AP Lit Q1 Vocab

acquiescent

acquiescent

ready to accept something without protest, or to do what someone else wants.

s: passive, nonresistant, willing

a: hostile, defiant, resistant

acrimonious

(typically of speech or debate) angry and bitter.:

s: irate, rancorous, acerbic

a: gentle, humanitarian, subdued

admonitory

giving or conveying a warning or reprimand.

s: reproachful, cautionary, warning

a: encouraging, unprotective, complimentary

adroit

 clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.

s: adept, dexterous, agile, nimble

a: clumsy, incompetent, unrefined, inept

apathetic

 showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

s: indifferent, detached, uninvolved

a: eager, passionate, demonstrative

audacious

showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks

s: risky, intrepid, dauntless

a:careful, timid, modest

Austere

severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

s: harsh, grim, aloof

a: calm, meek, genial

Abstruse

difficult to understand

s: perplexing, cryptic, esoteric

a:clear, obvious

Bombastic

high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated (in connection to a person) 

s:pompous, verbose, pretentious

a:straightforward, elegant, direct

Bucolic

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life

s:rustic, rural, pastoral

a:urban, metropolitan

callous

showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.

s: ruthless, unfeeling, uncaring

a:kind, compassionate

candid

marked by honest sincere expression, straightforward

s:truthful, genuine, blunt

a: secretive, guarded, insincere

caustic

making biting, corrosive comments, bitterly sarcastic, abrasive remarks

s:stinging, sharp, bitter, scathing

a:amusing, playful, mild

churlish

rude in a mean-spirited and surly way, rude, ill-mannered

s: discourteous, uncivil

a:polite, gentility, refinement

colloquial

 characteristic of ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal.

s: everyday, casual, natural

a: literary, formal, proper

contrite

feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt.

s: apologetic, ashamed, rueful

a:shameless, unreformable, ruthless

convivial

 (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable

s: social, outgoing, hospitable

a: reclusive, introverted, distant

decorous

in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained; proper.

s: acceptable, genteel, nice

a: unseemly, inappropriate, barred

derisive

expressing contempt or ridicule

s: ridiculous, absurd, silly,

a:earnest, solemn, reasonable

dejected

sad and depressed; dispirited.

s: melancholy, sorrowful, hopeless

a: jubilant, happy, cheerful

depraved

morally corrupt; wicked 

s: perverted, sick, crooked

a: pure, ethical, honest

Droll

curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement 

s: comical, humorous, amusing

a: serious, lame, earnest

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time. 

s: transient, fleeting, passing

a: eternal, permanent, endless

erudite

having or showing great knowledge or learning 

s: educated, scholarly, cultured

a: ignorant, illiterate, uncivilized

esoteric

 intended for or understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest

s: profound, complex, mysterious

a: superficial, simple, shallow

Exultant

triumphantly happy.

s: ecstatic, jubilant

a: defeated, depressed

Glib

(of words or the person speaking them) fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow

s: superficial, facile, hollow

a:sincere, genuine, candid

Gregarious

of a person) fond of company; sociable

s: outgoing, hospitable

a:introverted, reclusive

Guileless

innocent and without deception 

s: unaffected, naive, genuine

a:artificial, cynical

Haughty

arrogantly superior and disdainful.

s: supercilious, pretentious

a:humble, modest

imperative

of vital importance; crucial.

s: mandatory, necessary

a:optional, voluntary

impudent

not showing due respect for another person; impertinent.

s: insolent, brazen

a: humble, meek

incongruous

not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something

s: unsuitable, inept

a:appropriate, correct

incredulous

(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.

s: skeptical, suspicious

a:uncritical, naive

Inimical

tending to obstruct or harm

s: negative, adverse

a:amiable, pleasant