Level 2 Vocabulary Words

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

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no longer produced or used; out of date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 appease 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

erratic

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

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; incompatible

disparate

different

synopsis

a brief summary or overview of a longer text or event

harrowing

frightening or traumatic

paucity

scarcity or lack of

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

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

miser

a stingy person

overt

not hidden; obvious

heterodox*

contrary to or differing from established beliefs or accepted doctrines

ornate

elaborately or heavily decorated

introspective

meditative, thoughtful

credulity

gullibility, a tendency to be too ready to believe something

irrefutable*

impossible to deny or disprove

amicable

agreeable

resolute

determined

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

abate

decrease, recede

inadvertent

unintentional

coherent

logically connected

ascertain

to determine or discover

inundate

to overwhelm; to flood

appraise*

to estimate the value of something

immutable

unchangeable

accrue

to increase or to gain

supersede*

to replace with something better

hamper

to prevent the free movement or action of