College Board Vocab Bank - APEL Test 1

banal

banal

common, ordinary, lacking freshness, hackneyed, trite

censure

harsh criticism or disapproval

complacent

self satisfied, smug, overly content

contempt

scorn, extreme dislike or disdain, disrespect

didactic

intended to teach or instruct

discern

to perceive, to detect differences

disdain

lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

disingenuous

insincere

disparage

to speak of negatively, to belittle

efficacious

effective; producing results

egregious

conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

eminent

standing above others in quality of position

equivocal

open to two or more interpretations; ambigious

ignominious

marked by, deserving, or causing shame or disgrace

ineffable

incapable of being expressed or described

ingenuous

innocent, simple, frank, sincere

innate

existing from birth, inborn

insolent

boldly rude or disrespectful

laudatory

expressing praise; eulogistic

modicum

a small or moderate or token amount

mundane

commonplace, ordinary; relating to practical affairs

plethora

an over abundance; excess

pragmatic

concerned with practical matters

pretentious

making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction

propensity

a natural inclination, tendency or predilection toward something

prosaic

relating to prose; dull or commonplace

quell

to put an end to; to allay or quiet

reticent

inclined to keep silent; reserved

steadfast

marked by firm determination or resolution

tacit

unspoken, silent, implied, inferred

tenacity

persistent determination

tenet

an opinion, belief, or principle held to be true

unequivocal

absolute; certain

wistful

yearning; sadly longing

ambivalent

undecided

anachronistic

a person or thing that is out of place chronologically

analogous

comparable

assuage

soothe, relieve, satisfy something physical (hunger, anger)

circumscribe

to draw a circle around; to restrict or limit

contentious

tending to argue

culpable

deserving blame or condemnation; criminal

cursory

hasty, superficial

dearth

lack, shortage

deference

show of respect

deleterious

hazardous, harmful