AP Lit Words 1-20

abject

of the most contemptible kind

capitulate

surrender under agreed conditions

gratuitous

unnecessary and unwarranted

poignant

keenly distressing to the mind or feelings

tenuous

lacking substance or significance

capricious

determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity or reason

esoteric

confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle

garish

tastelessly showy

sordid

morally degraded

trite

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

congruence

the quality of agreeing; being suitable and appropriate

dubious

fraught with uncertainty or doubt

destitute

poor enough to need help from others

guile

shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

eloquence

powerful and effective language

integral

existing as an essential constituent or characteristic

tenacious

stubbornly unyielding

rogue

disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority

irrespective

in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks

vigilance

the process of paying close and continuous attention