The verb "swindle" means trick or "cheat" someone out of money. Additionally, "extol" means praise, acclaim the benefits of; "galvanize" means motivate, inspire to action; "consummate" means bring to completion, (of a marriage) make legitimate; "atrophy" means weaken due to lack of use.

The verb "deprecate" means to belittle, to mock and denigrate, to express disapproval of and make fun of. Additionally, "bemuse" and "bewilder" both mean confuse, perplex; "behoove" means be appropriate for, be expected of, to do something which is in one's own best interest; "beholden" means indebted to.

The verb "deign" means to allow oneself to talk to someone one considers inferior. This is closest in meaning to the word "condescend." Additionally, "mollify" means soothe, assuage, calm; "antagonize" means annoy, irritate, cause to be frustrated; "allay" means soothe, and is also a synonym of "mollify"; deprecate" means express distaste for, mock.

The verb "belie" means to fail to give an accurate appearance, to contradict what one might expect. This is, of course, closest in definition to "contradict." Additionally, "bolster" means support, reinforce; "sequester" means hide away, lock away somewhere isolated; "plummet" means fall rapidly; "hone" means sharpen (one's skills).

The verb "rescind" means to retract, to take back, to cancel, to withdraw a decision. Additionally, "liberate" means set free; "commence" means begin; "convene" means meet up.

The verb "abjure" means to formally renounce something previously important, to reject, to disavow. Additionally, "portray" means depict, show, represent as; "apprehend" means catch, arrest; "ponder" means think deeply about; "personify" means represent in human form.

The verb "banter" means to playfully tease (usually among friends). 

The verb "galvanize" means to motivate, to inspire someone to action, to impel someone into action. Additionally, "oust" means to forcibly remove from power; "eradicate" means completely destroy, get rid of; "inoculate" means vaccinate, provide protection from a disease.

The verb "circulate" means to move through or to cause to flow through. It can also mean to pass an idea or item from one person to another, to "spread" something around. Additionally, "suspend" means pause, halt; "sojourn" means stay temporarily; "solicit" means ask for, request, seek help from.

The verb "digress" means to deviate, to stray from the main point and become distracted by something else. Additionally, "convene" means meet up; "adulterate" means make impure, make contaminated; "waive" means give up, relinquish rights or control; "embezzle" means steal from a business that you work for.