AP LANGUAGE VOCAB

Bombastic

marked by or given to speech or writing that is given exaggerated importance by artificial or empty means : marked by or given to bombast : pompous, overblown

Colloquial

a: used in or characteristic of familiar and informal conversation

also : unacceptably informal

b: using or characterized by conversational style

Esoteric

a: designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone

b: requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group

Euphemistic (Euphemism)

the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive word or expression for one that is, indelicate, or otherwise unpleasant or taboo

also : the word or expression so substituted

Insipid

lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge : dull, flat

Jargon

a: the technical terminology or characteristic idiom of a special activity or group

b: obscure and often pretentious language marked by circumlocutions and long words

Obtuse

a: slow to understand what is obvious or simple : dense sense

b: difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression

Provincial

1: the superior of a province of a Roman Catholic religious order

2: one living in or coming from a province

a: a person of local or restricted interests or outlook

b: a person lacking urban polish or refinement

Trite

: hackneyed or boring from much use : not fresh or original

Vulgar

1

a: lacking in cultivation, perception, or taste : coarse

b: morally crude, undeveloped, or unregenerate : gross

c: ostentatious or excessive in expenditure or display : pretentious

a: offensive in language : earthy

b: lewdly or profanely indecent

Exuberant

a: joyously unrestrained and enthusiastic

b: unrestrained or elaborate especially in style : flamboyant

Whimsical/Capricious

a: resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice

especially : lightly fanciful

b: subject to erratic behavior or unpredictable change

Audacious

a: intrepidly daring : adventurous

b: recklessly bold : rash

Belligerent

1: inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness

Brash

a: heedless of the consequences : audacious

b: done in haste without regard for consequences : rash

Choleric

1: easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered

Disgruntled

: unhappy and annoyed

Haughty

: blatantly and disdainfully proud : having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior

Indignant

: feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy : filled with or marked by indignation

Snooty

1: looking down the nose : showing disdain

2: characterized by snobbery

Superficial

: concerned only with the obvious or apparent : not thorough or complete : shallow

Surly

1: menacing or threatening in appearance

2 obsolete : arrogant, imperious

Testy

1: easily annoyed : irritable

2: marked by impatience or ill humor

Droll

: having a humorous, whimsical, or odd quality

Facetious

: joking or sarcastic especially in a way regarded by others as silly, annoying, or inappropriate

Sardonic

: showing disrespect or scorn for someone or something : disdainfully or skeptically humorous : derisively mocking

Caustic

: marked by incisive (direct) sarcasm

Flippant

1: lacking proper respect or seriousness

2 archaic : glib, talkative

Quizzical

1: comically quaint

2: mildly teasing or mocking

3: expressive of puzzlement, curiosity, or disbelief

Ribald

1: marked by coarseness or lewdness : crude, offensive

Wry

:made by a deliberate distortion of the facial muscles often to express irony or mockery

: cleverly and often ironically or grimly humorous

Dejected

1: low in spirits : depressed

Morose

1: having a sullen and gloomy disposition

2: marked by or expressive of gloom

Staid

: marked by settled sedateness and often prim self-restraint : sober, grave

Admonitory

: expressing admonition : warning

Didactic

a: designed or intended to teach

b of literature or other art : intended to convey instruction and information in addition to serving another purpose (such as pleasure and entertainment)

Fervent

1: exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling : zealous

Frivolous

a: of little weight or importance

a: lacking in seriousness

Histrionic

1: deliberately affected : overly dramatic or emotional : theatrical

2: of or relating to actors, acting, or the theater

Incredulous

1: unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true : not credulous : skeptical

Obsequious

usually disapproving: marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness : obedient

Vexed

affected with, marked by, or causing trouble or vexation: such as

a: feeling or showing irritation, annoyance, or distress

b: difficult and often frustrating to understand or deal with

Wistful

1: full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy

also : inspiring such yearning

2: musingly sad : pensive

Zealous

: marked by fervent (intense) partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal : filled with or characterized by zeal

Lethargic

1: of, relating to, or characterized by laziness or lack of energy : feeling or affected by lethargy : sluggish

2: indifferent, apathetic

Lugubrious

especially : exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful

: dismal