Easy Vocab

Word Defini5on

abundant* exis=ng or available in large quan==es; plen=ful

pervasive exis=ng or spreading through every part of something

adhere to believe in and follow the prac=ces of

precursor a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind

accentuate make more no=ceable or prominent

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advocate to publicly support of recommend

prohibi=ve forbidding or restric=ng something; excessively high or difficult to pay

allude to suggest or call aCen=on to

analogous comparable in certain respects, typically a way which makes clearer the nature

of the things compared

tranquil free from disturbance; calm

anecdote a short amusing or interes=ng story about a real incident or person

relevant closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered

outsized* larger, greater, or more significant than what is considered typical

apprehensive anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen

unaCainable not able to be reached or achieved

arbitrary based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

lineage of descent from an ancestor

assert to state a fact or belief confidently or forcefully

bias prejudice in favor of or against one thing, group, or person compared with

another

concede to admit that something is true or valid aser first denying or resis=ng it

coarseness* the quality of being rough or harsh

validate to check or prove the accuracy or validity of something

corroborate* to confirm or give support to

substan=ate to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of

underscore to emphasize or draw aCen=on to

undermine to lessen the effec=veness, power, or ability of

consensus a general agreement

decisive seCling an issue; producing a definite result

eloquent fluent or persuasive in speaking or wri=ng

exert to make a physical or mental effort

dispute a disagreement, argument, or debate

denounce to publicly declare to be wrong or evil

skep=cal not easily convinced; having doubts or reserva=ons

provoke to s=mulate or give rise to a reac=on or emo=on, typically a strong or

unwelcome one in someone

overlook to miss or fail to no=ce something

repression the restraint, preven=on, or inhibi=on of a feeling or quality

speculate to form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence

subtle so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe

retain to con=nue to have; keep possession of

degrade to treat or regard someone with contempt or disrespect

divergent* tending to be different or develop in different direc=ons

explicit stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt

imminent about to happen

counteract* to oppose or neutralize the effects of something by taking contrary or opposing

ac=ons; to offset or balance out

impede to delay or prevent someone or something by obstruc=ng

prominent important; famous

reciprocate to respond to a gesture or ac=on by making a corresponding one

refute* to prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false

prevalent common

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oppressive unjustly inflic=ng hardship and constraint

novel new or unusual in an interes=ng way

inevitable certain to happen; unavoidable

exert to make a physical or mental effort

obscure* to make unclear, uncertain, or difficult to understand

conven=onal ordinary or commonplace

detractor a person who tries to take away from the quality, value or reputa=on of

something or someone

dispersed* spread widely

elicit evoke or draw out a response, answer, or fact from someone in reac=on to

one’s own ac=ons or ques=ons

catalyze to bring about a chemical reac=on; to bring about or inspire

evade to escape or slip away

exploit to make full use of and derive benefit from; to treat someone unfairly in order

to make money or gain an advantage

sporadic* occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places

momentous* of great importance or significance, especially in having a bearing on future

events

pris=ne* clean and fresh is if new; spotless

constrict* to make narrower or =ghten

ecology study of the natural world

entomology study of insects

gene=cs study of genes

ornithology study of birds

paleontology study of fossils

zoology study of animals

astronomy study of stars and planets

botany study of plants

neuroscience science of the brain

geology study of rocks

anthropology study of human behavior and social organiza=on

archaeology study of historical human ac=vity through the excava=on of physical objects

economics study of monetary systems

ethnography study of individual cultures

folklore study of tradi=onal stores and myths

sociology study of everyday human social behaviors and interac=ons

empirical relying on hard data

hierarchy system of rank

indigenous na=ve

inhibit prevent or impede

pigment color

predisposed having a tendency toward

equitable* fair and just; trea=ng everyone equally

regenerate regrow

s=mulus something that provokes a specific response

indulgent* having or indica=ng a tendency to be overly generous

feasible possible

oblivious unaware

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absolve to clear of wrongdoing; pardon

behold* to see or observe something, osen with a sense of wonder

acclaim to praise openly

rec=fy* to correct or make right

chas=se to cri=cize severely

sa=ate* to sa=sfy

adversary opponent

align to support or adopt the posi=on

comprehensive complete

strenuous* requiring great effort or energy

con=ngent dependent upon

rudimentary very basic

badger to pester or annoy

imposing* having a striking appearance or commanding pressure

deplete to decrease the supply of

adverse unfavorable, unlucky, harmful

ominous menacing, threatening

perpetuate to con=nue; to keep from dying out

erra=c* unpredictable

manifesta=ons* visible or evident signs or expressions of something; to make something clear

or apparent

depict to draw or portray

exacerbate to make worse; to aggravate

expedite to speed up

mone=ze* to make money from something

foreboding an ominous foretelling

aversion intense dislike; revulsion

sedentary passive or inac=ve

occupy* take possession of a place or thing

palatable acceptable to the mind or senses

credible believable

inconsequen=al* lacking importance or significance, trivial, unimportant

convene* to come together for a mee=ng or assembly

opulent extremely wealthy; extravagant

livid extremely angry

yield* to produce or provide

callous insensi=ve

absolve to clear of wrongdoing

me=culous very concerned with details

scru=ny* cri=cal observa=on or examina=on

inherent inborn or naturally occurring in something

marginal unimportant

debilitate to make weak or feeble

debase to lower in value

defunct no longer in existence or use

ar=culate well spoken

alleviate to relieve or make more bearable

unyielding* not giving in

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debilitate to weaken

diligent characterized by steady, earnest, and energe=c applica=on

pedestrian dull, ordinary

malignant causing harm

flaunt to display or show off

desolate depress; bleak; lifeless

convey* to communicate or express something

debunk to prove false

ideology belief system

contemporary current

displace to force someone or something from its home or habitat

pres=ge* the reputa=on or influence arising from success or rank

disposi=on personality

peripheral at the edge of, not central

accolade praise; dis=nc=on

reluctant* unwilling or hesitant

obliterate to completely destroy