" ease "

1: to free from obstruction or difficulty;

  * e.g., " ... measures intended to ease the flow of traffic during rush hour "

•  Synonyms : 

•  facilitate,

•  grease,

•  loosen (up),

•  smooth,

•  unclog

•  Antonyms : 

•  complicate

2: to make less taut;

  * e.g., " ... the rock climber eased the rope a little so that his fellow climber had room to maneuver "

•  Synonyms : 

•  loosen,

•  relax,

•  slack,

•  slacken

•  Antonyms : 

•  strain,

•  stretch,

•  tense,

•  tension,

•  tighten

3: to make more bearable or less severe;

  * e.g., " ... grandmother's firm belief that there are few ailments that chicken soup won't ease "

•  Synonyms : 

•  allay,

•  alleviate,

•  assuage,

•  help,

•  mitigate,

•  mollify,

•  palliate,

•  relieve,

•  soothe

•  Antonyms : 

•  aggravate,

•  exacerbate

1: as in let up;

•  Synonyms : 

•  let up,

•  break,

•  recess,

•  relax,

•  repose,

•  rest,

•  escape,

•  get (away),

•  get off,

•  bum,

•  goldbrick,

•  idle,

•  laze,

•  loaf,

•  lounge,

•  slack (off),

•  holiday,

•  vacation

•  Antonyms : 

•  drudge,

•  endeavor,

•  grub,

•  hump,

•  hustle,

•  labor,

•  moil,

•  peg (away),

•  plod,

•  plow,

•  plug,

•  slave,

•  slog,

•  strain,

•  strive,

•  struggle,

•  sweat,

•  toil,

•  travail,

•  work

1: reduction of or freedom from pain;

  * e.g., " ... the sunburn medication brought me instant ease "

•  Synonyms : 

•  alleviation,

•  comfort,

•  release,

•  relief

•  Antonyms : 

•  constraint,

•  restraint

2: carefree freedom from constraint;

  * e.g., " ... a gymnast who can handle even the most demanding moves on the parallel bars with total ease "

•  Synonyms : 

•  abandon,

•  abandonment,

•  lightheartedness,

•  naturalness,

•  spontaneity,

•  spontaneousness,

•  unconstraint,

•  uninhibitedness,

•  unrestraint

•  Antonyms : 

•  exertion,

•  labor,

•  toil,

•  work

3: freedom from activity or labor;

  * e.g., " ... the dream of every lottery player is a life of fabulous luxury and everlasting ease "

•  Synonyms : 

•  decompression,

•  leisure,

•  relaxation,

•  repose,

•  rest

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty;

  * e.g., " ... I'm usually ill at ease when addressing a large crowd of people "

•  Synonyms : 

•  aflutter,

•  antsy,

•  anxious,

•  atwitter,

•  dithery,

•  edgy,

•  goosey,

•  het up,

•  hinky,

•  hung up,

•  insecure,

•  jittery,

•  jumpy,

•  nervous,

•  nervy,

•  perturbed,

•  queasy,

•  tense,

•  troubled,

•  uneasy,

•  unquiet,

•  upset,

•  uptight,

•  worried

•  Antonyms : 

•  calm,

•  collected,

•  cool,

•  easy,

•  happy-go-lucky,

•  nerveless,

•  relaxed

1: enjoying physical comfort;

  * e.g., " ... The manager encouraged the guests to feel at ease and and take advantage of the resort's luxurious amenities. "

•  Synonyms : 

•  canny,

•  comfortable,

•  comfy,

•  cozy,

•  relaxed,

•  snug

•  Antonyms : 

•  uncomfortable