AP Comp Vocab 1

Pompous Pompous (adjective) / pompously (adverb) / pompousness (noun)

Definition: (1) affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important

Brazen Brazen (adjective) (verb) / brazenly (adverb) / brazenness (noun)

Definition: (1) bold and without shame, (2) made of brass, (1) endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.

Caustic Caustic (adjective) / caustic (noun)

Definition: (1) capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue, (2) severely critical or sarcastic, (1) a caustic substance.

Pretentious Pretentious (adjective) / pretentiously (adverb) / pretentiousness (noun)

Definition: (1) characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved, (2) making an exaggerated outward show, (3) having no factual basis

Satiric Satiric (adjective) / satirically (adverb) / satire (noun)

Definition: (1) containing or using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

Somber Somber (adjective) / somberly (adverb) / somberness (noun)

Definition: (1) dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy.

Pragmatic Pragmatic (adjective) / pragmaticality (noun) / pragmatically (adverb)

Definition: (1) dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations

Indignant Indignant (adjective) / indignantly (adverb) / indignation (noun)

Definition: (1) feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy

Disdainful Disdainful (adjective) / disdainfully (adverb) / disdainfulness (noun)

Definition: (1) full of or expressing contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior

Forthright Forthright (adjective) (adverb) (noun) / forthrightly (adverb) / forthrightness (noun)

Definition: (1) going straight to the point, (2) proceeding in a straight course, (1) a straight path

Ambivalent Ambivalent (adjective) / ambivalently (adverb)

Definition: (1) having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

Malicious Malicious (adjective) / maliciously (adverb) / malicousness (noun)

Definition: (1) having or showing a desire to cause harm to someone

Petty Petty (adjective) / pettily (adverb) / pettiness (noun)

Definition: (1) having secondary rank or importance (2) having little or no importance or significance (3) marked by or reflected of narrow interests and sympathies

Mock-heroic Mock-heroic (adjective) / mock-heroic (noun) / mock-heroically (adverb)

Definition: (1) imitating the style of heroic literature in order to satirize an unheroic subject, (1) a burlesque imitation of the heroic character or literary style.

Didactic Didactic (adjective) / didactically (adverb) / didacticism (noun)

Definition: (1) intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

Contemptuous Contemptuous (adjective) / contemptuously (adverb) / contemptuousness (noun)

Definition: (1) manifesting, feeling, or expressing deep hatred or disapproval

Diffident Diffident (adjective) / diffidently (adverb)

Definition: (1) modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.

lugubrious Lugubrious (adjective) / lugubriously (adverb) / lugubriousness (noun)

Definition: (1) mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner

Unabashed Unabashed (adjective) / unabashedly (adverb)

Definition: (1) not ashamed, disconcerted, or apologetic

Reticent Reticent (adjective) / reticently (adverb) / reticence (noun)

Definition: (1) not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily

Poignant poignant (adjective) / poignantly (adverb)

Definition: (1) painfully or deeply affecting the feelings, (2) designed to make an impression

Whimsical Whimsical (adjective) / whimsically (adverb)

Definition: (1) playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way, (2) acting or behaving in a capricious manner.

Urgent Urgent (adjective) / urgently (adverb) / urgency (noun)

Definition: (1) requiring immediate action or attention.

Seductive Seductive (noun) / seductively (adverb) / seductiveness (noun)

Definition: (1) tempting and attractive; enticing

Incredulous Incredulous (adjective) / incredulously (adverb) / incredulousness (noun)

Definition: (1) unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true

Elegiac Elegiac (adjective) / elegiac (noun) / elegiacally (adverb)

Definition: (1) used in, suitable for, or resembling an elegy. (2) expressing sorrow or lamentation (1) an elegiac or distich verse. (2) a poem in such distichs or verses.

Wry Wry (adjective) / wryly (adverb) / wryness (noun)

Definition: (1) using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor, (2) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance, (3) distorted or turned to one side

Ironic Ironic (adjective) / ironically (adverb)

Definition: (1) using words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning, (2) coincidental or unexpected

Incensed Incensed (adjective)

Definition: (1) very angry or enraged

Patronizing patronizing (adjective) / patronize (verb) / patronizingly (adverb) / patronizingness (noun)

Definition: showing or characterized by a superior attitude towards others