AP Lang & Comp Vocabulary

contentious (adj.)

argumentative or quarrelsome

arbiter (n)

one who decides, a judge

sagacious (adj.)

wise, possessing wisdom from experience

superfluous (adj.)

extra, unnecessary

squalid (adj.)

dirty, filthy, nasty, wretched

antipathy (n)

firm dislike, hatred

indignant

angry as a result of something unjust

connoisseur (n)

an expert, particularly in matters of art/taste

idyllic (adj.)

rustic, naturally peaceful

debauchery (n)

corruption by sensuality, wild living

subjugate (v)

to subdue and dominate to enslave

surreptitious (adj.)

sneaky, secret

flippant (adj.)

frivolously shallow and disrespectful

laconic (adj.)

using few words to the point of seeming rude

satiric (adj.)

using sarcasm and irony

salubrius (adj.)

promoting health

hermetic (adj.)

impervious to external influence; airtight

fecund (adj.)

fertile, productive

cacphony (n)

a harsh sounding mixture of words, voices, or sounds

goad (v)

to urgent forcefully; to taunt into doing something

temerity (n)

boldness; recklessness; audacity

alacrity (n)

cheerful readiness; liveliness; eagerness

garrulous (adj.)

extremely chatty; talkative or wordy

impugh (v)

to attack, especially the truth or integrity of something

erudite (adj.)

scholarly or deeply educated

abstemious (adj.)

sparing or moderate in eating or drinking

axiom (n)

a self evident rule or truth; a widely accepted saying

intransigent (adj.)

uncompromising or stubborn

circumlocution (n)

an indirect expression; a use of wordy language

placate (v)

to pacify; appease or soothe

saturnine (adj.)

having a sluggish, gloomy temperament

neophyte (n)

a beginner

fulsome (adj.)

complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree

contumacious (adj.)

stubbornly rebellious or disobedient

accrete (v)

to increase by growth or addition

welter (n)

a confused mass, commotion or turmoil

panegyric (n)

lofty praise

penchant (n)

firm taste or liking

mellifluous (adj.)

sweetly flowing

vacuous (adj.)

lacking ideas or intelligence

probity (n)

integrity, uprightness, honesty

recondite (adj.)

hard to understand, over one’s head

brook (v)

to bear or tolerate; to put up with

propinquity (n)

nearness

abate (v)

to subside or reduce

recalcitrant (adj.)

stubbornly defiant of authority or control

tenacious (adj.)

tough, hard to defeat

pretentious (adj.)

pompous, self-important

taciturn (adj.)

untalkative by nature

ameliorate (v)

to make better or more tolerable

copious (adj)

abundant, plentiful

adulation (n)

excessive admiration

proselytize (v)

to attempt to convert to one’s own religion

blithe (adj)

carefree, casually indifferent

panacea (n)

something that cures everything

loquacious (adj)

talking a lot or too much

lugubrious (adj)

exaggeratedly mournful

cogent (adj)

powerfully convincing

apocryphal (adj)

of dubious authenticity; fictitious

parsimonious (adj)

stingy