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AP Literature and Composition Vocabulary Flashcards

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3356013440sycophanta person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage0
3356016650temerityexcessive confidence or boldness; audacity1
3356020485quagmirean awkward, complex, or hazardous situation2
3356030125pragmaticdealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical situations3
3356031659ostentatiouscharacterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice4
3356033522amelioratemake (something bad or unsatisfactory) better5
3356035840antecedenta thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another6
3356039449ascertainfind (something) out for certain; make sure of7
3356041305bereftdeprived of or lacking of something, especially a non-material asset8
3356045599bourgeoisof or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes9
3356050168insidiousproceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects10
3356055259insipidlacking vigor or interest11
3356056868licentiousgoing beyond customary or proper bounds or limits; disregarding rules12
3356058360magnanimousvery generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself13
3356062122mollifyappease the anger or anxiety of (someone)14
3356064194mercurial(of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind15
3356072620laconic(of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words16
3356078056juxtaposition (juxtaposed)the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect (place or deal with close together for contrasting effect)17
3356083069maudlinself-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness18
3356085217nefarious(typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal19
3356088123pugnaciouseager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight20
3356093084allaydiminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry)21
3356098788sanctimoniousmaking a show of being morally superior to other people22
3356101552reprehensibledeserving censure or condemnation23
3356108762fatuoussilly and pointless24
3356110764abetencourage or assist someone to do something wrong, such as a crime25
3356112899contentiouscausing or likely to cause an argument; controversial26
3356114028sagacioushaving or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; shrewn27
3356130457acquiesceaccept something reluctantly but without protest28
3356138051enervateverb-cause to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken adjective-lacking in energy or vitality29
3356141142pejorativeexpressing contempt or disapproval30
3356144642nuancea subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound31
3356146316bloviatetalk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way32
3356148666sanguineoptimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation (a blood-red color)33
3356151088wizenedshriveled or wrinkled with age34
3356153556incessant(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause or interruption35
3356158554poignantevoking a keen sense of sadness or regret36
3356160360vacillatealternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive37
3356162980fortitudecourage in pain or adversity38
3356164486vicariousexperienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person39
3356167551ubiquitouspresent, appearing, or found everywhere40
3356177341superfluousunnecessary, especially through being more than enough41
3356186916tantamountequivalent in serious to; virtually the same as42
3356189801admonish43
3723991026calumniousslanderous; of, involving, or using calumny (a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something)44

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