AP Vocab 1-178

aborigine (noun)

an original inhabitant

abstract (adjective)

theoretical; not concrete; non-representational

accentuate (verb)

to give prominence to; to emphasize or intensify

acquiesce (verb)

assent; agree passively; give in to; agree

acuity (noun)

sharpness of perception or mind

adjourn (verb)

to break up; to recess

admonish (verb)

warn; reprove

adulation (noun)

adoration; excessive praise

adversary (noun)

opponent; enemy

advocate (verb)

urge or plead for

aesthetic (adjective)

concerning art or beauty

affable (adjective)

friendly; agreeable

affirmation (noun)

positive statement; confirmation

alliteration (noun)

repetition of same sounds (often consonants)

altercation (noun)

a noisy dispute

altruistic (adjective)

unselfishly generous; concerned for others

amalgam (noun)

a mixture of different elements

ambiguous (adjective)

unclear; doubtful; undecided

ambivalence (noun)

state of contradictory or opposing emotions

ambrosial (adjective)

delicious; fragrant; divine

ambulatory (adjective)

walking or moving; alterable

ameliorate (verb)

to improve; to make better

amphibious (adjective)

able to function both on land and on water

analogy (noun)

some similarities between things that are unlike

anarchist (noun)

person who rebels against the established order

anarchy (noun)

lack of government; chaos

androgynous (adjective)

unisex; having both male and female traits

anecdote (noun)

a brief, humorous story

animosity (noun)

active hatred

antibody (noun)

protein in blood that provides some immunity

antithesis (noun)

contrast; direct opposite

apathy (noun)

lack of caring, emotion, or interest

aperture (noun)

an opening; a hole

apex (noun)

highest point; summit

apparition (noun)

an unusual or unexpected sight

appendage (noun)

something attached to a larger item

apprehensive (adjective)

fearful; worried

arbitrary (adjective)

unreasonable or capricious

arcane (adjective)

secret; mysterious

archetype (noun)

the original pattern or model

articulate (adjective)

effective; distinct

ascendancy (noun)

controlling influence; domination

ascetic (adjective)

without indulgence or luxury

aspire (verb)

to desire strongly; to have a great ambition

assuage (verb)

to reduce pain

astute (adjective)

wise; shrewd; clever; ready witted

atrophy (verb)

to waste away from lack of use

augment (verb)

to add to; to increase

austerity (noun)

sternness; severity

autonomy (noun)

self-rule; independence

avarice (noun)

greed; cupidity

ballyhoo (noun)

noisy attention-getting demonstration/talk

bamboozle (verb)

to deceive by elaborate trickery; to hoodwink

banal (adjective)

backneyed; commonplace; trite; dull; ordinary

bastion (noun)

a stronghold; a fort

bedlam (noun)

uproar; confusion

bellicose (adjective)

warlike; quarrelsome

benevolent (adjective)

generous; charitable; kindly; well-wishing

benign (adjective)

kindly; favorable; good-natured; not malignant

bequeath (verb)

to leave to someone in a will; hand down

billet-doux (noun)

a love letter

bizarre (adjective)

out of the ordinary; freakish; eccentric; odd

blasphemy (noun)

cursing; irreverence; sacrilege

boisterous (adjective)

rough; stormy; loud; violent; lacking restraint

bogus (adjective)

make-believe; fake

bombast (noun)

pretentious; inflated speech or writing

bona fide (adjective)

made in good faith; genuine

boudoir (noun)

a woman’s dressing room; bedroom

boycott (verb)

to protest by refusing to buy/deal with

brevity (noun)

conciseness; right to the point

brouhaha (noun)

hubbub; uproar; furor

buffoon (noun)

a clown; comedian or laughable person

buttress (verb)

to support or prop

cacophonous (adjective)

harsh sounding; unharmonious

cadence (noun)

rhythm

cajole (verb)

coax; wheedle

cameo (noun)

raised image on precious stone; a small role

camouflage (noun)

concealment by appearing part of natural environment

candor (noun)

frankness; honesty

capricious (adjective)

fickle; incalculable; whimsical; unpredictable

carcinogen (noun)

a substance that causes cancer

carnivore (noun)

a flesh-eating animal

caucus (noun)

closed meeting of a political party/faction

celestial (adjective)

heavenly

censorious (adjective)

critical

censure (verb)

severely criticize; blame

certitude (noun)

certainty; complete assurance

chronology (noun)

the order or sequence of events

circumspect (adjective)

cautious; prudent; vigilant; judicious

circumvent (verb)

to avoid by going around; to encircle/outwit

citadel (noun)

a fortress

clemency (noun)

leniency; mildness (as of weather)

coercion (noun)

use of force to get someone’s compliance

cogitate (verb)

to ponder or think deeply

comatose (adjective)

unconscious; inactive

commemorate (verb)

to honor the memory of someone/something

complacent (adjective)

smug; self-satisfied

compliance (noun)

conformity (to request or demand); yielding nature

conciliatory (adjective)

reconciling; soothing

concise (adjective)

brief; compact