AP Lang Vocabulary

abhor (v.)

to hate

berate (v.)

to criticize or scold harshly

counterfeit (n, adj, v.)

fake; false

enfranchise (v.)

give voting rights

hamper (v.)

to hinder; obstruct

kindle (v.)

to start

noxious (adj.)

harmful; poisonous; lethal

placid (adj.)

calm, peaceful

remuneration (n.)

payment for work done

sycophant (adj.)

bootlicker, flatterer

abrasive (adj.)

rough; coarse; harsh

bilk (v)

cheat; defraud

covert (adj.)

hidden; undercover

engender (v)

to cause

endorse (v)

to give support or approval to

knotty (adj.)

complex; difficult to solve

paucity (n)

shortage

nuance (n)

a slight or subtle degree of difference

renown (n)

fame; high repute

tangent (n)

going off the main subject

abasement (n)

humiliation, degradation

billowing (adj.)

swelling; fluttering; waving

cower (v)

to recoil in fear or servility (willingness to serve/please others)

enhance (v)

to improve; make better/clearer

harangue (n)

noisy, attacking speech

labyrinth (n)

a maze

nullify (v)

to counter; make unimportant

plaintiff (n)

petitioner (in court of law)

replete (adj)

full; abundant

tangible (adj.)

can be touched

abrogate (v.)

to cancel, deny, repeal

blasphemy (n.)

speech which offends religious sentiments

credible (adj.)

believable

enigma (n.)

puzzle, mystery

harbingers (n.)

indicators; bringers of warnings

labyrinthine (adj.)

complicated; high convoluted

nuzzle (adj.)

to cuddle; snuggle

plaudit (n.)

statement giving strong praise

reprehensible (adj.)

shameful, very bad

regale (v.)

to entertain

absolution (n.)

forgiveness; pardon, release

blatant (adj.)

obvious

creditable (adj.)

praiseworthy

ensconce (v.)

to establish firmly in a position

hasten (n.)

to hurry; accelerate, rush

interminable (adj.)

never-ending

obdurate (adj.)

stubborn

plausible (adj.)

can be believed; reasonable

reprieve (n.)

respite; postponement of a sentence

tawdry (adj.)

of little value; gaudy

abstain (v)

to desist; go without; withdraw

blighted (adj.)

damaged; destroyed; ruined

credulous (adj.)

gullible; ready to believe anything

enshroud (v)

to cover

haughtiness (n)

arrogance; pride

lachrymose (adj.)

tearful; sad

obfuscate (v)

to deliberately make something difficult to understand

plethora (n)

an excess

repudiate (v)

to shun; eschew

tedium (n)

boredom

abstemious (adj.)

self denying; refraining from indulging

blithe (adj.)

free-spirited; carefree

crepuscular (n.)

active at dawn and dusk

enunciation (n.)

clear pronunciation; accent; articulation

headstrong (adj.)

stubborn; willful

lackluster (adj.)

dull; monotonous; bland

objective (adj.)

unbiased; not subjective

pliable (adj.)

flexible; not stubborn

rescind (v.)

to retract; repeal

temper (v.)

to moderate; soften

abstruse (adj.)

difficult to understand; obscure

blunderbuss (n.)

an ancient weapon (type of gun); a clumsy person

cringe (v)

to recoil; flinch; shy away

envenom (v)

to cause bitterness and bad feeling

hedonism (n)

self-indulgence; pleasure-seeking

laconic (adj)

using few words; brief; to the point

oblique (adj)

indirect; slanting

perturbed (adj)

disturbed; troubled

resignation (n)

acceptance of fate

tenacious (adj)

stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose

accolade (n)

tribute; honor; praise

bolster (v)

to support; prop up

cryptic (adj.)

puzzling, enigmatic

ephemeral (adj)

short-lived

hedonist (n)

a pleasure seeker

lamentation (n)

expression of regret or sorrow

obliterate (v)

to destroy; demolish; eradicate

provocative (adj)

inciting; stimulating

resolution (n)

determination

tentative (adj)

not certain

acquiesce (v.)

to agree to; give in to

bombast (n)

arrogant, pompous language

curtail (v)

to cut short

epicure (n)

someone who appreciates good food and drink

heed (v)

to listen to

lampoon (v)

to ridicule; spoof

oblivious (adj.)

totally unaware

orotund (adj.)

(of the voice or speech) characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness

resonant (adj.)

echoing

tenuous (adj.)

flimsy; not solid