AP Lit Vocab

Acquiesce

To accept, comply, or give in without protest or enthusiasm.

Admonish

To warn, counsel, or reprimand someone firmly and earnestly.

Affirm

To state or declare positively and with confidence; to uphold as valid.

Ameliorate

To make something bad or unsatisfactory better; to improve.

Assert

To declare a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.

Augment

To make something greater or larger by adding to it; to increase.

Bolster

To support, strengthen, or reinforce an argument, claim, or structure.

Cajole

To persuade someone to do something through gentle coaxing, flattery, or persistence.

Capitalize

To take full advantage of an opportunity or situation for personal or strategic gain.

Cease

To bring or come to an end; to halt or stop.

Coincide

To occur at the same time or correspond closely in nature or belief.

Compel

To force or drive someone to take a specific action.

Confine

To keep or restrict within specified limits, boundaries, or spaces.

Construe

To interpret or understand the meaning of words, actions, or events in a particular manner.

Contradict

To assert the opposite of a statement; to be inconsistent with.

Contemplate

To consider, view, or ponder deeply and thoughtfully over time.

Critique

To evaluate or review a work, theory, or performance in a systematic and detailed manner.

Deduce

To reach a logical conclusion or fact through reasoning and available evidence.

Defer

To postpone to a later date, or to yield respectfully to another party's judgment.

Denounce

To publicly declare something to be wrong, evil, or deserving of blame.

Depict

To portray or describe through words, illustration, or other media.

Differentiate

To recognize, mark, or explain the differences between two or more things.

Distinguish

To perceive clearly or point out what makes something distinct or unique.

accusatory

Indicating or suggesting that someone has committed a fault, wrongdoing, or crime.

acerbic

Expressing sharp, harsh, or biting sarcasm and forthright criticism.

acrimonious

Marked by strong resentment, bitterness, and hostility in speech or debate.

ambivalent

Holding mixed, uncertain, or contradictory feelings toward a subject.

analytical

Employing logical, systematic, and methodical examination of constituent parts.

angst-ridden

Filled with deep anxiety, chronic worry, insecurity, or dread.

apathetic

Showing a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern; thoroughly indifferent.

apocalyptic

Foreshadowing or suggesting total destruction, catastrophe, or the end of the world.

apprehensive

Feeling uneasy, fearful, or worried that something unpleasant will occur.

bantering

Characterized by light, playful, and teasing conversation.

belligerent

Eager to fight, hostile, aggressive, and combative.

bemused

Confused, bewildered, or mildly puzzled in an amused manner.

blissful

Experiencing complete, radiant happiness and supreme contentment.

burlesque

Involving comical, exaggerated, and absurd mockery or caricature of a serious topic.

callous

Emotionally hardened; unfeeling and indifferent to the suffering of others.

capricious

Prone to sudden, erratic, and unpredictable changes in mood, mind, or behavior.

caustic

Intensely sarcastic, corrosive, and cutting in expression.

colloquial

Using familiar, conversational style characteristic of informal speech rather than formal writing.

credulous

Readily believing things on slight evidence; easily deceived or gullible.

conciliatory

Intended to pacify, placate, or restore goodwill and reduce friction.

condescending

Displaying a patronizing attitude of haughty superiority.

conscientious

Dedicated to doing what is right; thorough, careful, and guided by duty.

contemplative

Given to prolonged, serious, and reflective thought.

contentious

Tending to cause dispute, controversy, or active argument.

contemptuous

Expressing deep disdain, scorn, or lack of respect.

critical

Providing evaluative judgment or finding fault based on analysis.

cryptic

Having an enigmatic, obscure, or puzzling meaning that is difficult to decipher.

cynical

Distrustful of human sincerity and believing people act solely out of self-interest.

deferential

Showing courteous regard, submission, or deep respect toward another's authority or status.

derisive

Characterized by scornful mockery, ridicule, or contemptuous laughter.

despondent

Low in spirits from a severe loss of hope, courage, or optimism.

detached

Aloof, neutral, and emotionally separate from a situation.

didactic

Designed or intended to instruct, teach, or impart moral lessons, often in a pedantic way.

disdainful

Showing contempt or scorn toward something considered completely unworthy.

dismayed

Feeling distress, disappointment, or disheartened confusion.

disparaging

Expressing a derogatory, slighting, or depreciative opinion that devalues someone or something.

doleful

Expressing sorrow, mourning, or melancholy; mournfully sad.

dolorous

Marked by, causing, or expressing profound grief, physical pain, or acute sorrow.

dubious

Hesitating or doubtful; not to be relied upon, suspect, or questionable.

earnest

Showing sincere, intense, and serious conviction or purpose.

ebullient

Overflowing with cheerful enthusiasm, vigor, or high spirits.

effusive

Expressing feelings of gratitude, approval, or pleasure in an unrestrained, gushing manner.

egocentric

Thinking primarily of oneself, with little regard for the needs, feelings, or views of others.

elegiac

Expressing sorrow or lamentation, particularly for someone or something that is lost or gone.

elevated

Lofty, noble, or dignified in character, thought, or style.

equitable

Fair, just, and treating all parties with equal balance.

erudite

Displaying extensive knowledge, scholarship, and profound learning.

esoteric

Understood by or intended for only a select group with specialized, obscure knowledge.

excoriating

Harshly, sharply, and scathingly critical; censuring severely.

facetious

Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate, flippant humor.

fanciful

Overly guided by imagination, caprice, or whimsy rather than reason and reality.

feigning innocence

Pretending to lack knowledge, guilt, or complicity regarding a wrongdoing.

fervent

Characterized by intense, passionate, and warm emotion or dedication.

flippant

Lacking proper respect or seriousness; dismissively disrespectful.

foreboding

Conveying a strong inner sense of approaching misfortune, evil, or catastrophe.

formal

Following rigid customs, established conventions, and polite, structured protocol.

forthright

Direct, straightforward, and outspoken without hesitation or evasion.

frenzied

Wildly excited, frantic, and violently agitated.

garrulous

Excessively and ramblingly talkative, especially about trivial matters.

grudging

Unwilling, reluctant, or resentful in giving, accepting, or allowing something.

heretical

Departing significantly from accepted standards, orthodox beliefs, or established dogmas.

haughty

Disdainfully proud, arrogant, and blatantly looking down upon others.

impartial

Treating all rivals or disputants equally; completely neutral and fair-minded.

incisive

Penetrating, clear-thinking, and cutting directly to the core of an issue.

indignant

Feeling or expressing justifiable anger aroused by injustice, meanness, or unfairness.

informal

Relaxed, casual, and conversational, without ceremonial or strict convention.

inquisitive

Given to asking questions, examining matters closely, and eager for learning.

insidious

Working or spreading harmfully in a subtle, stealthy, and treacherous manner.

insistent

Demanding attention persistently and refusing to relent or take no for an answer.

insolent

Showing a rude, arrogant, and boldly disrespectful attitude toward others.

ironic

Conveying a meaning that is the opposite of its literal interpretation, or highlighting a striking incongruity.

irreverent

Showing a deliberate lack of respect for people, customs, or institutions generally taken seriously.

jovial

Cheerful, warm-hearted, and characterized by hearty, good-humored friendliness.

judicious

Displaying sound judgment, wisdom, and careful prudence in decision-making.

learned

Possessing extensive knowledge, scholarly expertise, and profound academic study.

lyrical

Expressing deep personal emotions in an evocative, poetic, and melodious manner.

melodramatic

Exaggerated, sensationalized, and excessively theatrical or emotional in style or tone.