English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 45

adjust, a.s.sort, dispose, order, put in order, set in order, array, cla.s.sify, group, place, put in place, sort.

DO.

Synonyms:

accomplish, carry out, discharge, perform, achieve, carry through, effect, perpetrate, actualize, commit, execute, realize, bring about, complete, finish, transact, bring to pa.s.s, consummate, fulfil, work out.

_Do_ is the one comprehensive word which includes this whole cla.s.s. We may say of the least item of daily work, "It is _done_," and of the grandest human achievement, "Well _done_!" _Finish_ and _complete_ signify to bring to an end what was previously begun; there is frequently the difference in usage that _finish_ is applied to the fine details and is superficial, while _complete_ is comprehensive, being applied to the whole ideal, plan, and execution; as, to _finish_ a statue; to _complete_ a scheme of philosophy. To _discharge_ is to _do_ what is given in charge, expected, or required; as, to _discharge_ the duties of the office. To _fulfil_ is to _do_ or to be what has been promised, expected, hoped, or desired; as, a son _fulfils_ a father's hopes. _Realize_, _effect_, _execute_, and _consummate_ all signify to embody in fact what was before in thought. One may _realize_ that which he has done nothing to _bring about_; he may _realize_ the dreams of youth by inheriting a fortune; but he can not _effect_ his early designs except by _doing_ the utmost that is necessary to make them fact.

_Effect_ includes all that is _done_ to _accomplish_ the intent; _execute_ refers rather to the final steps; _consummate_ is limited quite sharply to the concluding act. An officer _executes_ the law when he proceeds against its violators; a purchase is _consummated_ when the money is paid and the property delivered. _Execute_ refers more commonly to the commands of another, _effect_ and _consummate_ to one's own designs; as, the commander _effected_ the capture of the fort, because his officers and men promptly _executed_ his commands. _Achieve_--to _do_ something worthy of a chief--signifies always to _perform_ some great and generally some worthy exploit. _Perform_ and _accomplish_ both imply working toward the end; but _perform_ always allows a possibility of not attaining, while _accomplish_ carries the thought of full completion. In Longfellow's lines, "Patience; _accomplish_ thy labor,"

etc., _perform_ could not be subst.i.tuted without great loss. As between _complete_ and _accomplish_, _complete_ considers rather the thing as _done_; _accomplish_, the whole process of doing it. _Commit_, as applied to actions, is used only of those that are bad, whether grave or trivial; _perpetrate_ is used chiefly of aggravated crimes or, somewhat humorously, of blunders. A man may _commit_ a sin, a trespa.s.s, or a murder; _perpetrate_ an outrage or a felony. We _finish_ a garment or a letter, _complete_ an edifice or a life-work, _consummate_ a bargain or a crime, _discharge_ a duty, _effect_ a purpose, _execute_ a command, _fulfil_ a promise, _perform_ our daily tasks, _realize_ an ideal, _accomplish_ a design, _achieve_ a victory. Compare TRANSACT; TRANSACTION.

Antonyms:

baffle, defeat, fail, mar, miss, ruin, come short, destroy, frustrate, miscarry, neglect, spoil.

DOCILE.

Synonyms:

amenable, manageable, pliant, teachable, compliant, obedient, submissive, tractable, gentle, pliable, tame, yielding.

One who is _docile_ is easily taught; one who is _tractable_ is easily led; one who is _pliant_ is easily bent in any direction; _compliant_ represents one as inclined or persuaded to agreement with another's will. Compare DUTY.

Antonyms:

determined, inflexible, opinionated, self-willed, wilful, dogged, intractable, resolute, stubborn, unyielding.

firm, obstinate,

DOCTRINE.

Synonyms:

article of belief, belief, precept, teaching, article of faith, dogma, principle, tenet.

_Doctrine_ primarily signifies that which is taught; _principle_, the fundamental basis on which the _teaching_ rests. A _doctrine_ is reasoned out, and may be defended by reasoning; a _dogma_ rests on authority, as of direct revelation, the decision of the church, etc. A _doctrine_ or _dogma_ is a statement of some one item of _belief_; a _creed_ is a summary of _doctrines_ or _dogmas_. _Dogma_ has commonly, at the present day, an offensive signification, as of a _belief_ arrogantly a.s.serted. _Tenet_ is simply that which is held, and is applied to a single item of _belief_; it is a neutral word, neither approving nor condemning; we speak of the _doctrines_ of our own church; of the _tenets_ of others. A _precept_ relates not to _belief_, but to conduct. Compare FAITH; LAW.

DOGMATIC.

Synonyms:

arrogant, doctrinal, magisterial, positive, authoritative, domineering, opinionated, self-opinionated, dictatorial, imperious, overbearing, systematic.

_Dogmatic_ is technically applied in a good sense to that which is formally enunciated by adequate authority; _doctrinal_ to that which is stated in the form of doctrine to be taught or defended. _Dogmatic_ theology, called also "dogmatics," gives definite propositions, which it holds to be delivered by authority; _systematic_ theology considers the same propositions in their logical connection and order as parts of a system; a _doctrinal_ statement is less absolute in its claims than a _dogmatic_ treatise, and may be more partial than the term _systematic_ would imply. Outside of theology, _dogmatic_ has generally an offensive sense; a _dogmatic_ statement is one for which the author does not trouble himself to give a reason, either because of the strength of his convictions, or because of his contempt for those whom he addresses; thus _dogmatic_ is, in common use, allied with _arrogant_ and kindred words.

DOUBT, _v._

Synonyms:

distrust, mistrust, surmise, suspect.

To _doubt_ is to lack conviction. Incompleteness of evidence may compel one to _doubt_, or some perverse bias of mind may incline him to.

_Distrust_ may express simply a lack of confidence; as, I _distrust_ my own judgment; or it may be nearly equivalent to _suspect_; as, I _distrusted_ that man from the start. _Mistrust_ and _suspect_ imply that one is almost a.s.sured of positive evil; one may _distrust_ himself or others; he _suspects_ others. _Mistrust_ is now rarely, if ever, used of persons, but only of motives, intentions, etc. _Distrust_ is always serious; _mistrust_ is often used playfully. Compare SUPPOSE. Compare synonyms for DOUBT, _n._

Antonyms:

believe, depend on, depend upon, rely on, rely upon, trust.

confide in,

DOUBT, _n._

Synonyms:

disbelief, incredulity, perplexity, suspense, distrust, indecision, question, suspicion, hesitancy, irresolution, scruple, unbelief, hesitation, misgiving, skepticism, uncertainty.

_Doubt_ is a lack of conviction that may refer either to matters of belief or to matters of practise. As regards belief, while _doubt_ is lack of conviction, _disbelief_ is conviction, to the contrary; _unbelief_ refers to a settled state of mind, generally accompanied with opposition of heart. _Perplexity_ is active and painful; _doubt_ may be quiescent. _Perplexity_ presses toward a solution; _doubt_ may be content to linger unresolved. Any improbable statement awakens _incredulity_. In theological usage _unbelief_ and _skepticism_ have a condemnatory force, as implying wilful rejection of manifest truth. As regards practical matters, _uncertainty_ applies to the unknown or undecided; _doubt_ implies some negative evidence. _Suspense_ regards the future, and is eager and anxious; _uncertainty_ may relate to any period, and be quite indifferent. _Misgiving_ is ordinarily in regard to the outcome of something already done or decided; _hesitation_, _indecision_, and _irresolution_ have reference to something that remains to be decided or done, and are due oftener to infirmity of will than to lack of knowledge. _Distrust_ and _suspicion_ apply especially to the motives, character, etc., of others, and are more decidedly adverse than _doubt_. _Scruple_ relates to matters of conscience and duty.

Antonyms:

a.s.surance, certainty, conviction, determination, resolution, belief, confidence, decision, persuasion, resolve.

DRAW.

Synonyms: