AP Lang Vocab List - Units 1-15 (Compiled)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Units 1-15 of the AP Lang vocab list.

approbation

approval or praise.

decadence

moral decline; excessive self-indulgence.

elicit

to draw out or evoke.

aplomb

self-confidence or poise, especially in challenging situations.

expostulate

to express strong disapproval or disagreement.

hackneyed

overused; cliched; lacking freshness.

adventitious

happening by chance; accidental; not inherent.

ascribe

to attribute to a cause or source.

expedite

to speed up; hasten.

aggrandize

to increase in power, influence, or wealth; to enhance.

amorphous

shapeless; without a definite form.

axiomatic

self-evident; universally accepted.

contraband

illegal goods; prohibited by law.

equitable

fair; just; dealing fairly.

infringe

to violate a right or law; trespass.

inscrutable

difficult to understand; mysterious.

intercede

to intervene on behalf of someone else.

jaded

wearied or bored by excess; exhausted.

interloper

one who intrudes where not wanted; trespasser.

advertent

attentive; deliberate; mindful.

nominal

existing in name only; not real; minimal.

propensity

natural inclination or tendency.

salutary

beneficial; healthful.

inveigh

to condemn or denounce vehemently.

petulant

pouty or irritable; ill-tempered.

peculate

to embezzle or misappropriate funds.

proclivity

natural tendency or predisposition.

repudiate

to reject or disown; refuse to accept.

sepulchral

relating to a tomb; gloomy or morbid.

provincial

narrow-minded; limited; unsophisticated; of a province.

transcend

to rise above or go beyond; surpass.

wheedle

to coax or persuade with flattery.

unwieldy

difficult to carry or manage due to size or complexity.

brusque

abrupt and blunt in manner or speech.

cajole

to persuade through flattery or coaxing.

contrive

to cleverly devise or plan.

demagogue

a political leader who exploits popular prejudices and emotions; rabble-rouser.

corpulent

fat; obese.

dispassionate

impartial; calm and unemotional.

culpable

deserving blame; guilty.

dilatory

slow to act; delaying.

abate

to lessen in degree or intensity; subside.

adulation

excessive praise or flattery.

annotation

a note added for explanation or comment.

covert

hidden; secret; not openly shown.

debonair

charming, suave, and confident.

equanimity

mental calmness and even temper, especially in adversity.

inconsequential

not important; trivial.

expurgate

to remove objectionable material from a text.

gauntlet

a glove; or a difficult ordeal to endure.

equivocate

to use ambiguous language to avoid commitment.

evanescent

fleeting; short-lived.

hypothetical

supposed for the sake of argument; not real.

heinous

shockingly evil or wicked.

immutable

unchanging over time; fixed.

pillage

to rob by force; plunder.

megalomania

delusions of grandeur; obsessive power or importance.

prate

to talk foolishly or at length; chatter.

redoubtable

formidable; worthy of respect or fear.

penury

extreme poverty; destitution.

pretentious

claiming more importance or merit than is actually possessed.

invective

harsh, abusive language.

motley

varied; diverse; mixed; a heterogeneous assortment.

recapitulate

to summarize briefly; restate.

procrastinate

to delay action; postpone.

provocative

causing thought or anger; stimulating.

slovenly

messy or careless in appearance or work.

subservient

submissively obedient; serving to promote another's ends.

absolve

to free from blame or responsibility.

amenable

willing to comply or be influenced; agreeable.

reprobate

a morally corrupt person; or to condemn.

sedentary

requiring or characterized by much sitting; inactive.

credulous

gullible; easily believing.

bulwark

a defensive wall or something that provides protection.

choleric

easily angered; irritable.

deleterious

harmful; injurious.

deplete

to use up; drain.

expatiate

to speak or write at length; to elaborate.

deference

respectful submission or yielding.

dowdy

shabby in appearance; lacking stylishness.

definitive

clear, final, and decisive; serving to define.

implicit

implied; understood without being stated.

incisive

sharp, clear, and direct; penetrating.

infirmity

a physical or mental weakness.

enigmatic

mysterious; puzzling.

foment

to instigate or stir up trouble or unrest.

grisly

gruesome; horrifying.

impromptu

done without preparation; improvised.

palpable

tangible; able to be touched; clearly perceived.

perceptive

having keen insight; shrewd.

paraphrase

a restatement of meaning in different words.

politic

prudent; tactful; well-judged.

pernicious

harmful in a gradual or subtle way.

salient

most noticeable or important; prominent.

supplicate

to beg earnestly; to plead.

prolific

producing many works or results; fertile.

sartorial

relating to clothing or tailoring.

thwart

to prevent from accomplishing; hinder.