Antonyms for cut to the quick
Grammar : Verb |
Spell : kwik |
Phonetic Transcription : kwɪk |
- acclaim
- adulate
- agree
- aid
- alleviate
- allow
- appease
- approve
- assist
- assuage
- be happy
- beautify
- benefit
- boost
- build up
- calm
- care for
- cheer
- cherish
- clarify
- clear up
- comfort
- commend
- compliment
- compose
- conceal
- cure
- defend
- delight
- ease
- elevate
- encourage
- enhance
- enlarge
- enlighten
- enunciate
- esteem
- exaggerate
- exalt
- explain
- fail
- fix
- flatter
- grow
- heal
- help
- hide
- honor
- humor
- improve
- increase
- laud
- let go
- lose
- make happy
- mend
- mollify
- open
- order
- overestimate
- overrate
- overvalue
- placate
- please
- praise
- preserve
- prize
- promote
- pronounce
- protect
- quiet
- raise
- release
- relieve
- remedy
- respect
- revere
- rise
- satisfy
- soothe
- strengthen
- surrender
- tell truth
- treasure
- upgrade
- value
- yield
Definition of cut to the quick
Origin :- Old English cwic "living, alive, animate," and figuratively, of mental qualities, "rapid, ready," from Proto-Germanic *kwikwaz (cf. Old Saxon and Old Frisian quik, Old Norse kvikr "living, alive," Dutch kwik "lively, bright, sprightly," Old High German quec "lively," German keck "bold"), from PIE root *gweie- "to live" (see bio-). Sense of "lively, swift" developed by late 12c., on notion of "full of life."
- NE swift or the now more common fast may apply to rapid motion of any duration, while in quick (in accordance with its original sense of 'live, lively') there is a notion of 'sudden' or 'soon over.' We speak of a fast horse or runner in a race, a quick starter but not a quick horse. A somewhat similar feeling may distinguish NHG schnell and rasch or it may be more a matter of local preference. [Buck]
- Of persons, "mentally active," from late 15c. Also in Middle English used of soft soils, gravel pits, etc. where the ground is shifting and yielding (mid-14c., cf. quicksand). As an adverb from c.1300. To be quick about something is from 1937. Quick buck is from 1946, American English. Quick-change artist (1886) originally was an actor expert in playing different roles in the same performance of a show. Quick-witted is from 1520s.
- As in insult : verb abuse, offend
- As in pain : verb bother, trouble
- As in abuse : verb attack with words
- As in slur : verb insult
- As in belittle : verb detract
- As in wound : verb cause mental hurt
- As in traumatize : verb inflict trauma
- As in displease : verb make unhappy
- As in humble : verb shame, put down
- As in hurt : verb cause mental pain
Synonyms for cut to the quick
- abase
- abash
- abuse
- ache
- afflict
- affront
- aggravate
- aggrieve
- agonize
- ail
- anger
- anguish
- annoy
- antagonize
- backbite
- bad-mouth
- bash
- belittle
- bemean
- berate
- bite
- blacken
- blemish
- blister
- blot
- blow off
- bother
- brand
- break
- bring down
- burn
- calumniate
- cap
- cast down
- castigate
- chafe
- chagrin
- chasten
- chop
- confound
- confuse
- constrain
- convulse
- cool
- criticize
- crush
- curdle
- curse
- cuss out
- cut down
- cut down to size
- cut to the quick
- cut up
- debase
- decry
- defame
- deflate
- degrade
- demean
- demote
- denigrate
- deny
- deprecate
- depreciate
- deride
- derogate
- detract
- diminish
- disappoint
- discomfit
- discomfort
- discommode
- discontent
- discount
- discredit
- disgrace
- disgruntle
- disgust
- dishonor
- disoblige
- disparage
- displease
- dispraise
- disquiet
- dissatisfy
- distress
- disturb
- do a number on
- do in
- downgrade
- downplay
- dump on
- embarrass
- enrage
- exasperate
- excruciate
- faze
- flout
- fret
- frustrate
- gall
- get
- gird
- give a black eye
- give no quarter
- go for jugular
- grieve
- gripe
- harass
- harm
- harrow
- hide
- hit where one lives
- humiliate
- hurl brickbat
- hurt
- hurt one's feelings
- incense
- inflame
- injure
- insinuate
- insult
- irk
- irritate
- jeer
- kick in the teeth
- knock
- lambaste
- lay a bad trip on
- lean on
- libel
- lower
- make eat dirt
- make one feel small
- malign
- martyr
- martyrize
- miff
- minimize
- mock
- mortify
- nag
- nettle
- nick
- offend
- oppress
- outrage
- overcome
- pain
- pan
- perplex
- persecute
- pick on
- pique
- play dirty
- pooh pooh
- poor mouth
- pop one's balloon
- prejudice
- prick
- provoke
- pull down
- punish
- push
- put away
- put down
- put one away
- put out
- put to shame
- rack
- rag on
- reduce
- repel
- reproach
- revile
- revolt
- ride
- ridicule
- rile
- rip
- rip up
- roast
- roil
- run down
- sadden
- scoff
- scoff at
- scold
- scorch
- scorn
- shake up
- shock
- shoot down
- shoot full of holes
- signify
- silence
- sink
- skin alive
- slam
- slander
- slap
- slap in the face
- slight
- sling mud
- smart
- smear
- sneer
- sneer at
- snub
- sound
- sour grapes
- spatter
- squash
- squelch
- stain
- step on one's toes
- sting
- strain
- stress
- strike dumb
- subdue
- suffer
- swear at
- take a swipe at
- take down
- take down a peg
- taunt
- tear apart
- tear down
- tease
- throb
- thumb nose at
- tingle
- torment
- torture
- traduce
- trash
- traumatize
- trouble
- try
- turn off
- underestimate
- underrate
- undervalue
- upbraid
- upset
- vex
- vilify
- vitiate
- vituperate
- wing
- work over
- worry
- wound
- write off
- zing
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019