< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (81)

Combat (verb) 

to strive in opposition with force

Once all of the hydrogen is turned into helium, a star will stop fusing hydrogen and will

lose its ability to combat gravity. 

Commentary (noun) 

critical explanation or analysis

Hits like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” introduced a darker edge to the music to complement

the serious commentary in the lyrics.

Commemorate (verb) 

to mark by some ceremony or observation

Jones said Tuesday at a forum commemorating the 40th anniversary of the event that

Wallace later apologized to her for blocking the doors of Foster Auditorium on June 11,

1963.

Commerce (noun) 

commercial, industrial, or professional activity in general

In Roman mythology, Mercury is the god of commerce, travel, and thievery, the Roman

counterpart of the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the Gods. 

Comparable (adjective) 

possessing the same or almost the same characteristics

Body composition is the comparable amounts of fat and lean body tissue found in the

body.

Compatible (adjective) 

capable of existing together in harmony

The scientific community should take on the responsibility to investigate all objects that

could potentially impact Earth down to the size compatible with available technology

and with the public perception of acceptable risk. 

Compensate (verb) 

to make up for the defects of 

Saville and Dewey aptly call their formula reading The Barnum Effect, which goes, "You

have a strong need for other people to like you and for them to admire you. You have a

tendency to be critical of yourself. You have a great deal of unused energy which you have

not turned to your advantage. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are

generally able to compensate for them."

Competence (noun) 

physical, mental, financial, or legal power to perform

The activities and requirements of the cognition and perception program are designed

primarily to develop the student's competence as a researcher.

Complement (verb) 

to fill in what is lacking and make perfect

Hits like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” introduced a darker edge to the music to

complement the serious commentary in the lyrics.

Complex (adjective) 

difficult to understand due to its intricacy

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first

three years of life.

Complication (noun) 

something that causes difficulty, trouble, or lack of ease

If left untreated, an anorexic person could starve to death or die from complications of

malnutrition.