English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 67

INFLUENCE.

Synonyms:

actuate, draw, impel, induce, move, stir, compel, drive, incite, instigate, persuade, sway, dispose, excite, incline, lead, prompt, urge.

To _influence_ (L. _in_, in or into, and _fluo_, flow) is to affect, modify, or act upon by physical, mental, or moral power, especially in some gentle, subtle, and gradual way; as, vegetation is _influenced_ by light; every one is _influenced_ to some extent by public opinion; _influence_ is chiefly used of power acting from without, tho it may be used of motives regarded as forces acting upon the will. _Actuate_ refers solely to mental or moral power _impelling_ one from within. One may _influence_, but can not directly _actuate_ another; but one may be _actuated_ to cruelty by hatred which another's misrepresentation has aroused. _Prompt_ and _stir_ are words of mere suggestion toward some course of action; _dispose_, _draw_, _incline_, _influence_, and _lead_ refer to the use of mild means to awaken in another a purpose or disposition to act. To _excite_ is to arouse one from lethargy or indifference to action. _Incite_ and _instigate_, to spur or goad one to action, differ in the fact that _incite_ may be to good, while _instigate_ is always to evil (compare ABET). To _urge_ and _impel_ signify to produce strong excitation toward some act. We are _urged_ from without, _impelled_ from within. _Drive_ and _compel_ imply irresistible influence accomplis.h.i.+ng its object. One may be _driven_ either by his own pa.s.sions or by external force or urgency; one is _compelled_ only by some external power; as, the owner was _compelled_ by his misfortunes to sell his estate. Compare COMPEL; DRIVE.

Antonyms:

deter, dissuade, impede, prevent, restrain, r.e.t.a.r.d.

discourage, hinder, inhibit,

Prepositions:

Actuated _to_ crime _by_ revenge.

INHERENT.

Synonyms:

congenital, indispensable, innate, native, essential, indwelling, inseparable, natural, immanent, infixed, internal, subjective.

inborn, ingrained, intrinsic, inbred, inhering, inwrought,

_Inherent_ signifies permanently united as an element or original quality, naturally existent or incorporated in something so as to have become an integral part. _Immanent_ is a philosophic word, to denote that which dwells in or pervades any substance or spirit without necessarily being a part of it, and without reference to any working out (compare SUBJECTIVE). That which is _inherent_ is an _inseparable_ part of that in which it inheres, and is usually thought of with reference to some outworking or effect; as, an _inherent_ difficulty. G.o.d is said to be _immanent_ (not _inherent_) in the universe. Frequently _intrinsic_ and _inherent_ can be interchanged, but _inherent_ applies to qualities, while _intrinsic_ applies to essence, so that to speak of _intrinsic_ excellence conveys higher praise than if we say _inherent_ excellence.

_Inherent_ and _intrinsic_ may be said of persons or things; _congenital_, _inborn_, _inbred_, _innate_, apply to living beings.

_Congenital_ is frequent in medical and legal use with special application to defects; as, _congenital_ idiocy. _Innate_ and _inborn_ are almost identical, but _innate_ is preferred in philosophic use, as when we speak of _innate_ ideas; that which is _inborn_, _congenital_, or _innate_ may be original with the individual, but that which is _inbred_ is inherited. _Ingrained_ signifies dyed in the grain, and denotes that which is deeply wrought into substance or character.

Antonyms:

accidental, extrinsic, outward, superficial, supplemental, casual, fortuitous, subsidiary, superfluous, transient, external, incidental, superadded, superimposed, unconnected.

INJURY.

Synonyms:

blemish, disadvantage, hurt, loss, prejudice, damage, evil, impairment, mischief, wrong.

detriment, harm, injustice, outrage,

_Injury_ (L. _in_, not, and _jus, juris_, right, law) signifies primarily something done contrary to law or right; hence, something contrary to some standard of right or good; whatever reduces the value, utility, beauty, or desirableness of anything is an _injury_ to that thing; of persons, whatever is so done as to operate adversely to one in his person, rights, property, or reputation is an _injury_; the word is especially used of whatever mars the integrity of the body or causes pain; as, when rescued from the wreck his _injuries_ were found to be very slight. _Injury_ is the general term including all the rest.

_Damage_ (L. _d.a.m.num_, loss) is that which occasions _loss_ to the possessor; hence, any impairment of value, often with the suggestion of fault on the part of the one causing it; _damage_ reduces value, utility, or beauty; _detriment_ (L. _deterere_, to rub or wear away) is similar in meaning, but far milder. _Detriment_ may affect value only; _damage_ always affects real worth or utility; as a rule, the slightest use of an article by a purchaser operates to its _detriment_ if again offered for sale, tho the article may have received not the slightest _damage_. _Damage_ is partial; _loss_ is properly absolute as far as it is predicated at all; the _loss_ of a s.h.i.+p implies that it is gone beyond recovery; the _loss_ of the rudder is a _damage_ to the s.h.i.+p; but since the _loss_ of a part still leaves a part, we may speak of a partial or a total _loss_. _Evil_ commonly suggests suffering or sin, or both; as, the _evils_ of poverty, the social _evil_. _Harm_ is closely synonymous with _injury_; it may apply to body, mind, or estate, but always affects real worth, while _injury_ may concern only estimated value. A _hurt_ is an _injury_ that causes pain, physical or mental; a slight _hurt_ may be no real _harm_. _Mischief_ is disarrangement, trouble, or _harm_ usually caused by some voluntary agent, with or without injurious intent; a child's thoughtless sport may do great _mischief_; _wrong_ is _harm_ done with _evil_ intent. An _outrage_ combines insult and _injury_. Compare synonyms for BLEMISH; CRIMINAL; INJUSTICE.

Antonyms:

advantage, benefit, boon, improvement, service, amelioration, blessing, help, remedy, utility.

Prepositions:

The injury _of_ the cause; an injury _to_ the structure; injury _by_ fire; _by_ or _from_ collision, interference, etc.

INJUSTICE.

Synonyms:

grievance, injury, unfairness, unrighteousness, wrong.

iniquity,

_Injustice_ is a violation or denial of justice, an act or omission that is contrary to equity or justice; as, the _injustice_ of unequal taxes.

In legal usage a _wrong_ involves _injury_ to person, property, or reputation, as the result of evil intent; _injustice_ applies to civil damage or loss, not necessarily involving _injury_ to person or property, as by misrepresentation of goods which does not amount to a legal warranty. In popular usage, _injustice_ may involve no direct _injury_ to person, property, interest, or character, and no harmful intent, while _wrong_ always involves both; one who attributes another's truly generous act to a selfish motive does him an _injustice_.

_Iniquity_, in the original sense, is a want of or a deviation from equity; but it is now applied in the widest sense to any form of ill-doing. Compare synonyms for CRIMINAL; SIN.

Antonyms:

equity, faithfulness, impartiality, lawfulness, righteousness, fairness, honesty, integrity, rect.i.tude, uprightness.

fair play, honor, justice, right,

INNOCENT.

Synonyms:

blameless, guiltless, inoffensive, spotless, clean, harmless, pure, stainless, clear, immaculate, right, upright, faultless, innocuous, righteous, virtuous.

guileless, innoxious, sinless,

_Innocent_, in the full sense, signifies not tainted with sin; not having done wrong or violated legal or moral precept or duty; as, an _innocent_ babe. _Innocent_ is a negative word, expressing less than _righteous_, _upright_, or _virtuous_, which imply knowledge of good and evil, with free choice of the good. A little child or a lamb is _innocent_; a tried and faithful man is _righteous_, _upright_, _virtuous_. _Immaculate_, _pure_, and _sinless_ may be used either of one who has never known the possibility of evil or of one who has perfectly and triumphantly resisted it. _Innocent_ is used of inanimate substances in the sense of _harmless_; as, an _innocent_ remedy, that is, one not dangerous, even if not helpful. _Innocent_, in a specific case, signifies free from the guilt of a particular act, even tho the total character may be very evil; as, the thief was found to be _innocent_ of the murder. See CANDID; PURE.

Antonyms:

Compare synonyms for CRIMINAL.