combined vocab

Advance

To put forward a claim

Assert

To put forward an argument or state that something is true

Conjecture

(n.) hypothesis; (v.) to hypothesize

(Pre)Supposition

An idea assumed beforehand about a subject

Surmise

To assume or draw a conclusion without strong evidence

Bolster

To provide support for an argument

Buttress

To provide support for an argument

Substantiate

To provide evidence to support or prove a claim

Corroborate

To confirm or support a claim

Validate

To prove the accuracy of a claim

Concede

To admit that an opposing claim is true or valid

Acknowledge

To accept or admit the validity of a claim

Rebut

To offer an argument against a claim believed to be false

Refute

To prove that a claim is false

Grapple with

To try to deal with or understand a difficult problem

Ruminate about

To think deeply about; turn something over in one’s mind

Infer

To deduce or conclude from evidence and reasoning

Proponent

A person who supports a claim or course of action

Detractor

A person who criticizes a claim or course of action

Skeptic

A person who questions or doubts a claim

Legacy

A long-lasting impact

Lineage

Descent from a common ancestor

Lucrative

Very profitable

Manifestation

Visible appearance of an object, trend, or idea

Mercurial

Unpredictable; constantly shifting moods

Meticulous

Very careful and precise

Migration

The movement of a person or group from one area to another

Misconstrue

To misunderstand

Mitigate

To make a problem less severe

Mobilize

To prepare a person or group for action

Momentous

Having great significance

Monetize

To make money from

Moribund

Approaching death; on the verge of becoming obsolete

Multifaceted

Having many aspects

Mundane

Dull; uninteresting

Myriad

Many

Nebulous

Vague; undefined; amorphous

Nefarious

Wicked and evil

Nuance

A subtle shade of difference or meaning

Nurture

To care for and encourage growth and development

Obscure

Rare; understood by few people

Offhand

Done casually, without prior thought

Ominous

Threatening; giving the impression something bad will happen

Orientation

A preference or liking for

Orthodox

Conforming to a standard theory or belief

Overload

An excessive burden or stress

Overshadow

To dominate; make someone or something seem unimportant

Outmoded

No longer fashionable; out of date

Outsized

Disproportionately large

Palpable

Touchable; often describing a very intense feeling

Paucity

A small or limited amount

Peripheral

Of secondary importance; not central

Polar

Very different; opposite

Pervasive

Widespread

Pragmatic

Practical

Precipitate

To cause to happen, especially suddenly and unexpectedly

Preclude

To prevent or block; impede

Precursor

A person or thing that precedes; a forerunner

Predatory

Preying upon others

Prescient

Showing great foresight

Prescribe

To lay down a rule; dictate

Impeccable

Faultless; spotless

Haphazard

Random and disorganized

Heterogeneous

Varied; diverse; multifaceted

Hinder

To block or prevent; impede

Idealize

To imagine something as better than it is in reality

Idiosyncratic

Highly particular; unique to an individual

Illusory

Not real; based on an illusion

Imminent

About to happen

Impede

To delay or prevent

Impenetrable

Impossible to pass through

Imperative

Of vital importance; crucial

Imperceptible

Cannot be seen or perceived

Imposing

Very large and impressive in appearance

Impoverished

Very poor

Incongruous

Out of place; contrasting with surroundings

Indecipherable

Unable to be read or understood

Indelible

Memorable; impossible to forget

Indifferent

Without interest or concern; apathetic

Indigenous

Native

Indoctrinate

To teach people to uncritically accept beliefs

Induce

To persuade or influence someone to do something

Indulgent

Overly generous; too lenient

Ineluctable

Inescapable; inevitable

Infallible

Incapable of making mistakes

Infinitesimal

Extremely small; approaching zero

Ingenious

Very clever and cunning

Innocuous

Harmless; benign

Innovative

Featuring new materials and ideas

Insight

Deep understanding

Insuperable

Incapable of being overcome

Installation

Art exhibit consisting of large objects placed in public space

Insurmountable

Too great to overcome

Intermediate

Coming between two things

Intricate

Very complex

Intriguing

Arousing curiosity or interest

Intuition

The ability to understand from an instinctive feeling

Invasive

Spreading in a harmful manner

Irate

Angry

Irreproachable

Beyond criticism; faultless