AP Lang Vocab 1

Abate (v.)

To become weaker

Acumen (n.)

Ability to make smart decisions

Ascertain

To find out (with certainty)

Bombastic (adj.)

Grandiose language that in reality, lacks in substance

Brusque (adj.)

Curt and blunt language or manner of speech.

Cacophony

Loud and unpleasant plethora of sounds.

Censure (v. & n.)

Strong disapproval by a body of power.

Cogent (adj.)

A type of speech or text that is extremely logical and convincing.

Commensurate (adj.)

To be equal, proportionate to something else.

Curtail

To reduce (something) before it reaches its full potential.

Deference (n.)

Polite yield to the will of another person.

Disparage (v.)

A good leader strives to encourage team members; they never disparage someone for making an honest mistake.

Efficacy (n.)

The manager questioned the efficacy of the updated software; the employees, however, reported a noticeable improvement in workflow.

Enumerate (v.)

The report attempted to enumerate all potential risks; it failed, however, to account for sudden weather delays.

Exhort (v.)

The coach took a moment to exhort his team during halftime; the players returned to the field with renewed energy.

Extraneous (adj.)

The lawyer presented the core facts of the case; but he avoided any extraneous information.

Frenetic (adj.)

She needed a break from her frenetic schedule, so she planned a quiet weekend trip.

Inane (adj.)

The conversation turned to inane topics; no one discussed anything of actual importance.

Incendiary (adj.)

The article contained incendiary remarks about the candidate; but the public largely ignored the controversy.

Intransigent (adj.)

The committee attempted to reach a compromise; but the chairman proved completely intransigent.

Multifarious (adj.)

The museum displayed a multifarious collection of artifacts; visitors spent hours exploring every section.

Nascent (adl.)

The project showed great promise in its nascent stage; it faced, however, several financial hurdles early on.

Nebulous (adj.)

His explanation was entirely nebulous, so the teacher asked him to clarify his main points.

Oration (n.)

The leader presented an inspiring oration to the crowd; the critics, however, dismissed it as pure rhetoric.

Prescient (adj.)

The economist made a prescient prediction about the market crash; investors who listened saved millions.

Propriety (n.)

The diplomat maintained absolute propriety during the formal dinner; his polished manners impressed everyone.

Prosaic (adj.)

The novel suffered from a prosaic writing style; readers struggled to stay engaged past the first chapter.

Rhapsodize (v.)

She loved to rhapsodize about her trip to Italy; but her friends eventually grew tired of hearing about it.

Rife (adj.)

The city was rife with economic turmoil; the local businesses, however, managed to stay profitable.

Vacillate (v.)

She tended to vacillate between two career paths; but her advisor helped her make a final choice.