Level 2 Vocab

ambivalent

having mixed feeling or contradictory ideas about something or someone

buttress

to increase the strength of or justification for; to reinforce

abate

decrease, recede

unobtrusive

not conspicuous or attracting attention

affecting

causing an emotional response

tenuous

very weak or slight

evoke

to bring or recall to the conscious mind

conjecture

the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof

substantiate

to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of

mitigate

to make something less severe, serious, or painful

contempt

the feeling that a person or thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn

deference

humble submission and respect

hinder

create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction

implicit

implied but not plainly expressed

invoke

to cite or appeal to someone or something as an authority for an action or in support of an argument

dormant

having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down for a period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep

divergent

tending to be different or develop in different directions

obsolete

no longer produced or used; out of date

accentuate

make more noticeable or prominent

copious

plentiful in number

disseminate

to scatter or spread widely

eclipse

to make less outstanding or important by comparison

empirical

based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience than theory or pure logic

augment

to expand or increase

uncanny

strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way

supplant

to supersede and replace; to take the place of

placate

to make someone less angry or hostile

pretentious

attempting to impress by showing greater importance, talent, culture, etc. than is possessed

palpable

capable of being touched or felt

omit

to leave out or exclude something or someone

transpose

cause two or more thing to exchange places

entail

involve something as necessary or inevitable part or consequence

lament

express regret or disappointment about something

vindicate

to clear someone or something of blame or suspicion

preclude

to prevent something from happening or being possible

insidious

treacherous, spreading harm stealthily

calamitous

disastrous

adept

very skilled, expert

fickle

erratic

aesthetic

pertaining to the appreciation of beauty

unattainable

impossible to achieve

corollary

a statement or condition that logically results from a proven argument

prevail

to win

prevailing

widespread; generally accepted

misconstrue

to interpret something incorrectly, often leading to a misunderstanding

antithesis

the direct opposite

autonomous

acting independently

prohibitive

serving as an obstacle or barrier

decry

to denounce; discredit

defame

to libel or slander; to ruin the good name of someone

feign

to represent falsely; to fake

stipulate

to specify or demand a requirement or condition as part of an agreement

deplorable

regrettable

disparate

different; incompatible

magnanimous

forgiving; generous

synopsis

a brief summary or overview of a longer text or event

harrowing

frightening or traumatic

paucity

scarcity or lack of

clandestine

done in secret

reverberate

to echo or resound repeatedly; to have a lasting impact or influence

cursory

not thorough; superficial

posthumous

occurring after one's death

propensity

a tendency towards something

municipal

relating to the local government or administration of a city or town

supple

flexible

replete

completely filled

prolific

very productive

sway

to have control or influence over someone or something

culpable

deserving of blame

deride

to ridicule or mock

overt

not hidden; obvious

miser

a stingy person

heterodox

contrary to or differing from established beliefs or accepted doctrines

obligate

to bind or compel

ornate

elaborately or heavily decorated

introspective

mediative, thoughtful

credulity

gullibility, a tendency to be too ready to believe something

irrefutable

impossible to deny or disprove

amicable

agreeable

resolute

determined

mutable

changeable

discordant

conflicting; disagreeable in sound

benevolent

kind and helpful

epitome

a perfect example

tactful

sensitive in dealing with others

paltry

lacking in importance; trivial

arduous

involving strenuous effort; requiring a lot of work

disparity

difference

dispassionate

calm; fair

elucidate

to explain or clarify

myriad

a vast number

unpretentious

modest

eclectic

getting ideas from a diverse range of sources

candid

direct

malleable

capable of being shaped or formed

candor

honesty

recurrent

occurring repeatedly or at regular intervals

incongruous

not corresponding or agreeing

inadvertent

unintentional

abate

decrease, recede