AP English Language Arts Vocabulary Unit 4:

Assiduous

Careful, hardworking; diligent.

Caustic

Biting; stinging.

Chastise

To scold sharply.

Elucidate

To explain; clarify.

Exalt

To glorify; honor.

Fallacious

Based on error; mistake.

Hypocrisy

Having beliefs or virtues that one does not actually have.

Insurgent

A person who revolts against authority.

Placid

Peaceful; calm.

Trite

Overused and commonplace; stale.

Colloquial

Informal speech or writing.

Crass

Coarse; vulgar.

Discerning

Having keen insight.

Hyperbole

Obvious exaggeration for emphasis.

Incisive

Clear and sharp.

Judicious

Showing good judgement.

Prerogative

Special right or privilege.

Tacit

Understood but not spoken.

Tactless

Lacking skill or sensitivity in dealing with others.

Whet

To excite or stimulate.

Ameliorate

To make better.

Assent

To agree.

Haphazard

Careless.

Incontrovertible

Undeniable.

Intangible

Not material.

Negate

To make ineffective.

Potent

Powerful.

Rigorous

Challenging.

Spurious

Fake.

Therapeutic

Serving to cure or heal.

Altercation

Heated argument.

Circumspect

Consideration of all circumstance in a situation.

Deference

A courteous yielding to another's wishes.

Guile

Trickery.

Impassive

Showing no emotion.

Malevolent

Having or showing ill will.

Placate

To soothe or pacify.

Pugnacious

Eager and ready to fight.

Tirade

Long, passionate, critical speech.

Volatile

Tending to change suddenly or violently.

Capricious

Changeable; acting on impulse, unpredictable.

Catharsis

Emotional release.

Discrepancy

Lack of agreement, as between facts; an inconsistency.

Ephemeral

Lasting for only a short time.

Induce

To persuade or influence.

Phenomenon

A fact or event that can be observed.

Rectify

To remedy; make right.

Resolution

Determination; a firm decision; a vow.

Retract

To take back.

Serene

Peaceful; calm; placid.