AP Lang Vocab - Cordell

ardent

passionate; zealous

indubitably

unquestionable; without a doubt

empirical

based on observation or experiment rather than logic

didactic

used to teach/moralize

circumlocution

the use of too many words when fewer would do

platitude

Cliche

inexorable

impossible to stop or prevent

epoch

a period of time in history or a person's life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics.

exhort

strongly encourage or urge someone or something

sanguine

happy; optimistic

repudiate

to deny the truth of or refuse to be associated with

ubiquitous

present or found everywhere

verisimilitude

the appearance of being real or the truth

facile

appearing neat and comprehensive but ignoring complexities; superficial

posit

to put forward as a basis of argument; to assume as fact

pithy

(language) concise and forcefully expressive

Incendiary

Intended to excite or inflame

Colloquial

Informal; non-literacy

Banal

Lack of originality

Acrimonious

Bitter or angry

Monolithic

Large and intractably indivisible and uniform

inculcate

to instill an idea or attitude through persistent instruction

Anathema

something/someone that one vehemently dislikes

insipid

bland

Obfuscate

Muddled

Prolific

Plentiful and productive

Ebullient

Cheerful; full of energy

Altruism

Belief/practice of selfless concern for the well-being of others

Obsequious

Attentive to a servitile degree

Bellicose

Demonstrating aggression or willingness to fight

Pedantic

Ostentatious in one’s learning

Maxim

Short, pithy statement that expresses general truth

Sardonic

Grimly mocking

Capricious

Given to sudden changes in mood/behavior

Epitomizes

Be the perfect example of

Conciliatory

Intended or likely to pacify or placate

Implacable

Unable to be placated; unforgiving

Germane

Relevant to a subject of study; pertinent

Obdurate

Stubbornly refusing to change one's position

Demarcation

Fixing boundaries or limits

Lucid

Clear; easy to understand

Gregarious

Sociable; fond of company

Laudatory

Expressing praise or recommendation

Vitriolic

Filled with bitter resentment or malice

Jocund

Cheerful; lighthearted

Egregious

Shocking; appalling

Ad Hoc Argument

Hypothesis added to save claim

Confound

Cause surprise or confusion by acting outside of expectations

Cogent

Clear, concise, logical

Salient

Most notable or important

Auspicious

Conducive to success; favorable

Ameliorate

To become or make better; to improve

Edifying

Providing moral or intellectual instruction

Querulous

Complaining in a petulant or whining manner

Conjectural

Based on speculation; theoretical

Vociferous

Crying out noisily; clamoring

Dogmatic

lay down one’s principles as truth

Epistolary

literary works in the form of letters

Aphorism

a terse statement that expresses a general truth

Repose

a state of tranquility

Acquiescence

reluctant acceptance

Innocuous

not offensive or harmful