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Definitions

make waves

VERB
annoy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate bore bother displease disturb exasperate fire up gall irk peeve perturb rile trouble turn off vex worry
STRONG
abrade badger bedevil beleaguer break bug chafe distress get gnaw harass harry madden miff nag needle nettle nudge pester plague provoke ride ruffle tease
WEAK
T-off ask for it be at be on the back of burn up egg on heat up henpeck hit where one lives push button tick off work on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease assist calm charm cheer comfort delight enchant help make happy please quiet reassure soothe
STRONG
mollify support
WEAK
gratify
VERB
complicate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
convolute impede involve muddle obscure perplex upset
STRONG
bedevil clog combine confound derange disarrange disorder elaborate embroil entangle fold interrelate interweave jumble multiply ravel snafu snag tangle twist
WEAK
add fuel to fire foul up infold interfuse make intricate mix up muck up open can of worms render unintelligible screw up snarl up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clear up enlighten explain order
STRONG
arrange clarify divide exclude free straighten uncomplicate untangle untwist
WEAK
disentangle ease facilitate make simple
VERB
effect
Synonyms
STRONGEST
achieve bring about enact enforce implement realize
STRONG
actualize actuate begin buy cause complete conceive conclude consummate create effectuate execute follow through fulfill generate induce initiate invoke make perform procure produce render secure sell unzip yield
WEAK
bring off bring on carry through do a number do one's thing do the job do the trick do to a T draw on get across get to give rise to make it pull it off put across turn out turn the trick
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fail halt hinder lose neglect stop
STRONG
close deny destroy disallow discourage end finish forget give up ignore miss prevent refuse ruin veto
WEAK
overlook
VERB
exasperate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate annoy disturb embitter enrage excite gall incense infuriate irk irritate peeve rankle rile vex
STRONG
aggravate anger bug exacerbate get inflame madden needle nettle pique roil rouse
WEAK
T-off drive up the wall get under one's skin try the patience of work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease assist calm comfort compose delight help lull make happy pacify please quiet soothe tranquilize
STRONG
alleviate gladden mollify
WEAK
ease placate
VERB
fluster
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate bewilder confound confuse discombobulate distract muddle mystify nonplus perplex unhinge
STRONG
addle bother craze discompose disquiet disturb excite flip flurry frustrate fuddle hassle heat hurry puzzle rattle ruffle spook
WEAK
get to make nervous psych stir up throw off balance work up
Antonyms
STRONG
calm comfort compose help pacify quiet soothe
WEAK
settle
VERB
instigate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abet bring about foment incite inflame initiate kindle plot prompt spur whip up
STRONG
actuate encourage goad hint impel insinuate move needle persuade plan raise rouse scheme start stimulate suggest urge
WEAK
add fuel egg on fire up put up to rabble-rouse set on steam up stir up turn on work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deter discourage dissuade halt neglect put out stop
STRONG
calm conclude depress finish ignore repress suppress
WEAK
prevent
VERB
irk
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy bother disturb gall inconvenience irritate peeve provoke rile vex
STRONG
abrade bug discommode eat fret harass incommode miff nettle rasp ruffle trouble
WEAK
get on nerves get to give a hard time put out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist calm delight help make happy please soothe
STRONG
appease mollify
VERB
perturb
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate alarm annoy bewilder confound confuse disconcert dismay disturb fluster irritate muddle perplex vex
STRONG
bother bug disarrange discompose discountenance disorder disquiet flurry needle pester ruffle trouble worry
WEAK
make a scene stir up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist assure calm clarify clear up comfort enlighten explain help make happy order organize please quiet reassure soothe
VERB
pique
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy arouse displease excite gall galvanize ignite incense irk irritate kindle offend rile stimulate whet
STRONG
absorb affront bother bug exasperate get goad goose grab miff mortify motivate move nettle peeve prick quicken rouse spur sting stir vex wound
WEAK
egg on fire up get a rise out of get under skin give a hard time give the business put out work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid calm compose delight extinguish lull make happy please quiet soothe
STRONG
appease compliment dissuade help misunderstand mollify placate satisfy
VERB
provoke
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate anger enrage foment incite inflame infuriate irk irritate offend raise
STRONG
abet abrade affront annoy bother bug chafe exasperate exercise fret gall get grate incense insult madden nag perturb pique rile roil ruffle set upset vex
WEAK
get on one's nerves get under one's skin hit where one lives make blood boil put out set on try one's patience whip up work into lather work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
alleviate appease calm delight discourage help make happy pacify placate please soothe stop
STRONG
aid assuage comfort compliment dissuade fail gratify hinder ignore lose
WEAK
end halt prevent
VERB
rebel
Synonyms
STRONGEST
defy overthrow renounce resist revolt secede take up arms
STRONG
boycott censure combat criticize denounce disobey dissent fight mutiny oppose overturn remonstrate riot strike upset
WEAK
be insubordinate break with come out against drop out get out of line insurrect opt out rise up rock the boat run amok turn against
Antonyms
STRONGEST
comply give in obey surrender yield
STRONG
agree approve compliment endorse laud lose make peace praise sanction support
VERB
revolt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
defy mutiny overthrow take up arms
STRONG
arise boycott break defect oppose overturn renounce resist riot strike
WEAK
drop out get out of line insurrect opt out rock the boat turn against
Antonyms
STRONGEST
give in obey surrender yield
STRONG
allow comply join support
WEAK
delight harmonize make happy please submit
VERB
rock the boat
Synonyms
WEAK
cause trouble challenge the status quo complain disagree disturb disturb the balance make a stink not conform object protest stir things up upset the apple cart
VERB
rouse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate arouse awaken disturb fire up galvanize heighten incite inflame kindle provoke rile startle stir trigger wake up whip up work up
STRONG
aggravate anger animate bestir bug challenge craze deepen enhance enliven exhilarate foment innervate instigate intensify magnify mount move needle pique quicken rally redouble rise urge vivify wake waken whet
WEAK
ask for it get going innerve intensate key up pep up steam up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
appease calm comfort deter discourage dissuade halt lull make happy pacify please put out quiet soothe stop tranquilize
STRONG
dampen decline decrease dishearten drop dull fall fix lessen lower regress slow slump soften weaken
WEAK
disenchant nap sleep
VERB
shake
Synonyms
STRONGEST
disturb frighten horrify intimidate rattle throw undermine unnerve unsettle upset weaken worry
STRONG
bother consternate daunt discompose dismay distress impair jar move unstring
WEAK
knock the props out (from under) throw a curve
Antonyms
STRONGEST
appease calm comfort delight encourage help make happy please reassure soothe
STRONG
aid
WEAK
placate
VERB
stir
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affect arouse energize galvanize inflame inspire kindle prompt provoke raise rouse spark spur touch trigger whip up
STRONG
abet actuate agitate animate awaken bestir challenge craze drive electrify excite foment impel motivate move quicken rally rile rout set spook thrill urge vitalize wake waken whet
WEAK
add fuel to fire feed the fire psych roust stir embers stir up switch on work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm depress discourage disenchant dissuade halt prevent stop
STRONG
bore dampen deaden dishearten dull hinder impede lull quiet repress retard slow tranquilize weaken
WEAK
laze leave alone rest wait
VERB
trouble
Synonyms
STRONGEST
afflict agitate annoy burden concern disconcert disturb irk irritate perplex perturb plague sadden strain torment upset vex
STRONG
ail bug discommode discompose disoblige disquiet distress fret grieve harass harry inconvenience pain pester spook stress try
WEAK
burn up drive up the wall flip out get to give a bad time give a hard time impose on make a fuss make a scene psych put out stir up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist calm comfort delight help make happy order please quiet soothe
STRONG
support
WEAK
be content be happy
VERB
undo
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abolish annul destroy mar negate offset overturn quash reverse ruin shatter spoil subvert undermine wipe out wreck
STRONG
abate abrogate annihilate break cancel cramp craze crimp decimate defeat demolish have impoverish injure neutralize outfox outmaneuver outsmart overreach overthrow raze skin smash stymie unsettle upset vitiate wrack
WEAK
bring down bring to naught screw up unbuild
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist build construct create grow help permit repair restore support uphold
STRONG
approve balance encourage establish fix mend revive save
WEAK
validate
VERB
upset
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate bewilder dismay distract disturb perturb unnerve unsettle
STRONG
afflict ail bug confound cramp craze debilitate derange discombobulate discompose disconcert disquiet distress flip floor flurry fluster grieve incapacitate indispose pother rattle ruffle sicken spook turn unhinge
WEAK
egg on fire up flip out get to give a hard time key up lay up make a scene pick on psych rock the boat stir up throw off balance turn on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm encourage explain quiet soothe
STRONG
aid allow assist clear up comfort cure help mend please settle
WEAK
delight make happy

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.

That set off days of intensive efforts using boats to make waves, then excavators to dig up sand and free the whale, as fears grew for its life.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Aonishiki isn’t the first non-Japanese wrestler to make waves in sumo.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 24, 2026

Ali Abbasi’s controversial Trump biopic “The Apprentice,” which continued to make waves at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month, will also screen ahead of its release nationwide on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2024

Yet for more than a decade, Shohei Ohtani has been willing to make waves.

From New York Times • Dec. 10, 2023

“I’m not going to make waves, Alma. I’m happy just to have a job.”

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez