ap lit words

abscond

To run away secretly, often taking something along

abstruse

Difficult to understand

accost

To approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively

acrimonious

(Typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter

acumen

Insightful cleverness

admonish

To warn or reprimand in a gentle or earnest manner

allay

To diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry)

ambivalent

Unable to decide

apathetic

Showing little interest or enthusiasm

astute

Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.

bereft

Sorrowful through loss

bucolic

Pleasantly rural or pastoral

cantankerous

Difficult or irritating to deal with; uncooperative

chagrin

Disquietude caused by humiliation or failure

compunction

Anxiety or misgiving about an action.

deft

Neatly skillful and quick in one's movements

disingenuous

Not candid or sincere; pretending one knows less about something than one really does

earnest

resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction

eclectic

Composed of elements chosen from a variety of styles; heterogeneous

elucidate

To make clear; explain

emulate

To imitate or try to equal

enigmatic

Something that is hard to understand or explain; mysterious

ephemeral

Fleeting, momentary, brief

exacerbate

To make worse

fastidious

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

fortuitous

Happening by accident or by chance

gregarious

fond of company; sociable

haughty

Arrogantly superior and disdainful

insouciant

Carefree, nonchalant

lackadaisical

Without vigor or interest

loquacious

Talkative

lugubrious

Mournful or gloomy

lurid

Vivid and gruesome in color and appearance, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect

malevolent

Hateful, with intense will will

meander

To follow a winding course

mellifluous

Flowing smoothly like honey, often of a voice or sound.

obfuscate

To make obscure or unclear

obsequious

Exhibiting a fawning attentiveness

obstreperous

Noisily and stubbornly defiant

omniscient

All-knowing

pallid

pale, typically because of poor health

parsimonious

Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy

placid

Calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity

pontificate

To express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic

pugnacious

Belligerent or quarrelsome; prone to fighting

quell

To put an end to; to reduce

querulous

complaining in a petulant or whining manner

quietude

a state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in a person or place

rambunctious

Unruly; uncontrollably exuberant

recalcitrant

Stubbornly resistant to authority

render

To provide or give (a service, help, etc.)

sagacious

Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd

salubrious

Healthful or wholesome

serene

Calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil

sycophant

A person who acts obsequiously to gain advantage

taciturn

Untalkative; saying little

tempestuous

characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion; stormy

thwart

To prevent someone from accomplishing something

ubiquitous

Being present everywhere at once; widespread

unctious

Excessively flattering; oily