Commonly Used Words in AP Exam Passages

Abstract and Philosophical Terms

  1. Ambiguity: Uncertainty or multiple possible meanings.

  2. Ephemeral: Short-lived, fleeting.

  3. Imperative: Absolutely necessary; essential.

  4. Ineffable: Too great or extreme to be expressed in words.

  5. Pragmatic: Practical, dealing with things sensibly and realistically.

  6. Subtle: Delicate or precise, not obvious.

  7. Transcendent: Beyond ordinary experience or understanding.

  8. Unfettered: Free from restrictions or limitations.

  9. Laudable: deserving of praise

  10. Panegyric: speech/text publishedin praise of someone

  11. vitiate: spoil

Emotional and Tone Words

  1. Acerbic: Sharp or biting in tone or expression.

  2. Cynical: Distrustful of human sincerity or motives.

  3. Earnest: Serious and sincere.

  4. Ebullient: Overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement.

  5. Lament: To express sorrow or regret.

  6. Melancholy: A feeling of sadness, often with no obvious cause.

  7. Nostalgic: Longing for the past.

  8. Satirical: Using humor or irony to criticize.

Analytical and Evaluative Words

  1. Anecdotal: Based on personal accounts rather than facts or research.

  2. Condescending: Talking down to someone in a patronizing way.

  3. Didactic: Intended to teach or instruct, often in a moralistic way.

  4. Empirical: Based on observation or experience rather than theory.

  5. Explicit: Clearly stated, leaving no room for confusion.

  6. Inherent: Existing as a natural or essential characteristic.

  7. Nuance: A subtle difference or distinction.

  8. Pedantic: Overly concerned with minor details or rules.

Argumentative and Logical Words

  1. Appeal: A request or reference to ethos, pathos, or logos.

  2. Corroborate: To confirm or give support to.

  3. Debunk: To expose falsehoods or myths.

  4. Fallacy: A mistaken belief or faulty reasoning.

  5. Paradoxical: Seemingly contradictory yet possibly true.

  6. Qualify: To modify or limit a statement to make it less absolute.

Descriptive Words

  1. Austere: Severe or strict in manner or appearance.

  2. Copious: Abundant, plentiful.

  3. Eloquent: Fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing.

  4. Ostentatious: Showy or pretentious.

  5. Sparse: Thinly scattered or distributed.

Contextual Words Related to Power and Society

  1. Autonomy: Independence or self-governance.

  2. Deference: Respect and submission to authority or another’s opinion.

  3. Hegemony: Dominance of one group over others.

  4. Oppression: Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment.

  5. Reverence: Deep respect or admiration.

  6. Subjugate: To bring under control or domination.

Literary and Stylistic Words

  1. Allegory: A story or image with a hidden meaning, often moral or political.

  2. Archaic: Old-fashioned or outdated.

  3. Colloquial: Informal, conversational language.

  4. Euphemism: A mild or indirect term replacing a harsher one.

  5. Hyperbolic: Exaggerated for effect.

  6. Motif: A recurring theme, subject, or idea.

  7. Prose: Written or spoken language in its ordinary form.

Scientific and Technical Words (Occasionally Seen)

  1. Cohesion: Unity or sticking together.

  2. Entropy: A gradual decline into disorder.

  3. Rebuttal: A counterargument or contradiction.

  4. Skepticism: Doubt as to the truth of something.