AP Lang Vocab 9 and 10 - Park

exculpate

to free from blame or accusation of guilt

to clear ones name

exculpate

DNA evidence has been used to ______ those accused and convicted of many serious crimes.

exonerate

officially declare someone not guilty of a crime or blameless for an act

to relieve someone from obligation or responsibility

exonerate

The jury ______ him of any guilt in the case, but many people believed he was still somehow responsible.

fatuous

revealing a lack of intelligence, as well as a lack of awareness

stupid, foolish, or idiotic; without personal responsibility

fatuous

Comedians that are ______, rather than thoughtfully sarcastic or clever, are not funny or worthy of their audience's approval.

obtrusive

tending to force one's presence or opinions on others

highly noticeable, often with a bad or unwelcome effect

obtrusive

James' Uncle Herbert was quite ______, and, frankly unwelcome at almost all family events.

proselytize

to try to convert someone to a religious faith or political doctrine

proselytize

Many are suspicious that born-again Christians all seek to ______ others.

ebullient

full of cheer, enthusiasm, or optimism, as expressed in speech, writing, or behavior

ebullient

______ game-show hosts are talented in very special ways.

exacerbate

to worsen or aggravate an already bad situation

to make something even more unpleasant or severe

exacerbate

Lying almost always _______ a bad situation; that's one reason that honesty is the best policy.

lugubrious

extremely sad or gloomy

lugubrious

It was too bad that the football team lost in the season finale, but it doesn't really justify going around with a _______ expression for weeks afterward.

puerile

silly in a childish way; juvenile

immature; related to or characteristics of childhood

latin for "boyish"

puerile

While Jack and Elaine were clearly in love, many thought his _____ actions around her inappropriate for a thirty-year-old.

surreptitious

secret or sneaky, esp in terms actions and acquisitions

surreptitious

Intelligence gathering is a ______ activity, accomplished covertly.

garner

to earn, acquire, collect, amass, gather, or accumulate something by effort

to gather something into storage

garner

Jamie, always a good student, ______ many honors of commencement, including that of valedictorian.

ostensible

presented as being true or appearing to be true, but usually hiding a different motive or meaning

ostensible

The audience and critics thought the ________ purpose of the performers was to entertain, while the accountants thought it was to make money.

quixotic

tending to take a romanticized view of life; motivated by idealism to the neglect of the practical

hopelessly and impractically idealistic

quixotic

Susan's _______ search for "Mr. Right" inspired her to take many singles cruises, but all she got was seasick.

ruminate

to think carefully and at length about something; to ponder or review mentally, over and over in one's mind

ruminate

Once they were admitted, the guidance counselor wanted every student to ______ on which college admissions offer to accept.

scintillate

to give off or reflect light as sparks or sudden flashes

to dazzle in a lively, clever, or witty way

to excite, set off a sudden reaction among others

scintillate

News about the new film has been hard to come by, but a few ___________ details have leaked out.

intra, intro

within (ex: introvert - person within himself)

meta

involving change (ex: metamorphosis - change of shape)

mono

one (ex: monolithic - uniform; monotony - boring sameness)

multi

many (ex: multiplicity - numerousness)

neo

new (ex: neophyte - beginner)

pan

all, every (ex: panorama - comprehensive view; panacea - cure-all)

per

through (ex: perforate - make holes through)

peri

around, near (ex: perimeter - outer boundary; peripheral - marginal, outer)

guile

cunning, deceitful, and treacherous quality or type of behavior

skill and cleverness used to trick, deceive, or mislead people

guile

No matter how smart you think you are, you are no match for the _____ of an experienced street con seeking to separate you from your money.

lambaste

to criticize someone or something severely; to reprimand sharply or attack verbally

to beat or whip someone

lambaste

Teenagers are _______ for staying out past curfew so commonly that it might be called a rite of passage.

paucity

an inadequacy, shortage, or lack of something

small number of something

paucity

We were forced to head back down the mountain due to a _______ of supplies.

prudent

characteristic of good sense, care in managing practical matters, and a tendency to evaluate situations carefully so as to avoid risk

careful management of resources

prudent

Purchasing automobile insurance is always a _______ act, and one required by the laws of most states.

quagmire

an awkward, complicated, or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to escape; entanglement that offers no ready solution

quagmire

While building a new home at first seemed a wonderful idea, the project quickly became a financial and logistical _______.

ignominious

characterized by a total loss of dignity and pride; shamefully weak, ineffective, or disgraceful

used to describe public humiliation or failure

ignominious

Richard Nixon's _________ resignation of the presidency will forever remind those in high office to be honest and not cover up errors in judgement.

laggard

someone who or something that falls behind and does not keep up with others

one who lags behind or loiters

laggard

It was insensitive and unprofessional of the teacher to refer to those who were falling behind in the difficult mathematics class as _______.

plethora

a very large amount or number, vast quantity, oversupply, especially an excessive amount

plethora

The _______ of students enrolled in drivers' ed classes revealed how important these cocurricular offerings were.

recalcitrant

stubbornly resistant to the control or authority of others

difficult to deal with, work with, or supervise

recalcitrant

The high school principal's office was like a second home for some _______ students.

sublime

awe-inspiring beauty that seems heavenly

of the highest moral or spiritual value; lofty, splendid, or complete

sublime

The climbers were rewarded at the top of the mountain by a ______ view of the valley.

impervious

remaining unmoved and unaffected by other's opinions or actions

impossible to alter or affect; incapable of being diverted from a given course

impervious

Everyone knows Superman was _______ to pain, except that caused by Kryptonite.

laconic

using very few words; concise or terse writing or speech

laconic

A _______ politician is hard to find, so if you can identify a candidate who is concise and honest, vote for him or her.

magnanimous

very generous, kind, or forgiving

magnanimous

In a ________ gesture, the wealthy alumnus, who had once been suspended for bad grades, donated $10,000,000 to his alma mater.

matriculate

to enroll as a member of a specific group or body, especially a college or university

matriculate

After all of the admissions challenges and decisions, it was a relief for Kim to finally _______ to the University of Rochester.

perfunctory

done as a matter of fact, routinely, without thought, attention, or genuine feeling

not interested or enthusiastic

perfunctory

Responding to what he thought undeserving nagging by his mom, Hunter completed his homework in a ________ manner.

pre

before (ex: precede - go before)

re

back, again (ex: respond - answer)

se

apart (ex: segregate - set apart)

syl, sym, syn, sys

with, together (ex: symmetry - congruity; synchronous - at the same time with)

trans

across, beyond, through (ex: transparent - letting light through)

vice

in place of (ex: vicarious - acting as a substitute)