| Main Entry: | stimulate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | excite, provoke |
Synonyms: |
activate, animate, arouse, build a fire under, commove, dynamize, elate, encourage, energize, enliven, exhilarate, fan, fire, fire up, foment, foster, galvanize, get one going, get one started, goad, grab, hook, impel, incite, inflame, innervate, innerve, inspire, instigate, jazz, juice*, key up, motivate, move, perk, pique, prod, prompt, quicken, rouse, send, set up, spark, spirit, spur, steam up, stir up, support, trigger, turn on, urge, vitalize, vivify, wake up, whet, work up |
Antonyms: |
calm, depress, discourage |
| Main Entry: | accelerate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | increase speed, timing |
Synonyms: |
advance, drive, dust*, expedite, fire up, forward, further, gun*, hammer on, hasten, hurry, impel, lay a patch, lay rubber, make tracks, nail it, open up, peel rubber, precipitate, put on afterburners, put pedal to metal, quicken, railroad, rev, rev up, roll*, speed up, spur, step on gas, step up, stimulate, tool* |
Antonyms: |
decelerate, defer, hinder, impede, postpone, retard, slow down |
| Main Entry: | activate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | initiate something; start a function |
Synonyms: |
actify, actuate, arouse, call up, energize, impel, mobilize, motivate, move, prompt, propel, rouse, set in motion, start, stimulate, stir, switch on, take out of mothballs, trigger, turn on |
| Notes: | when something is activated, it is made active; when something is actuated, it is moved to take action (or produce a consequence) to actuate is a general word meaning 'to set working' and has more to do with mechanical action - while activate is used mainly in scientific expressions |
Antonyms: |
arrest, stop |
| Main Entry: | actuate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | start a function or action, motivate |
Synonyms: |
activate, animate, arouse, cause, drive, egg on, energize, excite, fire up, impel, incite, induce, influence, inspire, instigate, key up, mobilize, motivate, move, prompt, propel, put up to, quicken, rouse, spur, stimulate, turn on, work into lather, work up |
Antonyms: |
impede, stop |
| Main Entry: | agitate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | disturb, trouble someone |
Synonyms: |
alarm, argue, arouse, bug up, bug*, burn up, confuse, craze*, debate, discompose, disconcert, discuss, dispute, disquiet, distract, disturb, egg on, examine, excite, ferment, flurry, fluster, get to, incite, inflame, make flip, move, perturb, psych, push buttons, rouse, ruffle, spook, stimulate, stir, trouble, turn on, unhinge, upset, ventilate, work up, worry |
Antonyms: |
calm, not bother, quiet, soothe |
| Main Entry: | animate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | bring to life |
Synonyms: |
activate, arouse, cheer, embolden, encourage, energize, enliven, exalt, excite, fire, gladden, hearten, impel, incite, inform, inspire, inspirit, instigate, invigorate, kindle, liven, make alive, move, quicken, revive, revivify, rouse, spark, spur, stimulate, stir, urge, vitalize, vivify |
Antonyms: |
deaden, discourage, kill |
| Main Entry: | arouse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | excite, entice |
Synonyms: |
agitate, alert, animate, awaken, call, challenge, electrify, enliven, fire up, foment, foster, goad, heat up, incite, inflame, instigate, kindle, move, provoke, rally, rouse, send, spark, spur, stimulate, stir, thrill, turn on, wake up, waken, warm, whet, whip up, work up |
Antonyms: |
bore, calm, lull, quiet |
| Main Entry: | awake |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | become or make aware |
Synonyms: |
activate, alert, animate, arouse, awaken, call forth, enliven, excite, incite, kindle, provoke, revive, stimulate, stir up, vivify |
Antonyms: |
deaden, lull |
| Main Entry: | awaken |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make conscious or alert |
Synonyms: |
activate, animate, arouse, awake, call, enliven, excite, fan, incite, kindle, pile out, provoke, rally, revive, rise and shine, roll out, rouse, show a leg, stimulate, stir up, turn out, vivify, wake |
Antonyms: |
deaden, go to sleep, hypnotize |
| Main Entry: | challenge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | dispute, question |
Synonyms: |
accost, arouse, ask for, assert, beard, brave, call for, call out, claim, confront, cross, dare, defy, demand, denounce, exact, face down, face off, face the music, fly in the face of, hang in, impeach, impose, impugn, inquire, insist upon, investigate, invite competition, make a point of, make a stand, object to, provoke, query, reclaim, require, search out, stand up to, stick it out, stimulate, summon, tax, test, throw down the gauntlet, try, vindicate |
Antonyms: |
agreement, answer, decision, victory |