse |
| Main Entry: | imprison |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | confine; put in jail |
| Synonyms: | apprehend, bastille, bottle up, cage, check, circumscribe, closet, commit, constrain, curb, detain, fence in, hold, hold captive, hold hostage, hold in custody, ice*, immure, impound, incarcerate, intern, jail, keep, keep captive, keep in custody, limit, lock in, lock up, nab, occlude, pen, put away, put behind bars, rail in, remand, restrain, send to prison, send up, shut in, stockade, take prisoner, trammel |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, release |
| Main Entry: | jail |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | incarcerate |
| Synonyms: | bastille, book, cage, can*, confine, constrain, detain, hold, immure, impound, imprison, lock up, prison, put away, put behind bars, put on ice, railroad, send up, sentence, take away*, throw away the keys, throw in dungeon, throw the book at |
| Notes: | a jail is a short-term detention facility for those awaiting trial or convicted of minor offenses; a prison or penitentiary is a long-term detention facility for those convicted of major offenses |
| Antonyms: | free, liberate |