AP Lang Vocab

brigand

armed thief, usually member of a band

circumspect

careful, cautious to avoid risk

commandeer

to take control of by force

cumbersome

clumsy, hard to handle

efface

to erase

relinquish

to give up

spurious

not genuine, not true, not valid

unbridled

uncontrolled

muddle

to make a mess of; to get by; a hopeless mess

deadlock

standstill

predisposed

likely

breach

an opening, a violation or infraction;

spasmodic

sudden and violent but brief

perennial

lasting for a long time

admonish

warn or reprimand someone firmly

ameliorate

to improve

aplomb

composure under stress

bombastic

high-sounding, but meaningless or unimportant language to impress others

callow

young and inexperienced

drivel

useless/boring

epitome

a typical example

exhort

encourage

ex officio

as a result of one's status

infringe

to violate

ingratiate

bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them

interloper

intruder

intrinsic

belonging naturally

inveigh

go against something with passion

lassitude

lack of energy

stringent

strict

surmise

to guess

adventitious

accidental

ascribe

attribute

circuitous

roundabout, not direct

commiserate

sympathize

enjoin

to direct or order

expiate

to make amends for

nominal

existing in name only

peculate

to steal

proclivity

a natural inclination

seditious

rebellious

tenuous

very weak or slight

vitrolic

bitter, sarcastic

wheedle

influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

sang-froid

calmness

affable

friendly

aggrandize

to increase or make greater

amorphous

shapeless

contraband

illegal traffic, smuggled goods

erudite

scholarly

gossamer

thin, light, delicate

inscrutable

difficult to understand

insular

isolated

irrevocable

irreversible

propensity

a natural inclination

querulous

complaining

remonstrate

plead in protest

repudiate

to reject

reverberate

Echo

scurrilous

expressing rude criticism

sedulous

hard working; diligent

inadvertent

accidental

acrimonius

angry and bitter

belie

to contradict

cadence

rhythm

derision

ridicule

disseminate

to spread

extraneous

irrelevant

imbue

to inspire or influence; to saturate

invective

abusive language

languorous

lacking spirit or liveliness

lurid

sensational

partisan

Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause

provincial

narrow-minded

sagacious

wise

stolid

unemotional

visage

face

viscous

thick; sticky

stupor

daze

reproof

criticism for a fault

pugnacious

eager to fight

predilection

preference

pecuniary

relating to money

morose

gloomy

irascible

easily angered

indolent

lazy

ignominious

shameful

forbear

to refrain from

exude

to give off; to emit; to radiate

egregious

extremely bad

doggedly

stubbornly

despotic

exercising absolute power; tyrannical

contrive

to plan cleverly; to devise

castigate

to criticize or punish severely

bemused

confused

asinine

silly, stupid

allay

to lessen