SAT Level 2 Vocabulary

Word Defini?on

ambivalent* having mixed feeling or contradictory ideas about something or someone

buNress* to increase the strength of or jus4fica4on for; to reinforce

abate* decrease, recede

unobtrusive not conspicuous or aNrac4ng aNen4on

affec4ng* causing an emo4onal response

tenuous very weak or slight

evoke to bring or recall to the conscious mind

conjecture* the forma4on or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence

for proof

substan4ate to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of

mi4gate* to make something less severe, serious, or painful

contempt the feeling that a person or thing is beneath considera4on, worthless, or

deserving scorn

deference* humble submission and respect

hinder create difficul4es for someone or something, resul4ng in delay or obstruc4on

implicit implied but not plainly expressed

invoke to cite or appeal to someone or something as an authority for an ac4on or in

support of an argument

dormant having normal physical func4ons suspended or slowed down for a period of

4me; in or as if in a deep sleep

divergent tending to be different or develop in different direc4ons

obsolete no longer produced or used; out of date

accentuate* make more no4ceable or prominent

copious* plen4ful in number

disseminate* to scaNer or spread widely

eclipse* to make less outstanding or important by comparison

empirical based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observa4on or experience than

theory or pure logic

augment* to expand or increase

uncanny* strange or mysterious, especially in an unseNling way

supplant

*

to supersede and replace; to take the place of

placate to make someone less angry or hos4le

preten4ous* aNemp4ng 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 erra4c

aesthe4c* pertaining to the apprecia4on of beauty

unaNainable* impossible to achieve

corollary a statement or condi4on that logically results from a proven argument

prevail to win

prevailing widespread; generally accepted

misconstrue* to interpret something incorrectly, o?en leading to a misunderstanding

an4thesis the direct opposite

autonomous ac4ng independently

prohibi4ve* 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

s4pulate* to specify or demand a requirement or condi4on as part of an agreement

deplorable regreNable

disparate different; incompa4ble

magnanimous forgiving; generous

synopsis* a brief summary or overview of a longer text or event

harrowing frightening or trauma4c

paucity scarcity or lack of

clandes4ne done in secret

reverberate* to echo or resound repeatedly; to have a las4ng impact or influence

cursory not thorough; superficial

posthumous occurring a?er ones death

propensity a tendency towards something

municipal* rela4ng to the local government or administra4on of a city or town

supple flexible

replete completely filled

prolific very produc4ve

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 s4ngy person

heterodox* contrary to or differing from established beliefs or accepted doctrines

obligate* to bind or compel

ornate elaborately or heavily decorated

introspec4ve media4ve, though`ul

credulity gullibility, a tendency to be too ready to believe something

irrefutable* impossible to deny or disprove

amicable agreeable

resolute* determined

mutable changeable

discordant conflic4ng; disagreeable in sound

benevolent* kind and helpful

epitome a perfect example

tac`ul sensi4ve 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

unpreten4ous* modest

eclec4c geang 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 uninten4onal

abate decrease, recede

incisive sharpness of mind

ascertain to determine or discover

coherent logically connected

appraise* to es4mate the value of something

inundate to overwhelm; to flood

immutable* unchangeable

accrue to increase or to gain

supersede* to replace with something beNer

hamper* to prevent the free movement or ac4on of

animosity hatred or biNer hos4lity

deleterious harmful to one’s health

judicious showing sound judgement

impede* to delay or prevent someone or something by obstruc4ng them

acumen sharpness of judgement or insight

audacious bold; fearless

misconstrue* misinterpret

nefarious extremely wicked

brevity concise expression without wasted words

notoriety being famous or well known

homogenous* having the same characteris4cs throughout

nuance a subtle difference

obtrusive imposing to others

depreciate to devalue

derelict abandoned, neglec`ul of duty

interdependent* mutually reliant on each other; interconnected

censure* blame or condemn

ambiguous* uncertain; subject to mul4ple interpreta4ons

complacent self-sa4sfied; indifferent; accep4ng of mediocrity

indisputable* impossible to ques4on or doubt

antagonist* an adversary

intrinsic* inherent or naturally occurring

fortuitous accidental or by chance

hiatus a pause or lapse

emulate* to imitate or strive to equal or surpass; to copy the ac4ons of someone or

something

verbose wordy

assail to aNack someone

robust* strong or healthy; can also be used to describe data as convincing

fathom to understand

accost to approach and speak to someone

acuity insight; sharpness

extrapolate* to es4mate or forecast based on exis4ng trends or date

deferen4al yielding to the opinion or wishes of another

paradox a contradic4on or puzzle

affinity for* a natural liking or aNrac4on to something

aberra4on a devia4on from the normal or proper

proscribe to forbid

par44on* to separate into parts

disconcer4ng confusing; unseNling

atrophy to deteriorate

laud to praise highly

dissonant harsh or irregular in sound

circumvent* to evade or work around something

enduring* las4ng or persis4ng

nullify* to invalidate

extraneous* unimportant

outstrip* outdo or outshine

explicable* able to be accounted for or understood

intangible* unable to be touched

tally* count

cite* quote as evidence for an argument

counterbalance* to offset

compulsory* required

unprecedented* never known or done before

concrete* exis4ng in material form

insurmountable* impossible to overcome

efficacy* the ability to produce a desired or intended result.

eccentric* unconven4onal or slightly strange

meager* lacking in quality or quan4ty

prolong* extend the dura4on of

exemplifica4on* using examples to explain

summa4on* the process of adding things together

counterfactual* rela4ng to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case.

associa4ve* of or rela4ng to associa4on especially of ideas or images

bypass* to go past or around

revela4on* a surprising and previously unknown fact

fabrica4on* something made up

suppress* forcibly put an end to

subordinate* lower in rank or posi4on; less important

vigilant* keeping careful watch for possible dangers

cynical* distrus`ul or skep4cal

ineffectual* not producing the desired effect

vacate* to leave

confer* to grant or bestow

asser4ve* confident and forceful in expressing opinions

repository* a place where things are stored

precarious* not securely held

exac4tude* to be very precise or exact

prudence* risk free judgement; cau4on

ines4mable* too great to be measured

enthralling* holding one’s aNen4on completely

inar4culate* unable to express ideas clearly

adjunct to* something added to another thing but not essen4al

proxy* a subs4tute or stand-in for something else

aberra4on* a devia4on from what is expected

subvert* to undermine

apathy* a lack of interes4ng in something

indoctrinate* brainwash

confound* to confuse someone

desicca4on* dehydra4on or drying out

expound* to explain in detail

protract* to prolong

reprieve* a temporary relief from punishment or challenge

analogical* based on analogy or comparison

precedent in* an earlier event or decision that serves as a guide

extricate* to extract or remove

aNri4on* gradual weakening or reduc4on

amass* to gather or collect amount

intercede* to intervene on behalf of someone

concur* to agree

en4ce* to aNract or tempt

dwindling* gradually decreasing

permissible* allowable

infeasible* not possible to do easily

unfailingly* consistently

forestall* to prevent or delay

presumptuous* overstepping proper boundaries

bestow* to give as a gi?

wrought by* created or caused by

epitomize* to be a perfect example of something

opportune* favorable or well-4med

hallmark* a dis4nguishing characteris4c

enumerate* to list one by one

abridge* to shorten

curtail* to reduce or cut short

for4tude* courage in pain or adversity

dissonance* disagreement

decouple* to separate

mediate* to intervene or to act as an intermediary

reciprocity* mutual exchange or coopera4on

cohesion* unity

rigor* strictness, severity, or thoroughness

steward* a person who looks a?er something