AP Language & Composition Vocab 5

acuity

(n.) sharpness (particularly of the mind or senses)

Synonyms: keenness, acuteness

Antonyms: dullness, obtuseness

delineate

(v.) to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to represent pictorially

Synonyms: depict, picture, render

depraved

(adj.) marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles

Synonyms: perverted, degenerate, vicious, corrupt

Antonyms: moral, virtuous, upright, uncorrupted

enervate

(v.) to weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of; enfeeble, hamstring

Synonyms: impair, cripple, paralyze

Antonyms: invigorate, strengthen, buttress

esoteric

(adj.) intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret

Synonyms: occult, cryptic, arcane, recondite

Antonyms: accessible, comprehensible, intelligible

fecund

(adj.) fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive

Synonyms: fertile, teeming, prolific

Antonyms: infertile, barren, unproductive

fiat

(n.) an arbitrary order or decree; a command or act of will or consciousness

Synonyms: edict, dictum, ukase

figment

(n.) a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion

Synonyms: creation, invention, fancy

garner

(v.) to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away, as for future use

Synonyms: collect, accumulate, accrue

Antonyms: scatter, squander, waste, dissipate

hallow

(v.) to set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly, revere

Synonyms: venerate, bless

Antonyms: desecrate, define, profane

idiosyncrasy

(n.) a peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify

Synonyms: eccentricity, quirk, mannerism

ignominy

(n.) shame and disgrace

Synonyms: dishonor, humiliation, disrepute, odium

Antonyms: honor, glory, acclaim

mundane

(adj.) earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary

Synonyms: prosaic, humdrum, routine, subtenancy

Antonyms: heavenly, unworldly, spiritual, transcendental

nuance

(n.) a subtle or slight variation (as in color, meaning, quality), delicate gradation or shade of difference

Synonyms: shade, nicety, refinement

overweeing

(adj.) conceited, presumptuous; excessive, immoderate

Synonyms: arrogant, unbridled, inflated

Antonyms: restrained, understated, modest, meek

penchant

(n.) a strong attraction or inclination

Synonyms: proclivity, predilection

Antonyms: disinclination, aversion

reputed

(adj.) according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation; (part.) alleged

Synonyms: putative, reputable, supposed

Antonyms: proven, corroborated, authenticated

sophistry

(n.) reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy

Synonyms: specious reasoning

sumptuous

(adj) costly, rich, magnificent

Synonyms; lavish, munificent, opulent, splendid

Antonyms: skimpy, stingy, niggardly, spartan

ubiquitous

(adj.) present or existing everywhere

Synonyms: omnipresent, pervasive, universal

Antonyms: restricted, limited, rare, scarce