AP LANG Vocab Enrichment

ambivalent

(adj.) having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

S: uncertain; unsure

A: unequivocal; certain

avant-garde

(adj.) favoring new and unusual or experimental ideas, especially in the arts, or the people introducing them.

S: innovative; advanced

A: conservative; reactionary

belie

(v.) disguise or contradict; give a false impression

S: contradict; falsify

A: reveal; uncover

blithe

(adj.) showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper

S: heedless; careless; unworried

A: thoughtful; caring

crass

(adj.) lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence

S: stupid; insensitive; mindless

A: mindful; sharp; clean; smart; intelligent

dichotomy

(n.) a division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different

S: division; separation

A: unity; similarity

disavow

(v.) deny any responsibility or support for

S: deny; disclaim; reject

A: claim; accept

discerning

(adj.) having or showing good judgement

S: tasteful; aware; observing

A: indiscriminate; careless

ephemeral

(adj.) lasting for a very short time

S: short; brief; transient

A: prolonged; extensive; lengthy

epigram

(n.) a witty saying or remark, expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way

S: quip; witticism

A: insignificance; irrelevance

equanimity

(n.) mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation

S: composure; calmness

A: rowdiness; discomposure; anxiety

fortuitous

(adj.) happening by chance or accident rather than design

S: chance; unexpected

A: calculated; predictable

magnanimous

(adj.) generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person

S: generous; charitable

A: selfish; mean-spirited; unwelcoming

pacifist

(n.) one who is against war or the use of violence

S: peacemaker; appeaser

A: warmonger; instigator

paternalistic

(adj.) tending to supply the needs of or regulate the activities of those under one's control

S: father-like; parental

A: unsolicited; child-ish

reverent

(adj.) feeling or showing deep and solemn respect

S: respectful; reverential

A: disrespectful; inconsiderate

saccharine

(adj.) excessively sweet or sentimental

S: oversentimental; over-emotional

A: cold-hearted; serious

staunch

(adj.) loyal and committed in attitude; (of a wall) of strong or firm construction

S: loyal; faithful; devoted

A: unfaithful; unloyal

substantiate

(v.) provide evidence to support or prove the truth of

S: prove; verify

A: disprove; refute

validate

(v.) check or prove the validity or accuracy of something

S: prove; verify; ratify; authorize

A: disprove; deny

Acquiesce

(v.) accept something reluctantly but without protest.

S: permit; allow

A: refuse; deny

Belligerent

(adj.) someone who fights/is involved in physical conflict

S: hostile; aggressive

A: peaceful; friendly

Callous

(adj.) showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others

S: heartless; insensitive; unempathetic

A: empathetic; caring

Censure

(v.) express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement

S: condemn; attack; abuse

A: praise; commend

Conciliatory

(adj.) intended or likely to placate or pacify; showing good-will to end an argument

S: peacemaking; appeasing

A: antagonizing; instigating

Despondency

(n.) a state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage

S: disheartenment; discouragement; hopelessness

A: hopefulness; cheerfulness; joy

Dubious

(adj.) hesitating or doubting; not to be relied on; suspect

S: suspicious; doubtful; indefinite

A: certain; trustworthy

Equivocal

(adj.) open to more than one interpretation; questionable in nature

S: ambiguous; uncertain; unclear

A: clear; certain

Euphony

(n.) the quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words

S: harmony; unison

A: inharmonious; cacophony

Feign

(v.) pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury)

S: simulate; bluff

A: sincere; truthful

Inherent

(adj.) existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute

S: intrinsic; structural; essential; ingrained

A: developed; acquired

Invective

(n.) insulting, abusive, or highly critical language

S: insult; vulgar; reproach

A: praise; celebrative

Paucity

(n.) the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts

S: scarcity; shortage; lack

A: abundance; plentifulness

Pragmatic

(adj.) dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations

S: realistic; sensible

A: impractical; unrealistic

Pretentious

(adj.) attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed

S: overambitious; inflated; artificial

A: natural; unaffected

Prosaic

(adj.) having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty

S: commonplace; unromantic; ordinary; dull

A: vibrant; imaginative

Protuberant

(adj.) protruding; bulging

S: popping; swollen; bulbous; prominent

A: small; sunken

Supercilious

(adj.) behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

S: arrogant; conceited; pompous

A: humble; modest

Vindictive

(adj.) having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge

S: vengeful; unforgiving

A: forgiving; peaceful

Wrought

(adj.) (of metals) beaten out or shaped by hammering

S: malleable; pliable

A: rigid; hard

Abscond

(v.) leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft

S: escape; flee

A: stay; remain

Aesthetic

(adj.) concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

S: artistic; creative

A: dull; boring

Colloquial

(adj.) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary

S: conversational; vernacular

A: stilted; formal

Cynical

(adj.) believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity

S: skeptical; scornful

A: optimistic; trusting

Deleterious

(adj.) causing harm or damage

S: destructive; ruining

A: aiding; helpful

Didactic

(adj.) intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive

S: academic; teacherly

A: unenlightening; uninformative

Diatribe

(n.) a forceful or bitter verbal attack against something or someone

S: denunciation; objection

A: compliment; recommendation

Disillusion

(n.) disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be

S: disappoint; embitter

A: amuse; delight

Emphatic

(adj.) showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly

S: assertive; forceful

A: weak; uncertain

Esoteric

(adj.) intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized interests

S: mystical; arcane

A: common; familiar

Exhort

(v.) strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something

S: advise; persuade

A: dissuade; discourage

Exploit

(v.) make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource)

S: utilize; abuse

A: neglect; misuse

Feasible

(adj.) possible to do easily or conveniently

S: practical; reasonable

A: unrealistic; impossible

Mercurial

(adj.) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind

S: volatile; changeable

A: constant; stable

Pedantic

(adj.) someone who's too concerned with literal accuracy or formality

S: pompous; stilted

A: simple; plain

Poignant

(adj.) evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret

S: touching; moving

A: happy; cheerful

Premise

(n.) a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion

S: assumption; hypothesis

A: denial; rejection

Punctilious

(adj.) showing great attention to detail or correct behavior

S: meticulous; precise

A: informal; careless

Reportorial

(adj.) of or characteristic of newspaper reporters

S: journalistic; editorial

A: imaginative; unlikely

Synonymous

(adj.) having the same or similar meaning as another word or phrase in the same language

S: compatible; identical

A: different; dissimilar

Attenuate

(v.) to reduce in force, effect, or value

S: weaken; diminish

A: strengthen; intensify

Auspicious

(adj.) conducive to success; favorable

S: favorable; propitious

A: inauspicious; ominous

Chauvinism

(n.) excessive or prejudiced support for one's own cause, group, or gender

S: nationalism; ethnocentrism

A: impartiality; open-mindedness

Churlish

(adj.) rude in a mean-spirited and surly way

S: rude; uncivil

A: polite; courteous

Contempt

(n.) the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn

S: disdain; scorn

A: respect; admiration

Delirious

(adj.) in an acutely disturbed state of mind resulting from illness or intoxication

S: frenzied; hysterical

A: calm; collected

Delude

(v.) to cause someone to believe something that is not true

S: deceive; mislead

A: clarify; enlighten

Disparage

(v.) to regard or represent as being of little worth

S: belittle; denigrate

A: praise; compliment

Enigmatic

(adj.) difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious

S: mysterious; puzzling

A: clear; obvious

Erudite

(adj.) having or showing great knowledge or learning

S: scholarly; knowledgeable

A: ignorant; uninformed

Frivolous

(adj.) not having any serious purpose or value

S: trivial; superficial

A: serious; important

Hedonistic

(adj.) engaged in the pursuit of pleasure; sensually self-indulgent

S: pleasure-seeking; self-indulgent

A: self-denying; ascetic

Indignant

(adj.) feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

S: resentful; outraged

A: content; apathetic

Inexorable

(adj.) impossible to stop or prevent

S: unrelenting; inevitable

A: flexible; merciful

Laud

(v.) to praise highly, especially in a public context

S: praise; extol

A: criticize; condemn

Laudatory

(adj.) expressing praise and commendation

S: complimentary; admiring

A: critical; disparaging

Morose

(adj.) sullen and ill-tempered

S: gloomy; sullen

A: cheerful; upbeat

Obsequious

(adj.) obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

S: fawning; servile

A: assertive; independent

Ornamented

(v.) decorated or embellished

S: embellished; decorated

A: stripped; simplified

Strident

(adj.) loud and harsh; grating

S: harsh; grating

A: soft; mellow

Alacrity

(n.) cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness to do something

S: eagerness; enthusiasm

A: apathy; indifference

Amiability

(n.) the quality of being friendly, pleasant, and good-natured

S: hospitality; affability

A: unfriendliness; cold-hearted

Arbitrary

(adj.) based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

S: random; inconsistent

A: purposeful; rational

Convolute

(v.) to make something complex, intricate, or difficult to follow

S: complicated; elaborate

A: easy; simple

Demure

(adj.) reserved, modest, or shy in behavior or appearance

S: mild; timid

A: loud; obnoxious

Diffident

(adj.) lacking self-confidence; shy or reserved

S: humble; meek

A: confident; conceited

Effusive

(adj.) expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or excessive manner

S: gushy; extravagant

A: restrained; reserved

Elated

(v.) to make someone ecstatically happy or joyful

S: thrilled; exhilarated

A: miserable; despressed

Idiomatic

(adj.) relating to or using expressions or phrases that are natural to a particular language

S: vernacular; normal

A: unusual; rare

Inculcated

(v.) to instill an idea, attitude, or habit by persistent instruction or repetition

S: teach; implant

A: learn; neglect

Incredulous

(adj.) unwilling or unable to believe something; skeptical or disbelieving

S: doubtful; unconvinced

A: trusting; credulous

Improvident

(adj.) not showing foresight; careless in regard to future needs or consequences; lacking thrift

S: wasteful; excessive

A: cautious; sensible

Maudlin

(adj.) overly sentimental, often in a tearful or self-pitying way

S: emotional; weepy

A: serious; unemotional

Metonymy

(n.) the substitution of the name of one thing for that of another with which it is closely associated

S: analogy; comparison

A: literal; surface-level

Objective

(adj.) not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; based on facts

S: impartial; unbiased

A: biased; prejudiced

Ominous

(adj.) giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening

S: menacing; sinister

A: auspicious; promising

Orthodoxy

(adj.) conforming to established or traditional beliefs, practices, or doctrines

S: conviction; creed

A: disbelief; atheism

Precipitous

(adj.) very steep, often referring to a cliff or a sudden, rapid change

S: abrupt; vertiginous

A: gradual; prolonged

Subjective

(adj.) based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions

S: prejudiced; biased

A: neutral; impartial

Antithesis

(n.) a contrast or opposition between two things, often used in rhetoric

S: inverse; opposite

A: same; similar