Adapt — to adjust to new conditions

Example: The fish adapted to the colder water over time.

Ambiguous — open to more than one interpretation

Example: The directions were ambiguous, so two students did the wrong assignment.

Analyze — to examine in detail

Example: The scientist analyzed the data before drawing a conclusion.

Arbitrary — based on random choice rather than reason

Example: The teacher's seating chart seemed arbitrary.

Assert — to state confidently

Example: She asserted that the project would finish on time.

Bolster — to support or strengthen

Example: The new evidence bolstered her argument.

Candid — honest and direct

Example: He gave a candid review of the play.

Cite — to quote as evidence or support

Example: The essay cited three studies on sleep.

Convey — to communicate or express

Example: Her tone conveyed frustration.

Corroborate — to confirm with other evidence

Example: A second witness corroborated the story.

Credible — believable or trustworthy

Example: The source was credible and up to date.

Cynical — believing people are selfish

Example: His cynical view made him doubt the fundraiser.

Deduce — to reach a conclusion by logic

Example: From the clues, she deduced who took the book.

Derive — to get something from a source

Example: The word derives from Latin.

Diligent — showing careful effort

Example: She was a diligent student who reviewed every night.

Discern — to notice or distinguish

Example: He could discern a pattern in the numbers.

Dispute — to argue against

Example: They disputed the referee's call.

Docile — easy to teach or handle

Example: The docile puppy learned tricks quickly.

Elaborate — detailed and carefully planned

Example: She gave an elaborate explanation of the process.

Eloquent — clear and persuasive in speaking

Example: His eloquent speech moved the audience.

Empathy — understanding others' feelings

Example: She showed empathy for the new student.

Endorse — to publicly support

Example: The club endorsed the new policy.

Equivocal — unclear or ambiguous

Example: His answer was equivocal, so no one knew his plan.

Exaggerate — to make larger than reality

Example: He exaggerated the size of the fish he caught.

Excerpt — a short piece from a larger work

Example: The test included an excerpt from a novel.

Frugal — careful with money

Example: Her frugal habits helped her save for college.

Hinder — to get in the way of

Example: The rain hindered the search.

Hypothesis — a proposed explanation to test

Example: The experiment tested their hypothesis.

Imply — to suggest without saying directly

Example: Her tone implied she was unhappy.

Incentive — something that motivates

Example: The prize was an incentive to study.

Inconclusive — not settling an answer

Example: The results were inconclusive, so they tested again.

Indifferent — not caring either way

Example: He was indifferent about which movie they watched.

Inevitable — sure to happen

Example: Given the weather, the delay was inevitable.

Integrity — honesty and strong morals

Example: She handled the money with integrity.

Lucid — clear and easy to follow

Example: The textbook gave a lucid explanation of fractions.

Mitigate — to make less severe

Example: A plan was made to mitigate the damage.

Nuance — a subtle difference

Example: She understood the nuance of his joke.

Obscure — not well known or clear

Example: The author used an obscure reference.

Plausible — reasonable or believable

Example: His excuse was plausible but unlikely.

Precede — to come before

Example: The warm-up precedes the game.

Profound — deep or far-reaching

Example: The book had a profound effect on her.

Resilient — able to recover quickly

Example: The resilient team bounced back after the loss.

Scrutinize — to examine closely

Example: She scrutinized the contract before signing.

Skeptical — doubtful or questioning

Example: He was skeptical of the too-good offer.

Substantiate — to prove with evidence

Example: The data substantiated her claim.

Superficial — on the surface only

Example: His understanding was superficial.

Tentative — not final or certain

Example: They made a tentative plan for the weekend.

Vivid — bright or very clear

Example: She gave a vivid description of the sunset.

Volatile — likely to change quickly

Example: The stock price was volatile all week.

Vulnerable — open to harm

Example: The small boat was vulnerable to the storm.