Reading Comprehension Vocab

abstract

existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.

admonish

(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty

advocate

to speak in favor of

alternative

choice

ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation

analogy

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

anarchy

(n) a lack of government and law; confusion

assiduous

persistent, attentive, diligent

assimilate

(v.) to absorb fully or make one's own; to adopt as one's own; to adapt fully

augment

to make larger, increase

authentic

genuine; true

belligerent

(adj.) given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive; (n.) one at war, one engaged in war

bolster

to support

bureaucratic

over-regulated

circumvent

get around

coalition

a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose

cohesive

sticking together

collaborate

to work together

comply

(v.) to yield to a request or command

concurrent

happening at the same time

connotation

an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

contingent

(adj.) likely but not certain to happen, possible; dependent on uncertain events or conditions; happening by chance; (n.) a representative group forming part of a larger body

criteria

A means of judging. A standard, rule, or test by which something can be judged.

demeanour

behaviour

deplore

(v.) to feel or express regret or disapproval

derogatory

showing a critical or disrespectful attitude

disparity

inequality; difference

disseminate

to scatter or spread widely

dissident

rebel

distraught

(adj.) very much agitated or upset as a result of emotion or mental conflict

docile

easy to teach or manage

divert

to turn aside

dormant

inactive

egocentric

self-centered

elusive

difficult to find, catch, or achieve

emulate

to imitate

equitable

fair, just, embodying principles of justice

eradicate

to wipe out; to destroy

estrange

to alienate

exacerbate

to make worse

expedite

to make easy, cause to progress faster

fabricate

(v.) to make, manufacture; to make up, invent

facilitate

to make easier

fortuitous

(adj.) accidental, occurring by a happy chance

fraudulent

cheating; deceitful

heinous

(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful

hypothetical

(adj.) based on an assumption or guess; used as a provisional or tentative idea to guide or direct investigation

illicit

illegal

imminent

about to happen

impetuous

impulsive

incongruous

out of place

indigenous

native

indiscriminate

(adj.) without restraint or control; unselective

inherent

Existing as a natural part

jurisdiction

(n.) an area of authority or control; the right to administer justice

lax

careless

meticulous

extremely careful; particular about details

negligent

careless

nonchalant

cool and confident, unconcerned

oblivious

unaware

obscure

difficult to see, vague

omnipotent

all-powerful

opportune

suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occurring at an appropriate time

oppose

to be against

panacea

a remedy for all ills; cure-all; an answer to all problems

perfunctory

done without care; in a routine fashion

preposterous

ridiculous, senseless

precarious

Dangerous; risky; lacking in security or stability

precipitate

A solid that forms from a solution during a chemical reaction.

preclude

(v.) to make impossible, prevent, shut out

proficient

skilled, expert, or capable in any field or activity

propensity

(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward

qualitative

Data in the form of words

quantitative

Data that is in numbers

recalcitrant

stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority

redeem

to buy back, make amends

rejuvenate

(v.) to make young again; to make like new

relegate

(v.) to place in a lower position; to assign, refer, turn over; to banish

relinquish

to let go, give up

repugnant

(adj.) offensive, disagreeable, distasteful

resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

retrospect

looking back

sanction

authorize

spontaneous

(adj.) arising naturally; not planned or engineered in advance

static

Having no motion or change

stringent

(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste

subordinate

lower in rank or position

subsidise

to give money to somebody or an organization to help pay for something; to give a subsidy synonym fund

tenuous

(adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported

travesty

(n.) a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation; a disguise, especially the clothing of the opposite sex; (v.) to ridicule by imitating in a broad or burlesque fashion

tumult

Noisy excitement; an uproar or disturbance.

unilateral

one-sided

validate

to confirm

vindicate

to clear from blame

zealot

fanatic