Newest Vocab Foothill Vocab AP Lang 11th grade

Adage

A well-known traditional saying or proverb that expresses a general truth about life (e.g., "Actions speak louder than words").

Albeit

A more formal or fancy way of saying "although" or "even though."

Ameliorate

To make a bad or unpleasant situation better; to improve something that was previously unsatisfactory.

Anomalous

Describes something that is weird, abnormal, or does not fit the expected pattern.

Aphoristic

Describes writing or speech that is short, clever, and full of truth; saying a lot in very few words.

Artifice

A clever trick or strategy used to deceive someone; using a disguise or fake appearance to fool people.

Assuage

To make an unpleasant feeling (like guilt, fear, or pain) less intense and easier to handle.

Audacious

Extremely bold and daring. It can mean brave, but also sometimes rude, reckless, or lacking respect.

Banal

Boring because it is so ordinary and unoriginal; lacking any fresh or interesting ideas.

Beset

To be attacked, harassed, or surrounded by problems from all sides.

Cacophonous

Describes a mix of loud, harsh, and unpleasant sounds that hurt your ears.

Cajole

To persuade someone to do something by flattering them, being super nice, or gently pestering them.

Caricature

A drawing or description that exaggerates someone’s features to make them look funny or ridiculous.

Chastened

Feeling humbled or ashamed because you were corrected, punished, or realized you made a mistake.

Colloquial

Describes language that is casual and used in everyday conversation (like slang), rather than formal writing.

Condescending

Acting like you are smarter or better than someone else; talking down to people.

Cynicism

An attitude where you believe that people are generally selfish and dishonest, and that nobody does nice things without an ulterior motive.

Deference

Polite respect and submission; yielding to someone else's judgment because you respect their authority or age.

Denounce

To publicly and strongly criticize someone or something, declaring it to be wrong or evil.

Derogatory

Disrespectful or critical; an insult meant to lower someone's reputation or make them feel bad.

Didactic

Intended to teach a lesson, especially a moral one. It can sometimes mean "preachy" or trying too hard to instruct.

Elegiac

Sad and mournful; expressing sorrow, especially for something that is lost or for someone who has died.

Emulate

To try to equal or match someone you admire; to copy a role model in hopes of being as good as them.

Entreat

To ask for something earnestly and emotionally; to beg or plead with someone.

Epitomize

To be the absolute perfect example or symbol of a specific quality or type.

Facetious

Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor; making a joke at the wrong time (often being sarcastic).

Fallacious

Based on a mistaken belief or a lie; an argument that sounds convincing but is logically false.

Ferocity

The state of being wild, scary, violent, or aggressive.

Folly

A lack of good sense; a foolish act or a really bad idea.

Guile

Sly or cunning intelligence; using smart tricks to deceive people and get what you want.

Heresy

An opinion or belief that goes against the official or popular beliefs, especially in religion.

Imbroglio

A very confusing, complicated, or embarrassing situation (often a political mess or public scandal).

Impartial

Fair and neutral; not taking sides in an argument or dispute.

Implacable

Describes someone or something that cannot be calmed down, satisfied, or stopped; relentless.

Incongruity

The quality of being strange or out of place; when things don't fit together like they should.

Incongruous

Strange or not suitable for the situation; lacking harmony with the surroundings.

Incur

To bring something unpleasant (like debt, punishment, or anger) upon yourself because of your own actions.

Indefatigable

Tireless; describing someone who never gives up and has endless energy to keep working.

Indiscretion

A moment where you lack good judgment; a careless act or remark that might cause embarrassment.

Ineptitude

A complete lack of skill; being clumsy, incompetent, or just bad at a task.

Innocuous

Completely harmless and not intended to offend anyone.

Invective

Highly aggressive, rude, and abusive language used to attack someone verbally.

Juxtapose

To place two things side by side specifically to show how different they are from each other.

Lambaste

To criticize someone or something very harshly and publicly.

Lampoon

To publicly mock or make fun of a famous person or institution using satire/humor.

Laud

To praise someone highly, especially for their achievements.

Magnanimous

Very generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone you have defeated.

Mellifluous

Sounding sweet, smooth, and pleasant to listen to (like a nice voice or music).

Mirthful

Full of joy, laughter, and amusement; merry and lighthearted.

Nostalgic

A bittersweet feeling of missing the past; happy about the memory but sad that it’s over.

Ominous

Giving a creepy impression that something bad or unpleasant is about to happen.

Pedantic

Being annoying by correcting small errors or caring too much about minor details and rules.

Profuse

Given or produced in huge, abundant amounts (e.g., profuse sweating, profuse apologies).

Provincial

Literally means "from the country," but usually used as an insult to mean narrow-minded, unsophisticated, or simple.

Provocative

Intended to get a strong reaction (anger, excitement, desire, etc.) out of people.

Revere

To admire and respect someone very deeply, almost like worshipping them.

Sardonic

Grimly mocking or cynical; a dark type of humor that makes fun of how bad things are.

Satirical

Using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's stupidity, vices, or politics.

Slander

The crime of making a false spoken statement that damages a person's reputation.

Stentorian

Describes a voice that is incredibly loud, booming, and powerful.

Strife

Angry or violent disagreement or conflict between people or groups.

Supercilious

Acting arrogant and superior; looking down on others as if they are beneath you.

Tempest

A violent, windy storm (or a violent emotional outburst).

Tepid

Literally means lukewarm; figuratively means showing very little enthusiasm or excitement.

Tranquility

The quality or state of being completely calm, peaceful, and free from worry.

Uncanny

Strange, mysterious, and unsettling; seeming almost supernatural.

Unimpeachable

Entirely trustworthy; having a reputation so good that it cannot be doubted or criticized.

Vexed

Annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially because of a confusing problem.

Vicissitudes

The ups and downs of life; the changes and difficulties that happen as you grow older.

Vociferous

Expressing opinions in a very loud, confident, and forceful way.