What is this list? |
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If you’ve just arrived to this site from a search engine, this is probably not the best place to start reading. If you’re interested in this approach of philosophical inquiry, you can read the Introduction to Correlations. Otherwise, check out the home page. |
When you’re familiar with this method of inquiry, continue on with the following list which correlates around 1600 basic words. The Active (Yang) words are in alphabetical order, with their antonyms in the Passive (Yin) columns. See Couplets for another way to view these words.
First scan the correlations vertically to sense the qualities they share. Then read some horizontally, i.e., “activity abandons“, “passivity restrains“. Next, read some circularly, i.e., “activity abandons passivity,… passivity restrains activity“. Finally, jump around and string words together, i.e., “active life grows & abandons passive death,… passive death restrains & stagnates active life“. These procedures often produce obscure results; please ponder them — it takes time for deeper meaning to emerge. Also, work with those words which intrigue you. If they’re not on this list, add them.
Active (noun or adj.) | Active (verb) | Passive (antonym) | Passive (antonym) |
abrupt | abandons | gradual | perseveres |
accessory | abhors | essential | adores |
accurate | aborts | inexact | bears |
acid | accelerates | base | delays |
acquired | achieves | inherent | designs |
active | acquires | passive | relinquishes |
affected | acts | artless | notices |
against | advances | with | recedes |
aloof | aggravates | familiar | alleviates |
anger | agitates | amiable | relaxes |
anguish | alerts | bliss | lulls |
angular | alienates | circular | associates |
animal | amplifies | plant | reduces |
annual | amuses | perennial | bores |
answer | animates | question | dampens |
anxiety | announces | serenity | suppresses |
anything | annoys | everything | satisfies |
ardent | answers | apathetic | questions |
argument | appears | agreement | vanishes |
arrogant | argues | polite | agrees |
artificial | arouses | natural | tames |
assertive | arranges | shy | jumbles |
athlete | ascends | cripple | descends |
authoritarian | assaults | democratic | defends |
aversion | asserts | attraction | hints |
awake | attacks | asleep | shields |
awkward | attempts | graceful | accomplishes |
bald | augments | hairy | trims |
before | avenges | after | forgives |
bedlam | awakens | music | sleeps |
bias | banishes | balance | welcomes |
biased | battles | neutral | submits |
birth | beats | extinction | caresses |
body | begets | mind | forestalls |
bold | begins | meek | ends |
bondage | biases | freedom | balances |
bone | blames | skin | vindicates |
border | blooms | area | wilts |
brightness | boils | darkness | freezes |
brittle | brandishes | supple | sheathes |
brusque | braves | gentle | bows |
brutal | breaks | sensitive | repairs |
bulky | brightens | delicate | dims |
burden | builds | relief | demolishes |
busy | bullies | idle | coaxes |
callous | burdens | tender | eases |
candid | busies | secret | idles |
capitalism | can | socialism | can’t |
capricious | captures | predictable | escapes |
certitude | ceases | doubt | persists |
change | challenges | constancy | concedes |
chaos | changes | order | remains |
chicken | circulates | egg | accumulates |
child | clamors | parent | quells |
choice | clarifies | luck | confounds |
city | clashes | countryside | harmonizes |
civilized | cleans | primitive | dirties |
clockwise | clears | cntr_clockwise | clouds |
clothed | climbs | naked | plunges |
colorful | coerces | monotone | induces |
competition | colors | cooperation | bleaches |
complex | competes | simple | cooperates |
conceit | complicates | humility | simplifies |
concern | concludes | indifference | queries |
concrete | condemns | abstract | approves |
conditioned | confronts | instinctive | adapts |
confirmed | confuses | tentative | orders |
conspicuous | conquers | unknown | relents |
contempt | continues | compassion | pauses |
contemptible | contradicts | virtuous | sustains |
continents | contrasts | oceans | parallels |
copy | cracks | archetype | bounces |
corrupt | craves | ethical | satiates |
counterfeit | crawls | authentic | reclines |
cover | cries | inner | laughs |
cruel | criticizes | benevolent | commends |
danger | curtails | safety | prolongs |
daring | dares | timid | fears |
dawn | dashes | dusk | dallies |
day | decides | night | ponders |
defiant | declares | acquiescent | intimates |
definite | decrees | ambiguous | entreats |
definitive | defies | nebulous | acquiesces |
describable | defines | unclassifiable | puzzles |
desert | demands | forest | requests |
despair | denies | hope | implies |
devilish | denounce | godly | endorse |
difference | deposits | sameness | withdraws |
difficult | desecrates | easy | consecrates |
dignified | despairs | menial | hopes |
diligent | destroys | lazy | creates |
discord | detaches | harmony | adheres |
distant | details | close | outlines |
divorce | determines | marriage | guesses |
doctor | differs | nurse | concurs |
dry | diffuses | wet | consolidates |
duplicate | aims | original | turns |
dust | directs | soil | rambles |
ear | disappoints | nose | fulfills |
earth | disavows | heaven | admits |
east | disdains | west | honors |
eccentric | disgusts | conventional | suits |
edge | dismiss | center | acknowledges |
educated | disperses | unlearned | assembles |
effective | disregards | futile | heeds |
ego | disrupts | id | composes |
elective | dissipates | obligatory | collects |
electron | disturbs | proton | settles |
elite | diverges | average | converges |
embryo | divides | zygote | unites |
emotional | divorces | thoughtful | marries |
enemy | do | friend | redo |
energetic | dries | languid | wets |
energy | drifts | time | immerses |
equator | drives | poles | hauls |
erratic | eats | steady | fasts |
erroneous | echoes | correct | rings |
exact | edifies | vague | mystifies |
excessive | effects | prudent | causes |
exorbitant | ejects | subdued | retains |
explicable | elaborates | mysterious | abridges |
explicit | elucidates | enigmatic | blurs |
expressed | emerges | tacit | returns |
exterior | enacts | interior | repeals |
external | encounters | internal | vacillates |
extravagance | endangers | economy | protects |
extravagant | ends | plain | continues |
extreme | enforces | conservative | waives |
eye | enhances | belly | diminishes |
fable | enlivens | history | depresses |
facade | enrages | behind | tempers |
factory | escalate | farm | plummets |
fad | escalates | dated | subsides |
famous | establishes | anonymous | nullifies |
fanatic | estranges | reasonable | reconciles |
fancy | evolves | stark | revolves |
far | exacerbates | near | ameliorates |
faulty | exalts | perfect | humbles |
fence | exchanges | field | keeps |
fertilizer | excites | compost | calms |
fickle | excludes | settled | includes |
fiction | exists | fact | succumbs |
finite | exits | infinite | enters |
fire | expands | water | contracts |
firm | expels | flimsy | invites |
first | expends | last | preserves |
flame | explains | smoke | asks |
flat | explodes | bent | implodes |
flower | exports | fruit | imports |
flute | exposes | drum | hides |
folly | expresses | wisdom | masks |
food | extemporizes | shit | rehearses |
forged | extends | genuine | cycles |
formal | extracts | casual | emanates |
forward | faces | backward | avoids |
front | fails | back | withstands |
full | feeds | empty | starves |
future | fights | present | compromises |
gain | fills | loss | empties |
genius | finishes | moron | lasts |
grim | fires | pleasant | stifles |
gross | firms | subtle | tenderizes |
grown | flattens | sigh | sags |
growth | floats | stagnation | founders |
hand | flourishes | eye | shrivel |
hard | flows | soft | ebbs |
harmful | forces | beneficial | allows |
harsh | forges | gracious | originates |
haste | forgets | delay | remembers |
heat | forsakes | cold | redeems |
height | frees | depth | inhibits |
hell | furthers | paradise | hinders |
high | gains | low | forfeits |
hostile | gambles | friendly | insures |
house | gobbles | foundation | tastes |
human | goes | animal | waits |
hypocritical | grabs | sincere | touches |
i | grants | it | denies |
illness | grates | health | glides |
illusion | grows | reality | stagnates |
imaginary | guesses | real | knows |
incisive | harasses | feeble | comforts |
individual | hardens | family | softens |
inequity | harms | equality | helps |
infantile | harvests | mature | cultivates |
innovative | hastens | customary | postpones |
intelligent | hates | stupid | loves |
interesting | heats | monotonous | cools |
irregular | heightens | habitual | deadens |
isolation | hoards | association | shares |
jealous | howls | trusting | silences |
juvenile | hungers | elder | holds |
karma | hunts | yoga | evades |
kinetic | hurries | inert | dawdles |
laborious | hurts | effortless | heals |
leader | hustles | follower | procrastinates |
lean | ignites | fat | smothers |
learned | ignores | innate | observes |
liberal | illuminates | traditional | obscures |
lie | impels | truth | curbs |
life | implores | death | opposes |
life_practice | improves | life_principle | worsens |
line | improvise | pattern | prepares |
lion | incites | dear | quiets |
lively | increases | inactive | decreases |
logical | indulges | intuitive | disciplines |
lost | inflames | found | pacifies |
lucid | inflates | dim | deflates |
lumber | inhale | tree | exhale |
macho | inherits | feminine | bequeaths |
mad | initiates | sane | masters |
male | innovates | female | retrenches |
mankind | instructs | god | confuses |
many | insults | few | dignifies |
massive | intensifies | slight | mitigates |
masterpiece | interacts | paltry | integrates |
material | interests | ethereal | drains |
maximum | interfere | minimum | aid |
mean | intimidate | kind | cowers |
midday | invigorates | evening | weakens |
minister | irritates | flock | appeases |
minor | is | major | isn’t |
misery | isolates | satisfaction | involves |
moon | jeers | earth | admires |
morning | judges | afternoon | deliberates |
motion | jumps | stasis | hesitates |
mountain | kindles | valley | extinguishes |
multiple | labors | single | loiters |
muscle | launches | blood | lands |
music | lavishes | sound | subdues |
myriad | leads | none | follows |
nail | leaves | hammer | arrives |
named | liberates | tao | imprisons |
narrow | lightens | broad | darkens |
nation | listens | culture | hears |
need | lives | enough | dies |
nucleus | loads | cell | dumps |
new | looks | old | sees |
noise | loses | quiet | finds |
north | magnifies | south | understates |
noticeable | materializes | inconspicuous | evaporates |
objective | meddles | subjective | succors |
obstacle | misses | advantage | meets |
obstinate | modifies | submissive | upholds |
obvious | motivates | implied | restrains |
occupied | moves | vacant | stays |
odd | multiplies | matched | subtracts |
on | murders | off | kills |
one | narrows | zero | widens |
opponent | neglects | ally | nurtures |
organ | obeys | system | governs |
organic | obtains | inorganic | foregos |
orgasm | occupies | foreplay | vacates |
ornate | offends | spartan | charms |
outcome | omits | process | entails |
outstanding | opens | mediocre | closes |
over | opposes | under | conforms |
page | organizes | book | clutters |
part | ostracizes | whole | embrace |
path | outlaws | garden | tolerates |
pattern | overlooks | principle | attends |
peak | overthrows | abyss | supports |
peculiar | pains | standard | pleases |
perverse | panics | moral | consoles |
physical | passes | spiritual | lingers |
point | peaks | line | bottoms |
pointed | performs | blunt | falters |
polished | perishes | tarnished | endures |
politics | persecutes | religion | assists |
positive | persists | negative | refrains |
practical | persuades | visionary | dissuades |
practice | picks | theory | drops |
prejudice | pierces | impartial | seals |
present | points | past | blunts |
presumptuous | polishes | retiring | tarnishes |
private | pours | public | dunks |
processed | practices | raw | theorizes |
progress | praises | recession | taints |
prominent | precedes | obscure | succeeds |
pungent | preserves | bland | rots |
pure | proceeds | contaminated | retreats |
purposeful | proclaims | useless | retracts |
quantity | promotes | quality | leashes |
radical | prompts | moderate | arrests |
rare | propels | common | retards |
rational | proves | paradoxical | refutes |
rebel | provides | patriot | withholds |
recent | provokes | ancient | assuages |
reckless | punishes | cautious | pardons |
relative | purifies | absolute | pollutes |
restless | pushes | patient | pulls |
result | quickens | test | slows |
rhythm | radiates | noise | absorbs |
rich | raises | poor | lowers |
right | ratifies | left | vetoes |
rigid | rationalizes | flexible | intuits |
river | reads | lake | baffles |
roof | reaps | floor | sows |
rough | rejects | smooth | accepts |
ruthless | releases | compassionate | locks |
sour | renews | salty | ripens |
samsara | rents | nirvana | owns |
sand | repels | beach | attracts |
scarcity | replies | abundance | inquires |
science | reports | philosophy | reviews |
seclusion | requires | companionship | forgoes |
secondary | resists | primary | complies |
seldom | reveals | frequent | conceals |
selfish | rises | selfless | sinks |
sensitive | risks | detached | guards |
separated | roars | together | whimpers |
severe | roughens | mild | smooths |
severed | runs | joined | walks |
sex | sanctions | love | censors |
shallow | scatters | deep | gathers |
sharp | scolds | dull | excuses |
short | scorns | long | appreciates |
shower | scours | bath | sullies |
singular | secedes | mutual | merges |
sinner | seeks | saint | eludes |
skepticism | segregates | faith | combines |
slippery | sells | sticky | buys |
small | sends | large | receives |
sober | sensitizes | drunk | numbs |
solar | separates | galactic | blends |
soldier | severs | army | joins |
solid | shakes | fluid | steadies |
something | sharpens | nothing | dulls |
sophisticated | shatters | naive | mends |
sorrow | shifts | happiness | abides |
sound | shocks | silence | reassure |
special | shortens | usual | lengthens |
specialist | shouts | generalist | whispers |
specific | shows | general | watches |
sperm | shuns | ovum | encompasses |
spring | slights | fall | concerns |
square | snubs | round | cares |
stand | solidifies | lie | liquifies |
steep | speaks | sloping | listens |
stern | speeds | lax | creeps |
stiff | spends | flabby | saves |
stingy | splurges | generosity | abstains |
straight | spoils | curved | beautifies |
strength | sprawls | weakness | curls |
strong | spreads | weak | compresses |
stupidity | springs | judicious | falls |
sturdy | spurns | frail | respects |
success | squares | failure | warps |
summer | stands | winter | lies |
sunny | stares | rainy | glances |
superficial | starts | profound | stops |
superior | steals | inferior | earns |
surf | sterilizes | wave | fertilizes |
surprising | stimulates | expected | tranquilizes |
tangible | stirs | elusive | stills |
teacher | straightens | class | bends |
technology | strengthens | science | exhausts |
temporary | strips | perpetual | covers |
terrestrial | strives | celestial | desists |
thin | struggles | thick | yields |
thoughtless | succeeds | pensive | fails |
tidy | surface | messy | submerges |
tight | survives | loose | expires |
to | suspects | from | trusts |
top | swells | bottom | shrinks |
transitory | switches | lasting | maintains |
troublesome | takes | pleasing | gives |
two | taxes | three | exempts |
ugly | teaches | beauty | learns |
uneven | tell | level | secretes |
ungainly | tenses | poised | slackens |
universe | thins | eternity | thickens |
unusual | thirsts | classic | quenches |
up | threatens | down | shelters |
vanity | thrives | modesty | withers |
variable | thrust | constant | parries |
variety | thwarts | similarity | backs |
vehement | tidies | cool | litters |
vertical | tightens | horizontal | loosens |
virgin | toils | defiled | lounges |
virus | torments | bacteria | soothes |
visible | transform | invisible | obeys |
visitor | tries | host | quits |
volatile | trims | stable | fattens |
volcano | troubles | canyon | relieves |
vulgar | undoes | refined | fastens |
vulnerable | upsets | invincible | mollifies |
wakeful | urges | drowsy | limits |
wall | uses | window | reserves |
wandering | ushers | stationary | ensues |
war | vexes | peace | delights |
white | visits | black | hosts |
wild | walks | tame | crawls |
willful | wants | spontaneous | forbears |
windy | warms | calm | chills |
woe | was | joy | wasn’t |
wonderful | washes | ordinary | soils |
word | wastes | sentence | conserves |
work | waxes | leisure | wanes |
worldly | whitens | holy | blackens |
wrong | wins | right | loses |
yang | wobbles | yin | stabilizes |
young | works | aged | rests |
youth | wrings | adult | soaks |
jealous | writes | dispassionate | erases |