AP Lang Rhetorically Accurate Verbs

Imported from Mrs. Rozema's Quizlet

contend

assert something as a position in an argument

oppose

to disagree strongly; to be against

denounce

to condemn openly; to publicly declare to be wrong or evil

discourage

cause (someone) to lose confidence or enthusiasm; to persuade against something

counter

oppose, act against, refute

attack

forcefully and aggressively find fault with

minimize/diminish

to reduce to the smallest amount; to make as small as possible, sometimes by belittling

condemn

to express strong disapproval of

dismiss

put away from consideration; reject

reject

refuse to accept; to throw out

dispel

To clear away; to remove or get rid of, as if by scattering (to dispel a belief)

critique

to analyze and assess with detail

refute

to prove incorrect or false

compare

to give an account of the similarities between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout

contrast

to find the differences between two or more things

juxtapose

to place side by side for comparison or contrast

differentiate/distinguish

recognize or ascertain what makes (someone or something) different

complicate

to make something harder to understand, more detailed, or more complex

deviate

to turn aside from a course; to stray

assess

evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of

reason

to explain and justify

qualify

to modify, restrict, or limit

examine

to onsider an argument or concept in a way that uncovers the assumptions and interrelationships of the issue

argue

to put forward an idea with the purpose of persuading or committing someone else to a particular stance or action

posit

synonym of argue

advocate

to recommend or speak in favor of

allege

to assert without proof

maintain

to continue upholding a believe even when challenged

assume

suppose to be the case, without proof

enhance

improve, augment

support

to back up with details

bolster

support or strengthen; prop up

affirm

to declare to be true

clarify

to make clear or easier to understand

illustrate/depict

to explain or make clear using examples, charts, or graphs or word pictures

characterize

describe or portray the qualities or peculiarities of

explain

to give a detailed account including reasons or causes.

inform

to give information; to tell

demonstrate

to show clearly through examples

recount

to tell (a story) again

observe

to watch carefully

satirize

to make fun of and criticize

lampoon

to ridicule with satire or spoof

caricature

to exaggerate the features of someone

ridicule

to make fun of, to mock

deride

to ridicule, laugh at with contempt

mimic

to imitation to make fun of

denigrate

to attack the reputation of; to speak ill of

allude

to hint at, to refer to indirectly

refer/reference

to mention

invoke

to call on for support

note

to give additional information

pay homage to

to openly honor someone or something

says or talks about

verbs we DO NOT use in rhetorical analysis