AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Language Diction Words Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
11386637197Pedanticoverly concerned with minute details or formalisms0
11386637198Euphemisticsubstituting a mild term for a harsher or distasteful one1
11386637199Pretentiouscharacterized by assumption of dignity or importance; making an exaggerated outward show2
11386637200SensuousOf, relating to, or derived from the senses3
11386637201Exact-precise characterized by or using strict accuracy4
11386637202Culturedenlightened; refined;5
11386637203Plainclear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious; without intricacies or difficulties6
11386637204Literalaccordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical7
11386637205Colloquialcharacteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing8
11386637206Artificiallacking naturalness or spontaneity; forced; contrived; feigned; synthetic, counterfeit9
11386637207Detachedimpartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased10
11386637208Poeticpossessing the qualities or charm of poetry11
11386637209MoralisticCharacterized by or displaying a concern with morality12
11386637210Slangvery informal usage in vocabulary13
11386637211Idiomaticpeculiar to or characteristic of a particular language or dialect14
11386637212Esotericunderstood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; private; secret; confidential15
11386637213Symboliccharacterized by or involving the use of symbols16
11386637214Simplenot grand or sophisticated; unpretentious; not complex or complicated17
11386637215Figurativeof the nature of or involving a figure of speech18
11386637216Bombasticof speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; inflated19
11386637217Abstrusehard to understand; recondite; esoteric; secret, hidden20
11386637218Grotesqueodd or unnatural in shape, appearance, or character; fantastically ugly21
11386637219Vulgarcharacterized by ignorance of or lack of good breeding or taste; indecent22
11386637220Scholarlyconcerned with academic learning; of, like, or befitting a scholar23
11386637221Insipidwithout distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid, bland24
11386637222Precisedefinitely or strictly stated, defined, or fixed, carefully distinct, explicit25
11386637223Learnedhaving much knowledge; scholarly; erudite;26
11386637224Picturesquestrikingly graphic or vivid; creating detailed mental images27
11386637225Homespunplain; unpolished; unsophisticated; simple; rustic28
11386637226Provincialbelonging or peculiar to some particular province; local29
11386637227Tritelacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition; hackneyed; stale30
11386637228Obscurenot clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain31
11386637229Archaicmarked by the characteristics of an earlier period; primitive; ancient; old32
11386637230Verbosecharacterized by the use of many or too many words; wordy33
11386637231Abstractdifficult to understand; abstruse34
11386637232Bitingcutting, sarcastic35
11386637233Brusqueabrupt in manner; blunt36
11386637234Cacophonoushaving a harsh or unpleasant sound; dissonant37
11386637235Casualwithout definite or serious intention; careless or offhand38
11386637236Causticseverely critical or sarcastic; biting, mordant, bitter, scathing39
11386637237Concreteconstituting an actual thing or instance; real40
11386637238Colorfulrichly eventful or picturesque; presenting or suggesting vivid or striking scenes; spirited41
11386637239Connotativehaving the power of implying or suggesting something in addition to what is explicit42
11386637240Crispinvigorating, fresh, brisk, bracing43
11386637241Curtrudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner; short, brief, concise44
11386637242Denotativethe primary or specific meaning of a word. Dictionary definition45
11386637243Divisivecreating dissension or discord; forming or expressing division46
11386637244Emotionalpertaining to or involving emotion or the emotions, temperamental47
11386637245Euphoniouspleasant in sound; agreeable to the ear; characterized by euphony48
11386637246Fancifulcharacterized by or showing fancy; capricious or whimsical in appearance49
11386637247Floweryrhetorically ornate or precious; showy; bombastic50
11386637248Formalof, reflecting, or noting a usage of language in which syntax, pronunciation, etc., adhere to traditional standards of correctness and usage51
11386637249Inflammatorytending to arouse anger, hostility, passion; fiery; provocative52
11386637250Informalsuitable to or characteristic of casual and familiar, but educated53
11386637251Insincerenot sincere; not honest in the expression of actual feeling; hypocritical54
11386637252Jargonthe language, the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group55
11386637253Loadedcharged with emotional or associative significance that hinders rational or unprejudiced consideration of the terms involved in a discourse56
11386637254Lyricalcharacterized by or expressing spontaneous, direct feeling; having the form and musical quality of a song57
11386637255Melodiousof the nature of or characterized by melody; tuneful; sweet-sounding58
11386637256Monosyllabichaving a vocabulary composed primarily of monosyllables or short, simple words.59
11386637257Nostalgica wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life60
11386637258Offensivecausing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying61
11386637259Ornateostentatious, elaborately adorned, showy, embellished with rhetoric, high- flown62
11386637260Passionatehaving, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling; fervid63
11386637261Patrioticexpressing or inspired by patriotism; love of one's country64
11386637262Politicalof, pertaining to, or concerned with politics; government65
11386637263Romanticof, pertaining to, or of the nature of romance66
11386637264Sentimentalexpressive of or appealing to sentiment, esp. the tender emotions and feelings, as love, pity, or nostalgia67
11386637265Shockingcausing intense surprise, disgust, horror; staggering, astounding, startling68
11386637266Sincerefree of deceit, hypocrisy, or falseness; earnest; genuine; real; pure69
11386637267Subduedquiet; inhibited; repressed; controlled; lowered in intensity or strength70
11386637268Tamelacking in excitement; dull; insipid; softened; meek; subdued71
11386637269Technicalpeculiar to or characteristic of a particular art, science, profession, trade72
11386637270Unifyingto make or become a single unit; unite; combine, merge, fuse73
11386637271Uppityaffecting an attitude of inflated self-esteem; haughty; snobbish74
11386637272Pedanticoverly concerned with minute details or formalisms75
11386637273Euphemisticsubstituting a mild term for a harsher or distasteful one76
11386637274Pretentiouscharacterized by assumption of dignity or importance; making an exaggerated outward show77
11386637275SensuousOf, relating to, or derived from the senses78
11386637276Exact-precise characterized by or using strict accuracy79
11386637277Culturedenlightened; refined;80
11386637278Plainclear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious; without intricacies or difficulties81
11386637279Literalaccordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical82
11386637280Colloquialcharacteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing83
11386637281Artificiallacking naturalness or spontaneity; forced; contrived; feigned; synthetic, counterfeit84
11386637282Detachedimpartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased85
11386637283Poeticpossessing the qualities or charm of poetry86
11386637284MoralisticCharacterized by or displaying a concern with morality87
11386637285Slangvery informal usage in vocabulary88
11386637286Idiomaticpeculiar to or characteristic of a particular language or dialect89
11386637287Esotericunderstood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; private; secret; confidential90
11386637288Symboliccharacterized by or involving the use of symbols91
11386637289Simplenot grand or sophisticated; unpretentious; not complex or complicated92
11386637290Figurativeof the nature of or involving a figure of speech93
11386637291Bombasticof speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; inflated94
11386637292Abstrusehard to understand; recondite; esoteric; secret, hidden95
11386637293Grotesqueodd or unnatural in shape, appearance, or character; fantastically ugly96
11386637294Vulgarcharacterized by ignorance of or lack of good breeding or taste; indecent97
11386637295Scholarlyconcerned with academic learning; of, like, or befitting a scholar98
11386637296Insipidwithout distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid, bland99
11386637297Precisedefinitely or strictly stated, defined, or fixed, carefully distinct, explicit100
11386637298Learnedhaving much knowledge; scholarly; erudite;101
11386637299Picturesquestrikingly graphic or vivid; creating detailed mental images102
11386637300Homespunplain; unpolished; unsophisticated; simple; rustic103
11386637301Provincialbelonging or peculiar to some particular province; local104
11386637302Tritelacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition; hackneyed; stale105
11386637303Obscurenot clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain106
11386637304Archaicmarked by the characteristics of an earlier period; primitive; ancient; old107
11386637305Verbosecharacterized by the use of many or too many words; wordy108
11386637306Abstractdifficult to understand; abstruse109
11386637307Bitingcutting, sarcastic110
11386637308Brusqueabrupt in manner; blunt111
11386637309Cacophonoushaving a harsh or unpleasant sound; dissonant112
11386637310Casualwithout definite or serious intention; careless or offhand113
11386637311Causticseverely critical or sarcastic; biting, mordant, bitter, scathing114
11386637312Concreteconstituting an actual thing or instance; real115
11386637313Colorfulrichly eventful or picturesque; presenting or suggesting vivid or striking scenes; spirited116
11386637314Connotativehaving the power of implying or suggesting something in addition to what is explicit117
11386637315Crispinvigorating, fresh, brisk, bracing118
11386637316Curtrudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner; short, brief, concise119
11386637317Denotativethe primary or specific meaning of a word. Dictionary definition120
11386637318Divisivecreating dissension or discord; forming or expressing division121
11386637319Emotionalpertaining to or involving emotion or the emotions, temperamental122
11386637320Euphoniouspleasant in sound; agreeable to the ear; characterized by euphony123
11386637321Fancifulcharacterized by or showing fancy; capricious or whimsical in appearance124
11386637322Floweryrhetorically ornate or precious; showy; bombastic125
11386637323Formalof, reflecting, or noting a usage of language in which syntax, pronunciation, etc., adhere to traditional standards of correctness and usage126
11386637324Inflammatorytending to arouse anger, hostility, passion; fiery; provocative127
11386637325Informalsuitable to or characteristic of casual and familiar, but educated128
11386637326Insincerenot sincere; not honest in the expression of actual feeling; hypocritical129
11386637327Jargonthe language, the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group130
11386637328Loadedcharged with emotional or associative significance that hinders rational or unprejudiced consideration of the terms involved in a discourse131
11386637329Lyricalcharacterized by or expressing spontaneous, direct feeling; having the form and musical quality of a song132
11386637330Melodiousof the nature of or characterized by melody; tuneful; sweet-sounding133
11386637331Monosyllabichaving a vocabulary composed primarily of monosyllables or short, simple words.134
11386637332Nostalgica wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life135
11386637333Offensivecausing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying136
11386637334Ornateostentatious, elaborately adorned, showy, embellished with rhetoric, high- flown137
11386637335Passionatehaving, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling; fervid138
11386637336Patrioticexpressing or inspired by patriotism; love of one's country139
11386637337Politicalof, pertaining to, or concerned with politics; government140
11386637338Romanticof, pertaining to, or of the nature of romance141
11386637339Sentimentalexpressive of or appealing to sentiment, esp. the tender emotions and feelings, as love, pity, or nostalgia142
11386637340Shockingcausing intense surprise, disgust, horror; staggering, astounding, startling143
11386637341Sincerefree of deceit, hypocrisy, or falseness; earnest; genuine; real; pure144
11386637342Subduedquiet; inhibited; repressed; controlled; lowered in intensity or strength145
11386637343Tamelacking in excitement; dull; insipid; softened; meek; subdued146
11386637344Technicalpeculiar to or characteristic of a particular art, science, profession, trade147
11386637345Unifyingto make or become a single unit; unite; combine, merge, fuse148
11386637346Uppityaffecting an attitude of inflated self-esteem; haughty; snobbish149

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!