AP Lang Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary words and their definitions for AP Language courses covering quarters 1 to 3.

acquiescence

Acceptance of something without protesting.

ambiguity

More than one interpretation, inexact.

apathy

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

bane

Cause of distress or annoyance.

bourgeois

Middle class in reference to materialistic values or conventional attitudes.

cognizant

Being aware of, having knowledge.

coherent

Logical and consistent, clear, logical, forming a whole.

concede

Admit something is true or valid, surrender or yield.

consecrate

Make or declare something sacred, formally dedicate to a divine purpose.

contextualize

Place in the circumstance of the idea to fully understand or investigate.

convoluted

Complex, difficult to follow, twisted.

decorous

Keeping with good taste, polite and restrained.

deprecate

Express disapproval of, belittle.

didactic

Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction.

dogmatic

Asserting opinions, arrogant, opinionated.

egregious

Extremely bad, shocking, appalling.

emphatic

Showing, giving, or expressing something with emphasis, forcibly, or clearly.

equivocate

Use ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing.

exigency

The urgent need or demand.

fickle

Changing loyalties, interests, or affection frequently.

glibly

Thoughtlessly or superficially, insincere.

ideology

System of ideas, usually based on economic or political theory and policy.

imperialism

Extending a country’s power and influence through military force.

innocuous

Not harmful or offensive.

irreverent

Showing a lack of respect for people or things generally taken seriously.

judicious

Done with good judgment or good sense.

mendacious

Dishonesty, not telling the truth.

nuance

Subtle difference in meaning, expression, shade or sound.

objectivity

Accomplishing the goal without biasness, removing personal feelings.

ornate

Embellished with rhetoric, excessively intricate, complex patterns decorations.

pedantic

Overly concerned with unimportant details or rules, especially academically.

pernicious

Having a slow, gradual, subtle harmful effect.

perpetual

Never ending or changing, endless, uninterrupted.

postulate

To ask, demand, claim or assume without proof, to theorize.

pragmatic

Dealing with things realistically, sensibly, and practically.

precarious

Not secure, likely to fall or collapse, dependent on change, uncertain.

proliferate

Increase rapidly in numbers, to quickly multiply.

propensity

A natural tendency to behave in a particular way.

rhetoric

Effective or persuasive speaking or writing.

sardonic

Mocking, cynical, satirical, insulting.

scrupulous

Diligent, thorough, extremely attentive to details, meticulous.

subjectivity

Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.

substantiate

Provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.

subversive

Seeking to overthrow or destroy an established system or institution.

ubiquitous

Present, appearing or found everywhere.

affable

friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to

antipathy

a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion

ardent

enthusiastic, passionate, devoted, eager

asinine

foolish, mindless, silly

beguile

charm someone in a deceptive way

benevolent

characterized by or expressing goodwill, desiring to help others, charitable

bequeath

leave to a person or other beneficiary by a will, to pass on, to hand down

calamity

an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; disaster

candid

truthful, straightforward, frank

cogent

clear, logical, and convincing

conciliate

stop someone from being angry, to overcome the distrust, win over

conspicuous

standing out to be clearly visible

contemptuous

feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something

culmination

highest or climactic point of something, especially after a long time

desolate

a place deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness

despondent

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage

despotic

tyrannical, authoritarian, unjustly cruel, harsh or severe, oppressive

dilatory

slow to act, intended to cause delay

divisive

tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people

eccentric

unconventional and slightly strange

enervate

to drain of energy, to weaken

exasperate

to irritate and frustrate intensely

ferocity

viciousness, fierceness, savage

gait

a person or animal's manner of walking

garish

showy, excessively elaborate, excessively bright and colorful, flashy

imperious

assuming power or authority without justification, arrogant and domineering

impetuous

acting or done quickly without thought or care

inaugurate

begin or introduce a system, policy, or period, admit someone formally to office

incongruous

not in harmony, not keep with the surrounding or other aspects of something

incorrigible

a person or their tendencies not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed

ineradicable

unable to be removed or destroyed

inordinate

not within proper or reasonable limits, excessive, uncontrolled, unrestrained

laconic

using very few words in speech or writing

libertine

a person who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility

manifest

display or show, demonstrate, perceived by the eye, evident, obvious, apparent

novice

a person new to or inexperienced in a field or situation

obsequious

obedient, overly attentive, excessive willingness to serve others

obstreperous

noisy and difficult to control

opulent

wealthy, rich, affluent, abundance

pensive

involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought

promulgate

to make known, to publish, to proclaim, to set forth publicly

remonstrate

to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval

superfluous

more than sufficient or required, excessive, unnecessary, needless

supplant

to take the place of another, to replace someone or something

tangible

capable of being touched, material or substantial, real, actual

temerity

excessive confidence or boldness; audacity

turgid

swollen, congested, inflated, overblown, pompous

verbose

using or expressed in more words than are needed

vexation

the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried

vociferous

outspoken, vocal, noisy