Useful Key Terms for the AP English Language and Composition Exam

A collection of vocabulary flashcards useful for preparing for the AP English Language and Composition Exam.

assertion

a declaration or statement

cogent

convincing; reasonable

coherent

logically connected

cohesive

condition of sticking together

didactic

intended to instruct

discourse

verbal expression or exchange; conversation

eloquence

the ability to speak vividly or persuasively

fluid

easily flowing

implication

the act of suggesting or hinting

lucid

easily understood; clear

rhetoric

the art of using language effectively and persuasively

arbiter

a judge who decides a disputed issue

biased

prejudiced

exculpate

to free from guilt or blame

impartial

not in favor of one side or the other; unbiased

incontrovertible

not able to be denied or disputed

integrity

trustworthiness; completeness

objectivity

treating facts without influence from personal feelings or prejudices

plausible

seemingly valid or acceptable; credible

substantiated

supported with proof or evidence; verified

vindicated

freed from blame

condescending

treating people as weak or inferior

contemptuous

feeling hatred; scornful

despotic

exercising absolute power; tyrannical

dictatorial

domineering; oppressively overbearing

disdain

contempt; scorn

haughty

arrogant; vainly proud

imperious

arrogantly domineering or overbearing

patronizing

treating in a condescending manner

convoluted

intricate; complex

cryptic

difficult to comprehend

futile

having no useful purpose; pointless

impede

to slow the progress of

obscure

relatively unknown; to conceal or make indistinct

quandary

a state of uncertainty or perplexity

indolent

lazy

insipid

uninteresting; unchallenging

lament

express grief for; mourn

listless

lacking energy

melancholy

sadness; depression

torpor

laziness; inactivity; dullness

alliance

a union of two or more groups

disparity

inequality in age, rank, or degree; difference

impinge

hinder; interfere with

sanction

an economic or military measure put in place to punish another country or to give official authorization or approval

servile

submissive; like a servant

suppressed

subdued; kept from being circulated

embellish

to make beautiful by ornamenting; to decorate

florid

describing flowery or elaborate speech

opulent

exhibiting a display of great wealth

ornate

elaborately decorated

ostentatious

describing a showy or pretentious display

poignant

profoundly moving; touching

ebullience

intense enthusiasm

effusive

emotionally unrestrained; gushy

egregious

conspicuously bad or offensive

flagrant

extremely or deliberately shocking or noticeable

frenetic

wildly excited or active

gratuitous

given freely; unearned; unwarranted

superfluous

extra; unnecessary

alleviate

to ease a pain or burden

asylum

a place of retreat or security

auspicious

favorable; promising

benevolent

well-meaning; generous

benign

kind and gentle

mollify

to calm or soothe

reclamation

the act of making something useful again

dubious

doubtful; of unlikely authenticity

fabricated

made; concocted to deceive

hypocrisy

the practice of pretending to be something one is not; insincerity

slander

false charges and malicious oral statements about someone

spurious

not genuine

astute

shrewd; clever

clandestine

secretive

coup

a brilliantly executed plan

disingenuous

not straightforward; crafty

ruse

a crafty trick

stratagem

a clever trick used to deceive or outwit

surreptitiously

done by secretive means

wary

on guard

wily

cunning

ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation

ambivalent

simultaneously having opposing feelings; uncertain

apathetic

feeling or showing little emotion

arbitrary

determined by impulse rather than reason

capricious

impulsive and unpredictable

equivocate

to avoid making a definite statement

indifferent

not caring one way or the other

spontaneous

unplanned; naturally occurring

whimsical

fanciful; acting in a capricious manner

inconsequential

unimportant

superficial

concerned only with what is on the surface or obvious; shallow

tenuous

having little substance or strength; shaky; unsure; weak

trivial

of little importance or significance

assiduous

hard-working

compelling

forceful; urgently demanding attention

diligent

marked by painstaking effort; hard-working

dogged

stubbornly persevering

endure

to put up with; to survive a hardship

intrepid

courageous; fearless