AP English Language & Composition Vocabulary Flashcards

apathy

lack of interest or emotion

ambiguous

having more than one meaning; vague

fervent

passionate, cares with great intensity

vagrant

an idle wanderer, tramp

undermine

to weaken; to wear the foundation of

oblivious

unaware; unconscious

indifferent

not caring one way or the other; lacking a preference; neutral

obscure

unclear; clouded; partially hidden; hard to understand

objective

without bias (as opposed to subjective)

revere

to worship; to honor

discriminate

to differentiate; to make a clear distinction; to see the difference

embellish

to add fictitious details to; exaggerate

denounce

to speak out against; to condemn

innovate

to be creative; to introduce something new

stagnant

not moving; not flowing; motionless

candid

honest; frank

impartial

unbiased; neutral

discern

to distinguish one thing from another

ostentatious

showing off, pretentious

contentious

quarrelsome, inclined to argue

reprove

to scold or find fault with

pessimism

gloominess; a belief that the bad people always win

cursory

hasty, not thorough

profligate

extremely wasteful; wildly extravagant

miser

a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible

jocular

joking or funny

fracas

uproar; brawl

caricature

a satiric portrait or representation

corroborate

to confirm

precarious

dangerously unstable

expository

explanatory

bolster

support; prop up

daunt

to intimidate; to discourage

inclined

tending toward one direction

uniform

constant; without variety

perceptive

having keen understanding; discerning

superficial

shallow; on the surface only

lucid

clear; easy to understand

immune

safe from harm; protected

aesthetic

concerned with art or beauty

prodigal

extravagant; wasteful

assess

to estimate the value of; to measure

deter

to prevent; to discourage

complacent

smug; self-satisfied; overly confident

contempt

disdain; hatred

eloquent

speaking well; articulate

virtue

moral excellence

vital

essential; necessary

guile

cunning; deceitfulness

biased

prejudiced; not neutral

censor

to delete objectionable material

vulnerable

capable of being harmed

hypocritical

insincere

eccentric

odd; unusual; quirky

disdain

contempt; intense dislike

abstract

theoretical; lacking substance

valid

founded on fact or evidence

subtle

not obvious; hard to spot

enigma

mystery

inevitable

unavoidable; bound to happen

inferred

derived by reasoning; implied as a conclusion

diverse

varied

articulate

speaking well

apprehensive

fearful; worried

benevolent

good; kind-hearted; generous

virulent

very harmful

pious (piety)

deeply religious

skeptical

doubting, questioning

provincial

narrow-minded; unsophisticated

resignation

acceptance of a situation by giving up

illuminate

to light up; make clear

resolution; resolve

determination

servile

overly submissive; cringing; like a servant

diligent

hardworking and careful

refute

disprove

anarchy

lack of government; chaos

discord

disagreement

monotonous

without variety; tiresome

trivial

unimportant; insignificant

profound (profundity)

deep; insightful

enhance

improve, augment

phenomenon

an observable fact or occurrence

enduring

lasting

advocate

to speak in favor of; to support

solitude

state of being alone; seclusion

tentative

temporary; not final

contemporary

living at the same time; modern

provacative (provoke)

exciting; attracting attention

adversary

an enemy, opponent

gravity (grave)

seriousness (secondary meaning)

banal

common; dull; ordinary

depravity

moral corruption; wickedness

temper

to moderate; soften

censure

to blame; to criticize (not the same as censor)

extol

to praise highly

indulgent

pampering oneself; satisfying one's own desires

erratic

irregular; without direction

insipid

bland; boring; tasteless

euphony

pleasant, harmonious sound

antagonist

a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary; resistance