AP Lit: High-Level Vocab

What does evasive mean?

Deliberately vague or ambiguous.

What does despondent mean?

Depressed.

What does venerable mean?

Deserving of respect because of age or achievement.

What does obliterated mean?

Destroyed.

What does ruinous mean?

Disastrous or destructive.

What does crestfallen mean?

Discouraged, dejected, downcast.

What does fervent mean?

Eager; earnest.

What is the definition of alacrity?

Eagerness, speed.

What does superfluous mean?

Exceeding what is necessary.

What is the definition of avarice?

Excessive greed.

What is the definition of brazen?

Excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious.

What does obsequious mean?

Excessively compliant or submissive.

What is the definition of impeccable?

Exemplary, flawless.

What is the definition of eloquent?

Expressive, articulate, moving.

What does meticulous mean?

Extremely careful with details.

What does jubilant mean?

Extremely joyful, happy.

What does blistering mean?

(Of heat) intense. (Of criticism) expressed with great vehemence. Extremely fast, forceful, or impressive.

What does novice mean?

A beginner, someone without training or experience.

What does perusal mean?

A careful examination, review.

What does predilection mean?

A preference or inclination for something.

What does panacea mean?

A remedy for all ills or difficulties.

What does parody mean?

A satirical imitation.

What color is saffron?

A shade of yellow tinged with orange.

What does nuance mean?

A slight variation in meaning, tone, expression.

What does modicum mean?

A small amount of something.

What does penchant mean?

A tendency, partiality, preference.

What does rife mean?

Abundant.

What does plethora mean?

An abundance, excess.

What does maverick mean?

An independent, nonconformist person.

What does apprehension mean?

Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.

What is the definition of cynical?

Believing the worst of others, especially that all acts are selfish.

What color is azure?

Blue.

What does ennui mean?

Boredom.

What does intrepid mean?

Brave in the face of danger.

What color is vermilion?

Bright red.

What does impudent mean?

Casually rude, insolent, impertinent.

What does quaint mean?

Charmingly old-fashioned.

What does incisive mean?

Clear, sharp, direct.

What is the definition of amiable?

Friendly.

What does lurid mean?

Ghastly, sensational.

What does morose mean?

Gloomy or sullen.

What does lithe mean?

Graceful, flexible, supple.

What does arduous mean?

Hard to do, requiring much effort.

What is the definition of callous?

Harsh, cold, unfeeling.

What does rash mean?

Hasty, incautious.

What does tangy mean?

Having a sharp taste or flavor immediately sensed upon touch with the tongue.

What does it mean to be jaundiced?

Having a yellowish discoloration of the skin like affected by envy.

What does vociferous mean?

Loud, boisterous.

What does serendipity mean?

Luck, finding good things without looking for them.

What is the definition of enmity?

Ill will, hatred, hostility.

What does prodigious mean?

Immense; extraordinary in bulk, size, or degree.

What does implicit mean?

Implied or understood without being directly stated.

What does innate mean?

Inborn, native, inherent.

What is the definition of implacable?

Incapable of being appeased or mitigated.

What does insatiable mean?

Incapable of being satisfied.

What is the definition of cumulative?

Increasing, building upon itself.

What does exasperation mean?

Irritation, frustration.

What does serrated mean?

Jagged; saw-like.

What does benevolence mean?

Kindness, generosity, charity.

What does oblivious mean?

Lacking consciousness or awareness of something.

What does insipid mean?

Lacking interest or flavor.

What does obtuse mean?

Lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect.

What does indolent mean?

Lazy.

What is the definition of erudite?

Learned.

What is the definition of coherent?

Logically consistent, intelligible.

What does taciturn mean?

Not inclined to talk.

What does inept mean?

Not suitable or capable, unqualified.

What does infamy mean?

Notoriety, extreme ill repute.

What is the definition of arcane?

Obscure, secret, known only by a few.

What does sycophant mean?

One who flatters for self-gain.

What is the definition of despot?

One who has total power and rules brutally.

What is the definition of gluttony?

Overindulgence in food or drink.

What is the definition of elated?

Overjoyed, thrilled.

What color is honeydew?

Pale green like the melon.

What is the definition of confidant?

Person entrusted with secrets.

What is the definition of hypocrisy?

Pretending to believe what one does not.

What is the definition of demure?

Quiet, modest, reserved.

What does truculent mean?

Ready to fight, cruel.

What does umbrage mean?

Resentment, to take offense.

What is the definition of impertinent?

Rude, insolent.

What is the definition of clandestine?

Secret.

What is the definition of furtive?

Secretive, sly.

What does surreptitious mean?

Secretive, stealthy.

What does staid mean?

Sedate, serious, self-restrained.

What is the definition of complacency?

Self-satisfied ignorance of danger.

What is the definition of empathy?

Sensitivity to another's feelings as if they were one's own.

What does insular mean?

Separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off.

What does solemnity mean?

Seriousness.

What is the definition of brusque?

Short, abrupt, dismissive.

What does insolent mean?

Showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect.

What is the definition of diligent?

Showing care in doing one's work.

What is the definition of deferential?

Showing respect for another's authority.

What does salient mean?

Significant, conspicuous.

What is the definition of aberration?

Something that differs from the norm.

What does inveterate mean?

Stubbornly established by habit.

What does zenith mean?

The highest point, culminating point.

What does nadir mean?

The lowest point of something.

What does resonance mean?

The quality in a sound of being deep, full, and reverberating.

What is the definition of acquiesce?

To agree without protesting.

What is the definition of appease?

To calm, satisfy.

What is the definition of decry?

To criticize openly.

What does it mean to bawl?

To cry loudly.

What is the definition of forsake?

To give up, renounce.

What is the definition of abhor?

To hate, detest.

What is the definition of deride?

To laugh at mockingly, scorn.

What is the definition of debase?

To lower the quality or esteem of something.

What is the definition of coerce?

To make somebody do something by force or threat.

What is the definition of fabricate?

To make up, invent.

What is the definition of connive?

To plot, scheme.

What is the definition of extol?

To praise, revere.

What does inhibit mean?

To prevent, restrain, stop.

What does repudiate mean?

To reject, refuse to accept.

What does refurbish mean?

To restore, clean up.

What is the definition of embezzle?

To steal money by falsifying records.

What does pummelled mean?

To strike repeatedly, typically with the fists.

What does lacerating mean?

To tear or make deep cuts in (flesh or skin).

What is the definition of cajole?

To urge, coax.

What is the definition of chide?

To voice disapproval.

What does nominal mean?

Trifling, insignificant.

What is the definition of fractious?

Troublesome or irritable.

What is the definition of gratuitous?

Uncalled for, unwarranted.

What does unpalatable mean?

Unpleasant to the taste or the mind.

What color is fuchsia?

Vivid reddish-purple.

What is the definition of feral?

Wild, savage.

What does zestful mean?

With spirit and energy.