VOCAB FOR AP LANG

1

accentuate

To emphasize or make something stand out

2

accept

To agree to or receive something

3

achieve

To successfully accomplish something

4

address

To deal with or discuss a topic

5

adopt

To accept or begin using an idea

6

advocate

To publicly support something

7

affect

To influence something

8

affirm

To state that something is true

9

allege

To claim something without proof

10

alleviate

To make something less severe

11

allow

To permit something

12

allude

To indirectly refer to something

13

amplify

To make stronger or more noticeable

14

analyze

To examine something closely

15

argue

To give reasons supporting a position

16

articulate

To express an idea clearly

17

ascertain

To find out or determine

18

assert

To confidently state something

19

assume

To accept something as true without proof

20

attack

To strongly criticize

21

attest

To confirm that something is true

22

attribute

To say something was caused by someone/something

23

augment

To increase or add to something

24

avoid

To stay away from something

25

call to action

A statement urging people to do something

26

categorize

To put things into groups

27

cause

To make something happen

28

challenge

To question or oppose something

29

characterize

To describe the qualities of something

30

chronicle

To record events in order

31

claim

To state that something is true

32

clarify

To make something easier to understand

33

classify

To organize into categories

34

comment

To give an opinion or observation

35

compare

To examine similarities

36

conclude

To reach a final decision or idea

37

condemn

To strongly criticize or express disapproval

38

confirm

To prove or show something is true

39

consider

To think carefully about something

40

construct

To build or create

41

contextualize

To explain something using its surrounding context

42

contrast

To examine differences

43

correlate

To show how things are connected

44

create

To make something new

45

critique

To evaluate something critically

46

declare

To state something firmly or officially

47

deduce

To reach a conclusion using evidence

48

defend

To support something against criticism

49

define

To explain the meaning of something

50

defy

To openly resist or disobey

51

delineate

To describe or show something clearly

52

demonstrate

To show or prove something

53

denigrate

To unfairly criticize or belittle

54

denote

To mean or indicate

55

denounce

To publicly condemn

56

depict

To represent or show

57

describe

To explain what something is like

58

detail

To give specific information

59

develop

To expand or build an idea

60

deviate

To move away from a usual path or idea

61

differentiate

To show how things are different

62

dispel

To remove a doubt, fear, or misconception

63

display

To show something

64

dispute

To disagree with or challenge

65

dissuade

To convince someone not to do something

66

distinguish

To recognize differences

67

distort

To change something so it is misleading

68

divide

To separate into parts or groups

69

downplay

To make something seem less important

70

dramatize

To make something seem more dramatic

71

elaborate

To explain in greater detail

72

elicit

To draw out a response or reaction

73

embody

To represent an idea or quality

74

emphasize

To give special importance to something

75

entail

To involve or require something

76

enumerate

To list things one by one

77

envision

To imagine something happening

78

evoke

To bring a feeling or memory to mind

79

exclude

To leave something out

80

exemplify

To provide an example of something

81

explain

To make something clear

82

explore

To examine or investigate

83

expose

To reveal something hidden

84

express

To communicate an idea or feeling

85

flaunt

To show off something

86

focus

To concentrate attention on something

87

foreground

To make something especially noticeable

88

foreshadow

To give a hint about what will happen

89

forge

To create or develop something

90

fortify

To strengthen

91

foster

To encourage growth or development

92

garner

To gain or collect

93

generalize

To make a broad statement

94

guide

To direct or lead

95

heighten

To increase or intensify

96

highlight

To draw attention to

97

honor

To show respect or recognition

98

hyperbolize

To exaggerate greatly

99

identify

To recognize or name

100

illuminate

To make something clearer

101

illustrate

To explain with an example

102

imagine

To form an idea or picture mentally

103

impel

To strongly encourage or force

104

implicate

To show someone is involved

105

imply

To suggest without directly saying

106

incite

To encourage strong action, usually negative

107

indicate

To show or point out

108

initiate

To begin something

109

inundate

To overwhelm with a large amount

110

inspire

To motivate or encourage

111

instigate

To cause or encourage something to happen

112

intend

To plan or mean to do something

113

intensify

To make stronger

114

interpret

To explain the meaning of something

115

introduce

To present something for the first time

116

invoke

To call upon or refer to

117

justify

To give reasons supporting something

118

juxtapose

To place things side-by-side to compare them

119

lament

To express sadness or regret

120

lampoon

To mock someone through humor

121

legitimize

To make something seem valid or acceptable

122

list

To name things one after another

123

magnify

To make something seem larger or more important

124

maintain

To continue to claim or argue

125

manipulate

To influence or control unfairly

126

moralize

To give advice about right and wrong

127

muse

To think deeply or reflect

128

narrate

To tell a story or describe events

129

observe

To notice or watch carefully

130

oppose

To disagree with or resist

131

organize

To arrange in a logical way

132

outline

To give the main points

133

overstate

To exaggerate

134

personifies

Represents something as having human qualities

135

plead

To make an emotional request

136

ponder

To think about carefully

137

posit

To suggest or propose an idea

138

present

To show or introduce information

139

presume

To suppose something is true

140

propose

To suggest an idea or plan

141

provide

To give or supply

142

provoke

To cause a reaction

143

qualify

To limit or modify a statement

144

question

To ask about or challenge something

145

rationalize

To give reasons to justify something

146

reason

To think logically

147

recall

To remember

148

recount

To tell about events in detail

149

reflect

To think deeply about something

150

refute

To prove that something is wrong

151

reinforce

To strengthen an idea

152

repeat

To say or do again

153

represent

To stand for or show

154

reveal

To make something known

155

ridicule

To make fun of or mock

156

satirize

To criticize through humor or exaggeration

157

specifies

States something clearly and exactly

158

speculate

To make a guess based on limited evidence

159

spur

To encourage or motivate

160

suggest

To put forward an idea

161

summarize

To give the main points briefly

162

support

To provide evidence for an idea

163

sustain

To maintain or continue

164

symbolize

To represent an idea

165

sympathize

To understand or share someone's feelings

166

trace

To follow the development of something

167

transform

To change significantly

168

underscore

To emphasize

169

understate

To make something seem less important

170

verify

To check that something is true

171

abashed

Embarrassed or ashamed

172

abstract

Based on ideas rather than specific things

173

abstruse

Difficult to understand

174

acerbic

Sharp, harsh, or biting

175

admiring

Showing respect or approval

176

admonishing

Showing disapproval or warning

177

affectionate

Showing love or fondness

178

ambivalent

Having mixed feelings

179

amused

Entertained or finding something funny

180

antagonistic

Hostile or opposing

181

apathetic

Not caring or interested

182

ardent

Very passionate or enthusiastic

183

audacious

Bold, daring, or fearless

184

belligerent

Aggressive or hostile

185

bemused

Confused or puzzled

186

benevolent

Kind and generous

187

bewildered

Very confused

188

bitter

Angry or resentful

189

blunt

Direct and not softened

190

brusque

Very brief and somewhat rude

191

candid

Honest and straightforward

192

censorious

Very critical of others

193

ceremonious

Very formal and respectful

194

cheerful

Happy and positive

195

childish

Immature or silly

196

choleric

Easily angered

197

cold

Unfriendly or lacking emotion

198

colloquial

Casual, conversational

199

commanding

Authoritative and confident

200

compassionate

Caring about others' suffering

201

complimentary

Expressing praise

202

conceited

Having an overly high opinion of yourself

203

conciliatory

Trying to make peace

204

condescending

Acting as if you are superior

205

confident

Certain and self-assured

206

contemptuous

Showing strong disrespect

207

critical

Pointing out problems or faults

208

cruel

Intentionally causing pain or suffering

209

curious

Wanting to know more

210

curt

Brief and sometimes rude

211

cynical

Distrusting people's motives

212

demanding

Expecting a lot from others

213

derisive

Mocking or showing disrespect

214

derogatory

Insulting or disrespectful

215

detached

Unemotional or uninvolved

216

didactic

Intended to teach a lesson

217

disgruntled

Annoyed or dissatisfied

218

distressed

Very upset or worried

219

dreamy

Imaginative or pleasantly thoughtful

220

dubious

Doubtful or suspicious

221

earnest

Serious and sincere

222

effusive

Showing a lot of emotion or enthusiasm

223

elegiac

Expressing sadness or mourning

224

elevated

Formal, sophisticated, or noble

225

eloquent

Fluent and persuasive

226

encouraging

Giving hope or confidence

227

euphoric

Extremely happy or excited

228

evasive

Avoiding a direct answer

229

exhortatory

Strongly encouraging someone to act

230

explicit

Clear and directly stated

231

facetious

Joking in an inappropriate or unserious way

232

factual

Based on facts

233

fanciful

Imaginative or unrealistic

234

farcical

Absurdly funny or ridiculous

235

fervent

Extremely passionate

236

flippant

Not showing enough seriousness

237

forgiving

Willing to stop blaming someone

238

frantic

Extremely worried or panicked

239

frightened

Afraid

240

frightening

Causing fear

241

frivolous

Not serious or important

242

giddy

Extremely excited or happy

243

gloomy

Dark, sad, or pessimistic

244

grateful

Thankful

245

grave

Very serious

246

haughty

Arrogantly superior

247

horrific

Extremely frightening or disturbing

248

hostile

Unfriendly or aggressive

249

hypocritical

Pretending to have values you don't follow

250

impartial

Fair and unbiased

251

impassioned

Filled with strong emotion

252

implicit

Suggested but not directly stated

253

inchoate

Not fully formed or developed

254

indifferent

Not caring

255

indignant

Angry because something is unfair

256

inflammatory

Intended to cause anger or conflict

257

insistent

Firmly demanding something

258

insolent

Rude and disrespectful

259

instructive

Helpful for teaching

260

insulting

Offensive or disrespectful

261

introspective

Focused on one's own thoughts

262

ironic

Meaning the opposite of what is expected

263

irreverent

Showing disrespect toward something usually respected

264

irrevocable

Impossible to change or reverse

265

jovial

Cheerful and friendly

266

joyous

Very happy

267

learned

Showing knowledge or education

268

lethargic

Lacking energy

269

lighthearted

Cheerful and not serious

270

lofty

Noble, elevated, or idealistic

271

malevolent

Having harmful intentions

272

matter

To be important or significant

273

meditative

Deeply thoughtful

274

melancholy

Sad and thoughtful

275

mocking

Making fun of someone

276

nonchalant

Calm and unconcerned

277

nostalgic

Longing for the past

278

objective

Unbiased and fact-based

279

ominous

Suggesting something bad may happen

280

optimistic

Hopeful about the future

281

outraged

Extremely angry

282

outspoken

Very direct about opinions

283

patronizing

Treating someone as less intelligent

284

pedantic

Overly focused on small details or rules

285

penitent

Sorry and regretful

286

pensive

Deeply thoughtful

287

pessimistic

Expecting bad outcomes

288

placid

Calm and peaceful

289

pleading

Begging or asking desperately

290

poignant

Emotionally powerful or touching

291

pretentious

Trying to seem more important or intelligent

292

proud

Feeling satisfaction or confidence

293

provocative

Intended to cause a strong reaction

294

reassuring

Making someone feel less worried

295

reminiscent

Reminding someone of the past

296

remorseful

Feeling guilty or sorry

297

respectful

Showing respect

298

restrained

Controlled and not overly emotional

299

reticent

Unwilling to speak much

300

reverent

Showing deep respect

301

sanguine

Optimistic and confident

302

sarcastic

Using irony to mock or criticize

303

scheming

Secretly planning something, usually selfish

304

scholarly

Academic and knowledgeable

305

scornful

Showing strong disrespect

306

self-assured

Confident in yourself

307

self

This appears incomplete; likely missing a word

308

self

This appears incomplete; likely missing a word

309

sentimental

Emotional about memories or feelings

310

sharp

Clever, direct, or cutting

311

shocking

Causing surprise or disbelief

312

skeptical

Doubtful or questioning

313

solemn

Very serious and formal

314

somber

Serious, gloomy, or sad

315

sorrowful

Very sad

316

speculative

Based on guesses or possibilities

317

stately

Dignified and impressive

318

straightforward

Direct and easy to understand

319

supercilious

Arrogantly acting superior

320

sympathetic

Showing understanding or concern

321

tedious

Boring because it is repetitive or long

322

threatening

Suggesting danger or harm

323

treacherous

Untrustworthy or dangerous

324

uncertain

Not sure or definite

325

unheralded

Unexpected or not previously announced

326

urgent

Requiring immediate attention

327

vague

Unclear or lacking detail

328

vengeful

Wanting revenge

329

volatile

Likely to change suddenly or become angry

330

warm

Friendly, kind, or caring

331

wry

Dryly humorous or ironic

332

zealous

Extremely enthusiastic or passionate

333

anecdote

A short, interesting story about a real event

334

aphorism

A short statement expressing a general truth or lesson

335

dogma

A belief or set of beliefs accepted as unquestionably true

336

hierarchy

A system where people or things are ranked by importance

337

fallacy

A mistake in reasoning or an argument that seems logical but isn't