AP Vocab. List #26

2025 AP. Lang Vocabulary List #26

august

majestic, inspiring admiration and respect; dignified

baulked

was unwilling to do something or to allow something to happen

cardinal

chief, most important

constituent

an essential part; e.g., the most important constituent of her perfume is something called ambergris

contextualize

place in context, such as by giving the background or circumstances

enigmatic

puzzling, perplexing, inexplicable, not easily understood

equanimity

calmness, composure, refusal to panic

happenstance

an unexpected random event

heuristics

sets of strategies, rather than strict rules, that act as guidelines for discovery-oriented problem solving; mental shortcuts

inarticulate

incomprehensible; unable to speak with clarity

ineptitude

lack of ability; incompetence

inscrutability

quality of being difficult to comprehend; hard or impossible to read

invariably

without exception; always

lassitude

weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

maxim

a concise statement, often offering advice; an adage

phlegmatic

calm and unemotional in temperament

preemptive

done before someone else can do it

propensity

a natural inclination or predilection toward

raillery

good-humored ridicule or teasing

ramifications

unexpected results or consequences of an action

recombinant

produced by combining from different sources (as in DNA)

repugnance

intense disgust or dislike

ribald

humorous in a vulgar way

supersede

to replace

transgression

act of trespassing or violating a law, rule, or duty