ap lang - vocab to memorize

assertion

a declaration or statement

clarity

clearness in thought or expression

cogent

convincing; reasonable

coherent

logically connected

cohesive

condition of sticking together

didactic

intended to instruct

discourse

verbal expression or exchange; conversation

eloquence

the ability to speak vividly or persuasively

emphasize

to give special attention to something, to stress

fluid

easily flowing

implication

the act of suggesting or hinting

lucid

easily understood; clear

rhetoric

the art of using language effectively and persuasively

arbiter

a judge who decides a disputed issue

biased

prejudiced

exculpate

to free from guilt or blame

impartial

not in favor of one side or the other, unbiased

incontrovertible

not able to be denied or disputed

integrity

trustworthiness; completeness

objectivity

treating facts without influence from personal feelings or prejudices

penitent

expressing remorse for one's misdeeds

plausible

seemingly valid or acceptable; credible

substantiated

supported with proof or evidence; verified

vindicated

freed from blame

condescending

treating people as weak or inferior

contemptuous

feeling hatred; scornful

despotic

exercising absolute power; tyrannical

dictatorial

domineering; oppressively overbearing

disdain

contempt, scorn

disdain

to regard or treat with contempt; to look down on

haughty

arrogant; vainly proud

imperious

arrogantly domineering or overbearing

patronizing

treating in a condescending manner

convoluted

intricate; complex

cryptic

difficult to comprehend

futile

having no useful purpose; pointless

impede

to slow the progress of

obscure

relatively unknown

obscure

to conceal or make indistinct

quandary

a state of uncertainty or perplexity

indolent

lazy

insipid

uninteresting; unchallenging

listless

lacking energy

torpor

laziness; inactivity; dullness

alienated

removed or disassociated from (friends, family, or homeland)

alliance

a union of two or more groups

disparity

inequality in age, rank, or degree; difference

servile

submissive; like a servant

suppressed

subdued; kept from being circulated

embellish

to make beautiful by ornamenting; to decorate

florid

describing flowery or elaborate speech

opulent

exhibiting a display of great wealth

ornate

elaborately decorated

ostentatious

describing a showy or pretentious display

poignant

profoundly moving; touching

ebullience

intense enthusiasm

effusive

emotionally unrestrained; gushy

egregious

conspicuously bad or offensive

flagrant

extremely or deliberately shocking or noticeable

frenetic

wildly excited or active

gratuitous

given freely; unearned; unwarranted

superfluous

extra; unnecessary

alleviate

to ease a pain or burden

asylum

a place of retreat or security

auspicious

favorable; promising

benevolent

well-meaning; generous

benign

kind and gentle

mollify

to calm or soothe

reclamation

the act of making something useful again

sanction

to give official authorization or approval

dubious

doubtful; of unlikely authenticity

fabricated

made; concocted to deceive

hypocrisy

the practice of pretending to be something one is not; insincerity

slander

false charges and malicious oral statements about someone

spurious

not genuine

astute

shrewd; clever

clandestine

secretive

coup

a brilliantly executed plan

disingenuous

not straightforward; crafty

ruse

a crafty trick

stratagem

a clever trick used to deceive or outwit

surreptitiously

done by secretive means

wary

on guard

wily

cunning

ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation

ambivalent

simultaneously having opposing feelings; uncertain

apathetic

feeling or showing little emotion

arbitrary

determined by impulse rather than reason

capricious

impulsive and unpredictable

equivocate

to avoid making a definite statement

indifferent

not caring one way or the other

spontaneous

unplanned; naturally occurring

whimsical

subject to erratic behavior; unpredictable

inconsequential

unimportant

superficial

concerned only with what is on the surface or obvious; shallow

tenuous

having little substance or strength; shaky; unsure, weak

trivial

of little importance or significance

assiduous

hard-working

compelling

forceful; urgently demanding attention

diligent

marked by painstaking effort; hard-working