AP English 11 - C & D List

cacophony

A harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds

cavalier

Showing a lack of concern or seriousness

confabulate

To invent or fabricate information, often without intending to deceive

circuitous

Longer and less direct than necessary

clandestine

Kept secret or hidden

colloquial

Used in ordinary, informal conversation

complacent

Too satisfied with oneself or one's situation

corroborate

To confirm or support with evidence

cajole

To persuade someone through flattery or gentle pressure

conflagration

A large, destructive fire

contingent

Dependent on something else; conditional

complicit

Involved in or responsible for a wrongdoing

catharsis

The release of strong or suppressed emotions

chicanery

Deception or trickery used to achieve a goal

cannonade

A continuous or heavy attack of artillery or other weapons

caustic

Bitingly sarcastic or critical

cursory

Done quickly and without careful attention

chagrin

Distress or embarrassment caused by failure or disappointment

curtail

To reduce or shorten something

culpable

Deserving blame for a wrongdoing

clemency

Mercy or leniency, especially toward someone being punished

conflate

To combine two or more things into one, often incorrectly

crux

The central or most important point of an issue

castigate

To criticize or punish severely

collude

To secretly cooperate for an illegal or dishonest purpose

dais

A raised platform for speakers or honored people

dichotomy

A division between two contrasting things

debase

To lower in quality, value, or dignity

debonair

Confident, charming, and sophisticated

deleterious

Harmful or damaging

denizen

An inhabitant or resident of a particular place

defer

To postpone or delay

deity

A god or goddess

deportment

A person's behavior or manner

draconian

Extremely harsh or severe

deprecate

To express disapproval of or belittle

dexterity

Skill and ease in using the hands

digress

To move away from the main topic

dilapidated

Run-down or in poor condition

disavowal

A denial or rejection of responsibility or belief

discernible

Able to be noticed or recognized

disseminate

To spread information widely

dissipate

To gradually disappear or cause to disappear

divert

To redirect something from its original course

docile

Easily taught, managed, or controlled

diatribe

An angry, forceful speech or criticism

delineation

A clear description or outline

denigrate

To criticize unfairly or belittle

derivative

Imitative rather than original

decry

To publicly condemn or criticize