1. USURP   withdraw   assume power by force   reject contemptuously   astound   Hint Half-n-half Clue   2. SUBSIDE   reduce in intensity   respect   wet thoroughly   spend wastefully   Half-n-half Clue   3. SPURN   reject contemptuously   cancel   slander   support   Half-n-half Clue   4. RENOUNCE   moderate   abandon   withdraw   shorten by cutting off   Half-n-half Clue   5. TEMPER   respect   slander   disown   moderate   Half-n-half Clue   6. RESCIND   exonerate   reject contemptuously   cancel   examine   Half-n-half Clue   7. SUSTAIN   withdraw   keep alive   waver   examine   Half-n-half Clue