AP/SAT Vocabulary (AP Language)

expressed clearly; easy to understand

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it

recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others

publicly declare to be wrong or evil

having or displaying a passionate intensity

lets the reader know why they should trust you, or why they should trust your sources; an appeal to credibility

sly or cunning intelligence

prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false; disprove

extremely severe or harmful in its effects

disagreement between people

the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language

not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse

based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic

devoutly religious

intended to explain or describe something

discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt

a noisy disturbance or quarrel

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

an urgent need or demand

mild word substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing

a word is repeated immediately for emphasis, as in the first and last lines of “Hark, Hark!

feel deep respect or admiration for (something)

well meaning and kindly

repetition of a phrase at the beginning of successive clauses - We, the people; We, the people; We, the people

fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful

unsophisticated or narrow-minded

having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties