AP Vocabulary Set 2

antithesis

antithesis

(noun) a direct opposite; a contrast

ascend

(verb) to move upward; to rise

austere

(adj) strict; stern; harsh

autonomous

(adj) independent; self-contained; free

banal

(adj) common, ordinary, lacking freshness, unoriginal

benign

(adj) not causing harm; of gentle disposition; kind

capricious

(adj) changing suddenly

dawdle

(verb) to waste time, to spend time idly

defamation

(noun) act of harming or ruining another's reputation

esoteric

(adj) understood only by a small group or a select few

exascerbate

(verb) to aggravate; to make worse

extol

(verb) to laud; to praise

fastidious

(adj) paying close attention to detail; critical

furtive

(adj) taking something stealthily or in secret

gregarious

(adj) social; friendly

hypocrite

(noun) someone who says they have particular moral beliefs but behaves in a way that shows these are not sincere; a fake

innate

(adj) existing from birth; inborn; natural

lethargic

(adj) sluggish; lazy

melancholy

(adj) sad; depressed or (noun) sadness; depression

opaque

(adj) not allowing light to pass through

prolific

(adj) abundantly fruitful, marked by great productivity

reprove

(verb) to scold or correct in a gentle manner

symmetry

(noun) balanced proportions

tranquil

(adj) peaceful, calm

venerate

(verb) to honor, to revere, to respect