APLit S1 Vocab FULL

asperity (n.)

harshness or sharpness of tone, temper, or manner

severity

disinclination (n.)

non-wanting to do something

relunctancy, unwillingness

importune (v.)

to ask with urgency or persistence

plead, beseech, demand

impute (v.)

to represent as being done, caused, or posessed by

ascribe, attribute (v.)

iniquitous (adj.)

characterized by injustice or evil

nefarious, wicked

probity (n.)

integrity or uprightness

honesty, rectitude

propitious (adj.)

indicative of favorable conditions

auspicious, luckybeneficial or advantageous

taciturn (adj.)

inclined to silence or relunctant to join conversation

reticent, ANT: loquacioustending to be quiet or uncommunicative

upbraid (v.)

to criticize severely

castigate, censure, reprimand

vouchsafe (v.)

to grant give as by favour or condescension

deign, bestow

countenance (n.)

appearance, especially the look or expression on one’s face

demeanor, visage

deign (v.)

to do something in accordance with one’s dignity (optional, in good graces)

consent, condescend (do something below you), see fit

ingenious (adj.)

clever or original

resourceful, adroit

pedantic (adj.)

overly concerned with minute details

precise, bookish, didactic

perfunctory (adj.)

performed merely as a routine duty (not careful)

automatic, superficial, indifferent

ANTONYM: detailed/fastidious

neophyte (n.)

beginner or novice — “new convert”

newcomer, fledgling

rapture (n.)

ecstatic joy or delight

bliss

ANTONYM: misery

scrupulous (adj.)

characterized by extreme care and effort; having moral standards

conscientious, principled

supercilious (adj.)

arrogant or disdainful

bossy, haughty

vex (v.)

to disturb, especially by minor irritations

annoy, frustrate

bucolic (adj.)

of or relating to shepherds/pastures

rural, countryside, idyllic

didactic (adj.)

intended for instruction, excessively; instruction over the top

preachy, autocratic, moralistic

dilatory (adj.)

causing or tending to delay or procrastinate

slow, tardy

disputatious (adj.)

given to or fond of arguing

contentious, cantankerous

encumbrance (n.)

something burdensome, heavy, and/or useless

hindrance, burden

enumerate (v.)

to name, one by one, as if in a list; turn into list

count, itemize

extricate (v.)

to release or free from entanglement

liberate, rescue, free

gait (n.)

a manner of walking, stepping, or running

stride, step

parody (n.)

a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious work

satire, imitation, caricature

pragmatic (adj.)

following the most practical or logical course of action

expedient, down-to-earth

autocratic (adj.)

dictatorial, like a tyrant, “rule by self”

absolute, despotic

bombastic (adj.)

too over the top, theatrical

grandiose, pretentious

ANT: understated

censure (v.)

to criticize severly, official/from place of authority

condemn, reproach, castigate

charlatan (n.)

a person who pretends to have more knowledge/skill than they actually possess

fraud, fake, phony

clandestine (adj.)

secret and concealed

hidden, secret, illicit, furtive

cursory (adj.)

going rapidly over something without noticing details

hasty, superficial

ant: thorough

debunk (v.)

to expose something as being false

disprove, disabuse

unabashed (adj.)

boldly certain, unashamed

unapologetic

wry (adj.)

bitterly ironic, crooked

dry, sardonic

vie (v.)

to strive in competition or rivalry

compete, contend

Peripheral (adj.)

related to or located in outer areas; minor

superficial, outmost

Prodigious (adj.)

extraordinary in size, amount, etc.

huge, wonderful

Proliferate (v.)

to increase in number of spread rapidly (countable)

grow, multiply

Quell (v.)

suppress or put an end to

extinguish, subdue

Raze (v.)

to tear down or demolish

ravage, level, destoy

ANT: raise

Recant (v.)

to withdraw or disavow a statement

disavow, retract, reject

Scathing (adj.)

bitterly severe or critical

harsh, scornful, damaging

Serendipity (n.)

good fortune

luck

Treatise (n.)

an extensive written argument on a topic

essay, writing (n.), work (n.)

Ubiquitous (adj.)

existing or being everywhere

omnipresent, extensive, commonplace

flummox (v.)

to confuse or confound, puzzling, illogical

bewilder, perplex

grandiose (adj.)

overly grand or pompous

pretentious, flamboyant

hackneyed (adj.)

made common through frequent use

overused, stale, trite

invoke (v.)

to call on or appeal to; declare to be in effect

petition

insipid (adj.)

without distinctive, interesting or stimulating qualities

dull, boring

lackadaisical (adj.)

without interest, enthusiasm, or determination

tired, lethargic, listless

laconic (adj.)

very few words

concise, ANT: verbose

mercurial (adj.)

changeable, volatile

fickle, erratic

nebulous (adj.)

vague, indistinct, confusing

hazy, amorphous

nefarious (adj.)

extremely wicked or villanious

evil, vile

acrimony (n.)

sharpness, harshness of speech/behaviour

animosity, spite

alacrity (n.)

cheerful readiness/willingness, enthusiastic

zeal, eagerness

burgeoning (adj.)

growing or developing, abstract

flourishing, blossoming

castigate (v.)

criticise or scold harshly/severely

reprimand

coalesce (v.)

to grow together into one body

unite, combine

dearth (n.)

an inadequate supply

scarcity, shortage

dogmatic (adj.)

stating opinions in an arrogant/forceful way

assertive, fanatical

effervescent (adj.)

lively, sparkling

bubbly, vivacious, energetic

ephemeral (adj.)

lasting a very short time

fleeting, transitory

fastidious

excessively particular, critical, or demanding

finnicky, meticulous