do a number on

VERB

abuse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

insult offend persecute revile

STRONG

backbite bash belittle berate calumniate cap castigate decry defame derogate discount knock minimize nag oppress reproach ride scold signify slam slap smear sound trash upbraid vilify vituperate zing

WEAK

bad-mouth blow off cuss out cut down cut to the quick dump on give a black eye hurl brickbat pick on put down rag on rip up run down sling mud swear at tear apart

Antonyms

STRONGEST

compliment

STRONG

approve exalt flatter laud praise

WEAK

acclaim adulate benefit care for cherish commend defend esteem help honor preserve prize protect respect revere treasure

VERB

blacken

Synonyms

STRONGEST

blot smudge stain sully tarnish

STRONG

asperse attack blotch calumniate decry defame defile denigrate dishonor knock libel malign rip slander slur taint traduce vilify

WEAK

bad-mouth give a black eye rip up and down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clean

STRONG

compliment exalt flatter honor praise

WEAK

bleach enhance lighten whiten

VERB

bruise

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bang up batter blacken crush injure mar wound

STRONG

beat black blemish contuse damage deface mark pound pulverize zing

WEAK

bung up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid compliment cure heal help praise

STRONG

adorn beautify decorate embellish fix mend ornament repair

VERB

cheat

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bilk con deceive defraud delude dupe fleece hoodwink mislead swindle trick victimize

STRONG

bamboozle beat beguile bleed bunco burn caboodle chisel cozen crib cross diddle do finagle flimflam fudge gouge hose milk ream rook sandbag scam screw shaft short shuck skin snow stiff sucker take trim two-time

WEAK

double-cross double-deal fast talk give bum steer jerk around pull one's leg rip off rope in take for a ride take in take out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

be honest give help protect

STRONG

aid assist

VERB

criticize

Synonyms

STRONGEST

blame blast castigate censure chastise chide condemn denounce excoriate reprimand

STRONG

bash blister carp clobber disparage fluff fustigate hit knock lambaste pan rap reprehend reprobate reprove rip roast scorch skin slam slog slug trash trim zap

WEAK

animadvert on come down on cut down cut to bits cut up denunciate dress down find fault fulminate against give bad press jump on nag at nit-pick pick at scathe skin alive take down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve commend compliment exonerate forgive laud praise

STRONG

flatter lose

WEAK

estimate guess suppose

VERB

decry

Synonyms

STRONGEST

belittle condemn denounce minimize

STRONG

abuse asperse calumniate censure defame depreciate derogate detract devalue diminish discount discredit disgrace disparage downgrade hit knock lower malign pan rap reprehend reprobate slam traduce underestimate underrate undervalue vilify

WEAK

bad-mouth cry down dump on mark down opprobriate poor-mouth put down rail against run down take swipe at throw stones at write off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve praise

STRONG

commend compliment esteem exaggerate exalt flatter honor increase laud overestimate overrate overvalue raise respect sanction

WEAK

applaud

VERB

defame

Synonyms

STRONGEST

besmirch denigrate discredit disgrace disparage malign scandalize smear vilify

STRONG

asperse belie blacken blister calumniate detract dishonor knock pan roast scorch slam stigmatize traduce vituperate

WEAK

bad-mouth cast aspersions cast slur on put zingers on speak evil of throw mud at villainize

Antonyms

STRONGEST

commend compliment flatter honor laud praise

WEAK

approve exalt

VERB

delude

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dupe hoodwink misguide mislead

STRONG

beguile betray bluff cheat con cozen gull hoax jive juggle outfox snow trick

WEAK

caboodle disinform double-cross illude impose on lead up garden path mousetrap play trick on string along sucker take in

Antonyms

STRONG

be honest

WEAK

be truthful

VERB

deride

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disdain disparage mock ridicule scoff scorn taunt

STRONG

banter chaff contemn detract flout gibe jeer jolly kid knock pan pooh-pooh quiz rag rally razz rib roast slam sneer twit

WEAK

dis dump on laugh at lout put down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

admire approve compliment flatter praise respect

WEAK

commend revere

VERB

distress

Synonyms

STRONG

afflict aggrieve agonize ail bother break bug depress desolate discombobulate disquiet disturb dog eat get grieve harass harry hound hurt injure irk irritate miff nag needle oppress pain peeve perplex pester plague push rack sadden strain strap stress torment torture trouble try vex weigh wound

WEAK

be on one's case burn up get to give a hard time make it tough for nit-pick pick on push buttons tick off

Antonyms

STRONG

aid appease assist assuage be happy build calm cheer comfort cure delight discourage dissuade fix gladden heal help hide ignore leave alone make happy mend neglect placate please relieve soothe support

VERB

play dirty

Synonyms

WEAK

bamboozle beguile bend the rules bilk burn caboodle chisel con deceive defraud double-cross double-deal dupe finagle fleece flimflam fudge hit below the belt hoodwink hose mislead pull something funny rip off rook sandbag scam screw shaft stack the cards stretch the rules sucker swindle trick victimize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Podcast: 'People expected Spurs to do a number on Rangers'

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2024

White can even jettison a piece as his queen and the rook do a number on the exposed Black king: 21.

From Washington Times • Nov. 21, 2023

After Rams receiver and alum Robert Woods gives Serra players Beats headphones, they do a number on Bakersfield Liberty to win CIF Division 1-A title.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2021

The Tonys used to be the only place we could catch Broadway stars do a number on a screen.

From New York Times • Sep. 27, 2021

The one trying to do a number on Judge Willmore to get his sentence lightened?

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

do a number on

Example Sentences

Related Words