English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 2

ABET.

Synonyms:

advocate, countenance, incite, sanction, aid, embolden, instigate, support, a.s.sist, encourage, promote, uphold.

_Abet_ and _instigate_ are now used almost without exception in a bad sense; one may _incite_ either to good or evil. One _incites_ or _instigates_ to the doing of something not yet done, or to increased activity or further advance in the doing of it; one _abets_ by giving sympathy, countenance, or substantial aid to the doing of that which is already projected or in process of commission. _Abet_ and _instigate_ apply either to persons or actions, _incite_ to persons only; one _incites_ a person _to_ an action. A clergyman will _advocate_ the claims of justice, _aid_ the poor, _encourage_ the despondent, _support_ the weak, _uphold_ the const.i.tuted authorities; but he will not _incite_ to a quarrel, _instigate_ a riot, or _abet_ a crime. The originator of a crime often _instigates_ or _incites_ others to _abet_ him in it, or one may _instigate_ or _incite_ others to a crime in the commission of which he himself takes no active part. Compare HELP.

Antonyms:

baffle, deter, dissuade, hinder, confound, disapprove, expose, impede, counteract, disconcert, frustrate, obstruct.

denounce, discourage,

ABHOR.

Synonyms:

abominate, dislike, loathe, scorn, despise, hate, nauseate, shun.

detest,

_Abhor_ is stronger than _despise_, implying a shuddering recoil, especially a moral recoil. "How many _shun_ evil as inconvenient who do not _abhor_ it as hateful." TRENCH _Serm. in Westm. Abbey_ xxvi, 297.

[M.] _Detest_ expresses indignation, with something of contempt.

_Loathe_ implies disgust, physical or moral. We _abhor_ a traitor, _despise_ a coward, _detest_ a liar. We _dislike_ an uncivil person. We _abhor_ cruelty, _hate_ tyranny. We _loathe_ a reptile or a flatterer.

We _abhor_ Milton's heroic Satan, but we can not _despise_ him.

Antonyms:

admire, crave, esteem, love, approve, desire, like, relish.

covet, enjoy,

ABIDE.

Synonyms:

antic.i.p.ate, dwell, remain, stop, await, endure, reside, tarry, bear, expect, rest, tolerate, bide, inhabit, sojourn, wait, confront, live, stay, watch.

continue, lodge,

To _abide_ is to remain continuously without limit of time unless expressed by the context: "to-day I must _abide_ at thy house," _Luke_ xix, 5; "a settled place for thee to _abide_ in forever," _1 Kings_ viii, 13; "_Abide_ with me! fast falls the eventide," LYTE _Hymn_.

_Lodge_, _sojourn_, _stay_, _tarry_, and _wait_ always imply a limited time; _lodge_, to pa.s.s the night; _sojourn_, to _remain_ temporarily; _live_, _dwell_, _reside_, to have a permanent home. _Stop_, in the sense of _stay_ or _sojourn_, is colloquial, and not in approved use.

Compare ENDURE; REST.

Antonyms:

abandon, forfeit, migrate, reject, avoid, forfend, move, resist, depart, journey, proceed, shun.

Prepositions:

Abide _in_ a place, _for_ a time, _with_ a person, _by_ a statement.

ABOLISH.

Synonyms:

abate, eradicate, prohibit, stamp out, abrogate, exterminate, remove, subvert, annihilate, extirpate, repeal, supplant, annul, nullify, reverse, suppress, destroy, obliterate, revoke, terminate.

end, overthrow, set aside,

_Abolish_, to do away with, bring absolutely to an end, especially as something hostile, hindering, or harmful, was formerly used of persons and material objects, a usage now obsolete except in poetry or highly figurative speech. _Abolish_ is now used of inst.i.tutions, customs, and conditions, especially those wide-spread and long existing; as, to _abolish_ slavery, ignorance, intemperance, poverty. A building that is burned to the ground is said to be _destroyed_ by fire. _Annihilate_, as a philosophical term, signifies to put absolutely out of existence. As far as our knowledge goes, matter is never _annihilated_, but only changes its form. Some believe that the wicked will be _annihilated_.

_Abolish_ is not said of laws. There we use _repeal_, _abrogate_, _nullify_, etc.: _repeal_ by the enacting body, _nullify_ by revolutionary proceedings; a later statute _abrogates_, without formally _repealing_, any earlier law with which it conflicts. An appellate court may _reverse_ or _set aside_ the decision of an inferior court.

_Overthrow_ may be used in either a good or a bad sense; _suppress_ is commonly in a good, _subvert_ always in a bad sense; as, to _subvert_ our liberties; to _suppress_ a rebellion. The law _prohibits_ what may never have existed; it _abolishes_ an existing evil. We _abate_ a nuisance, _terminate_ a controversy. Compare CANCEL; DEMOLISH; EXTERMINATE.

Antonyms:

authorize, establish, reinstate, revive, cherish, inst.i.tute, renew, set up, confirm, introduce, repair, support, continue, legalize, restore, sustain.

enact, promote,

ABOMINATION.

Synonyms:

abhorrence, curse, hatred, plague, abuse, detestation, horror, shame, annoyance, disgust, iniquity, villainy, aversion, evil, nuisance, wickedness.

crime, execration, offense,

_Abomination_ (from the L. _ab omen_, a thing of ill omen) was originally applied to anything held in religious or ceremonial _aversion_ or _abhorrence_; as, "The things which are highly esteemed among men are _abomination_ in the sight of G.o.d." _Luke_ xvi, 15. The word is oftener applied to the object of such _aversion_ or _abhorrence_ than to the state of mind that so regards it; in common use _abomination_ signifies something very much disliked or loathed, or that deserves to be. Choice food may be an object of _aversion_ and _disgust_ to a sick person; vile food would be an _abomination_. A toad is to many an object of _disgust_; a foul sewer is an _abomination_. As applied to crimes, _abomination_ is used of such as are especially brutal, shameful, or revolting; theft is an _offense_; infanticide is an _abomination_.

Antonyms:

affection, blessing, enjoyment, joy, appreciation, delight, esteem, satisfaction, approval, desire, gratification, treat.

benefit,