AP Lang—Rhetorically Accurate Verbs

entertains

to give attention/consideration to something.

"Trump's measured tone with Zelenskyy and willingness to ______ significant U.S. involvement in a post-war security arrangement were notable after his chummy summit with Putin, heartening supporters of Ukraine."

contextualizes

to put into context; to put it into conversation with other things going on/things that happened.

reaffirm

to give your support to a person, plan, idea, etc. for a second time; to state something as true again.

romanticizes

to present something in an idealized or overly positive way, often ignoring its flaws or difficulties.

advocates

to support or argue for (a cause, policy, etc.), to plead in favor of

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evokes

to bring a feeling, memory, image, or idea to mind.

insinuates

to impart or suggest in an artful or indirect way

implies

to express indirectly

trivializes

to make something seem less important, serious, difficult, etc. than it really is

condescends

to assume an air of superiority; to descend to a less formal or dignified level; patronizes; looking down on

defends

speak or write in favor of something, or an attempt to justify.

dispels

make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear.

repudiates

to completely reject; to disown; to refuse to accept

underscores

to emphasize the importance of something

emphasizes

give special importance to something

satirizes

to censure or ridicule by means of satire, to utter or write satire

highlight

to emphasize

mocks

mock (somebody/something) | mock (somebody) + speech to laugh at somebody/something in an unkind way, especially by copying what they say or do

purport

to profess, suppose, claim

articulates

able to express thoughts and feelings easily and clearly, or showing this quality

denigrate

to attack the reputation of; to speak ill of

explicates

to explain it or make it clear

hints

to suggest something in an indirect way

dictates

to give orders to, command

Sheds light upon

to provide information about something or to make something easier to understand

Accentuates

to emphasize a particular feature of something

Belittles

to make somebody/something seem unimportant; to dismiss the importance of; depreciate

concedes

to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true

Berates

to criticize or speak in an angry manner to someone

Sugarcoats

to talk about or describe (something) in a way that makes it seem more pleasant or acceptable than it is

Ponders

think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.

Concedes

to admit that something is true, logical, etc. after first denying it or resisting it

portrays

depict (someone or something) in a work of art or literature.

Enumerates

mention (a number of things) one by one

Induces

to persuade or influence somebody to do something; to cause something

invoke

to cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument.

Hysterical

deriving from or affected by uncontrolled extreme emotion.

chiasmus

An inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases. "working hard, or hardly working?"

quotes

repeat or copy out (a group of words from a text or speech), typically with an indication that one is not the original author or speaker.

disparages

to suggest that somebody/something is not important or valuable

Pervades

When qualities, characteristics, or smells pervade a place or thing, they spread through it and are present in every part of it; permeate

foreshadows

to act as a warning or sign of a future event

Condemn

to declare to be wrong or evil after weighing evidence; sentence

Downplay

de-emphasize; minimize

vacillate

to keep changing your opinion or thoughts about something, especially in a way that annoys other people

patronize

to treat somebody in a way that seems friendly, but you think that they are not very intelligent

delineates

(v) describe or portray (something) precisely. indicate the exact position of (a border or boundary).

lampoons

publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm

muses

(in Greek and Roman mythology) each of nine goddesses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who preside over the arts and sciences.

diminish

decrease in size, extent, or range

discern

perceive or recognize (something)

manipulate

to handle or use skillfully; to manage or control for person gain or advantage

Embodies

conveys the impression of; represents

Transcends

Goes above or beyond limits; exceeds

Alleges

To state, recite, assert, or charge, typically without proof

Distinguishes

Analyze and articulate specific differences between two or more concepts or ideas

Objectify

degrade to the status of a mere object

Allienates

cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged

alludes

suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at.

opines

hold and state as one's opinion

sustains

to give support or relief to

Corroborate

To support a claim with evidence

demand

To ask for something forcefully

overstates

to exaggerate

downplay

make (something) appear less important than it really is.

Solidifies

to make come together

vacillate

alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.

Augments

make (something) greater by adding to it; increase.

Demonizes

portray as wicked or threatening

Exposes

Inundates

Overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with.

Personifies

represent (a quality or concept) by a figure in human form.

Differentiates

to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish

Excoriates

censure or criticize severely

Champions

To support or strongly advocate for

Reflects

Think deeply or carefully about.

substantiate

provide evidence to support or give the truth of

acknowledge

acknowlegde

discount

regard a possibility, fact, or person as being unworthy of consideration because it lacks credibility

elucidate

make clear, explain, clarify

galvanize

shock or excite into taking action

memorialize

preserve the memory of, commemorate

rebuke

express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions

refute

prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false; disprove

reject

the null hypothesis

commences

begins

contests

oppose an action, decision, or theory as mistaken or wrong

bolsters

support