AP Lit Vocab (copy) (copy) (copy) NEW*

Deride - verb

To mock or ridicule someone or something with contempt

Garrulous - adjective

Excessively talkative, especially about trivial matters

Imperturbable - adjective

Unable to be upset, agitated, or excited; calm and composed

Impinge - verb

To have an effect or impact on something, especially in a negative or intrusive way; to strike against

Litany - noun

A long, repetitive list or recitation, originally a form of prayer in church services

myopic - adjective

lacking foresight or imagination; narrow-minded; literally nearsighted

keenness - noun

sharpness or intensity, either of thought, perception, or desire

laden - adjective

heavily loaded or burdened with something

perfunctory - adjective

done with minimal effort, reflection, or interest; superficial

interminable - adjective

seemingly endless; dragging on without an apparent conclusion

satiate - verb

to satisfy a desire or appetite fully, often to the point of excess; to fill or gratify completely

injunction - noun

a formal command or order, often issued by a court, directing someone to do or refrain from doing something

effusion - noun

an unrestrained outpouring of feeling or expression, often emotional or verbal; also, the act of pouring out a liquid 

inure - verb

To accustom someone to something unpleasant or difficult, making them tougher, or less sensitive to it; to harden or habituate

suppliant - noun

A person who makes a humble or earnest plea, often begging for help or money

inexorable - adjective

impossible to stop or prevent; unyielding or relentless in pursuit of a course or outcome

solicitude - noun

care or concern for someone or something, often expressed through attentiveness or anxiety for their well-being

paroxysm - noun

a sudden, intense outburst or fit, often of emotion, laughter, or physical symptoms like convulsions  

discernment - noun

the ability to judge or perceive things clearly, often with keen insight or understanding; good judgement 

ameliorate - verb

to make something better or improve a situation, condition, or problem

pittance - noun

a very small or inadequate amount of money or payment, often barely enough to survive

penury - noun

extreme poverty or destitution; a state of lacking basic necessities

predilection - noun

a preference or liking for something; a tendency to favor a particular thing

chimeric - adjective

unreal, fantastical, or wildly imaginative; often referring to something that is impossible or exists only in imagination 

prognosticate - verb

to predict or forecast something, especially based on signs or evidence 

Dogmatism - noun / dogmatic- adj

The tendency to assert opinions in an arrogant or authoritative manner, without regard for evidence or opposing views

Ignominious adj

Causing or deserving public disgrace, shame, or humiliation

Exculpate - verb

To clear someone from blame or guilt, often by presenting evidence of innocence 

Immure - verb

To enclose or confine someone within walls, especially against their will, often implying imprisonment or isolation

Sagacity - noun / sagacious - adj

Acuteness of mental discernment and soundness of judgement; wisdom in practical affairs

Ennui - noun

A feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest or boredom

Remonstrate - verb

To protest or object forcefully, often in a reproachful or indignant matter

Sophism - noun

A deliberately deceptive or fallacious argument, especially one that appears plausible at first glance

Machination - noun

A scheme or plot, usually crafty or underhanded, devised to achieve a clandestine goal

Imperious - adj

Arrogantly domineering or assuming command without justification; haughty and overbearing

Antithesis - noun

the direct opposite of something; a contrast or opposition between two things 

Sepulchral - adj

gloomy, somber, or suggestive of a tomb or burial; mournful in tone or appearance

Nonplussed - adj

surprised, confused, or bewildered to the point of being unsure how to react or proceed

Tepid - adj

Lukewarm; showing little enthusiasm or warmth; moderately warm in temperature

Tentatively - adverb

In a hesitant, uncertain, or cautious manner; not definite or fully committed

diffuse - verb / adjective

spread out over a large area; not concentrated or focused

disquieting - adj

causing unease or worry; disturbing

inconsequential - addj

of little or no importance; trivial

infinitesimal - adj

extremely small; immeasurably tiny

diaphanous - adj

light, delicate, and translucent; almost transparent

archaic - adj

belonging to an earlier period; no longer in everyday use; antiquated

banal - adj

lacking originality or freshness; trite and commonplace

dulcet - adj

sweet and soothing to hear; melodious and pleasant-sounding

languor - noun

a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy or vitality; lethargy

pedant - noun / pedantic - adj

a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules, especially in displaying academic learning; one who overemphasizes book knowledge or formalities

tumultuous - adj

characterized by chaos, disorder, or violent agitation; wildly disturbed

elusive - adj

difficult to catch, find or achieve; tending to evade grasp or understanding

repression - noun / repress - verb

the act of subduing or holding back (especially emotions, instincts, or desires) by force or restraint

implore - verb

to beg or plead with someone urgently and desperately

exalt - verb

to raise in rank, power, or character; to praise or glorify highly

misconstrue - verb

to interpret or understand something incorrectly; to mistake meaning of

derision - noun

contemptuous ridicule or mockery; scornful laughter

undulate - verb

to move or cause to move in a smooth, wavelike motion; to rise and fall like waves

debase - verb

to lower in quality, value, or dignity; to degrade or corrupt

congenial - adj

pleasant, friendly, and sociable; suited to one’s taste or nature

nondescript - adj

lacking distinctive or interesting features; dull, ordinary, or unremarkable

askew - adj / adverb

not in a straight or level position; crooked, awry

superfluous - adj

unnecessary, especially through being more than enough; excess or surplus

creedo - noun

a statement of the beliefs or aims that guide someone’s actions; a creed

cynical - adj

believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity; pessimistic and scornful 

morbid - adj

characterized by an unhealthy interest in disturbing or unpleasant subjects, especially death, disease, or horror; gloomy or gruesome

evasive - adj / evasion - noun

tending to avoid direct answers, commitment, or confrontation; deliberately vague or elusive

boisterous - adj

noisy, energetic, rowdy, and often cheerfully unrestrained

brazen - adj

bold and without shame; shamelessly impudent or defiant; made of or resembling brass

unscrupulous - adj

having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair; willing to exploit others without scruples

histrionic - adj

overly theatrical or melodramatic in expression or behavior; deliberately affected to attract attention

conglomeration - noun

a collection or mixture of diverse and often unrelated things; an aggregate

baleful - adj

threatening harm or evil; menacing; having a harmful or destructive influence

blithely - adverb

in a cheerfully casual or carefree way, often showing a lack of appropriate concern

reproachful - adj

expressing disapproval, blame, or disappointment

innocuous - adj

not harmful or offensive; unlikely to provoke strong reaction or danger

ruefully - adverb

in a way that expresses sorrowful regret or self-reproach, often with a touch of wry humor

surreptitiously - adverb

in a secretive or stealthy manner, especially to avoid notice

pallid - adj

abnormally pale, especially from illness, exhaustion, or lack of sunlight; lacking vitality or intensity

temerity - noun

excessive or reckless confidence; audacity bordering on foolhariness

teeming - adj

abundant or swarming with something; filled to overflowing

impervious - adj

not capable of being affected, penetrated, or influenced; resistant or immune

acrid - adj

sharp, bitter, or irritating in taste or smell; harshly pungent or caustic.

thwart - verb

to prevent someone from accomplishing something; to oppoe or block successfully

august - adj

inspiring reverence or admiration; marked by majestic dignity or grandeur

malediction - noun

a curse or spoken expression of wishing harm or evil upon someone; an imprecation of misfortune

pagan - adj / noun

relating to a religion that worships multiple deities or nature, especially one not among the major religions; (as noun) a person holding such beliefs, often contrasted with monotheistic faiths

slatternly - adj / adverb

untidy, slovenly, or dirty in appearance or habits, especially in a way suggesting carelessness or moral laxity

progenitive - adj

capable of or relating to reproduction; having the tendency to produce offspring or propagate

Derelict - adj / noun

In a state of disrepair or abandonment due to neglect; (as noun) a person abandoned by society, often homeless or destitute

Abase - verb

To lower in rank, office, prestige, or esteem; to humble or degrade someone or oneself

Plaintive - adj

Expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournful or sad in tone

Insatiable - adj

Impossible to satisfy; always wanting more; greedily desirous

Ominous - adj

Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening or menacing.

Omen - noun

A phenomenon or event regarded as a prophetic sign of future good or evil; a portent

chastity - noun

the state of abstaining from sexual activity; purity in conduct and intention, often associated with moral and religious restraint

syncopate - verb

to displace or accentuate rhythmic beats by shifting them from strong to weak positions, creating unexpected emphasis in music or movement

lament - noun/verb

(noun) a passionate expression of grief or sorrow; (as verb) to mourn or express deep regret audibly through action

phallic - adj

resembling or symbolizing a phallus; often suggestive of male sexuality or patriarchal power in shape or connotation

anguish - noun

severe mental or physical suffering; excruciating distress or torment