Literary Criticism Vocabulary

adjective having a sour or sharp taste or character

• The acidulous taste of the lemonade was refreshing on a hot summer day.
• I can't stand the acidulous flavor of pineapple juice.
• That soda is way too acidulous for my liking.
• Her acidulous remarks left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.

adjective resembling or characteristic of an ape or monkey

• The scientist observed the apish behavior of the primates in the research facility.
• She was making apish faces to entertain her friends.
• Stop acting so apish, you're embarrassing yourself.
• His apish imitation of his boss's mannerisms was both amusing and annoying at the same time.

adjective a term used to describe something of doubtful authenticity or credibility; often used to refer to a story or text of questionable origin

• The scholar dismissed the apocryphal text as lacking historical evidence.
• I heard an apocryphal story about a haunted house in the neighborhood.
• Don't believe everything you hear, most of it is just apocryphal.
• The politician's promises turned out to be apocryphal, just empty words with no substance.

noun a form of idolatry that worships books

• Bibliolatry is the excessive reverence or worship of books.
• Some people take their love of books to the extreme and engage in bibliolatry.
• She's totally obsessed with reading, it's like she's practicing bibliolatry or something.
• In a world where knowledge is power, bibliolatry can be seen as a form of empowerment through literature.

noun a member of the middle class

adjective of or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes

• The bourgeois class in society is often associated with wealth and privilege.
• She comes from a bourgeois family, so she's always had access to the finer things in life.
• Those bourgeois folks think they're better than everyone else.
• His taste in art is quite bourgeois, always sticking to traditional and mainstream styles.

noun a person who has expert knowledge in a particular subject, especially in the fine arts or cultural matters

• The art auction attracted many cognoscenti who appreciated the intricate details of each painting.
• Only a true cognoscente would be able to distinguish between the different types of wine.
• She's a real cognoscente when it comes to fashion trends.
• As a literary cognoscente, he could easily analyze the underlying themes in any novel.

adjective a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it

• She is a highly cultured individual, with a deep appreciation for the arts.
• He comes from a cultured family that values education and refinement.
• That new restaurant is so cultured, they serve the most unique dishes.
• Her mind is like a well-cultured garden, filled with knowledge and wisdom.

adjective lacking depth; shallow or superficial

• The depthless ocean seemed to stretch on forever.
• That movie was so depthless, I couldn't even follow the plot.
• Her Instagram feed is so depthless, all she posts are selfies.
• His words were as depthless as a shallow pond, lacking any real meaning or substance.

noun a melody or counterpoint sung above the plainsong of the tenor

verb to sing or play a descant

• The descant in the choir added a beautiful layer of harmony to the music.
• The descant part in the song is really fun to sing along to.
• I love when the descant kicks in during the chorus, it gives me chills.
• Her words seemed to descant upon the very essence of truth.

adjective rambling or digressive

• The professor's lecture was highly discursive, covering a wide range of topics.
• I got lost in the discursive conversation between my friends about the latest TV show.
• I couldn't follow the discursive ramblings of that guy at the party.
• Her mind was like a discursive river, flowing from one idea to the next without pause.

verb to give proper credit or recognition to something; to treat something fairly or accurately

• The artist's painting truly does justice to the beauty of the landscape.
• This camera doesn't do justice to how stunning the view actually is.
• My phone camera just can't do justice to how epic the concert was.
• His apology didn't do justice to the hurt he caused.

noun a derogatory term for poorly written or inferior poetry

• The poet was criticized for his use of doggerel in his latest work.
• I can't believe you wrote that doggerel for the school talent show.
• That doggerel you wrote is straight up trash.
• His speech was filled with political doggerel, designed to manipulate the audience.

verb To make (something) wet and dirty by dragging it through mud, water, etc.

• The heavy rain caused her dress to draggle along the wet ground.
• She looked a mess with her draggled hair and wrinkled clothes.
• I can't believe you're wearing those draggled old sneakers to the party.
• His reputation was draggled after the scandal was exposed.

verb to make corrections or improvements to a text

• The editor suggested several emendations to improve the clarity of the manuscript.
• I need to emend my essay before turning it in.
• I'll need to emend my resume before sending it out to potential employers.
• He tried to emend his past mistakes by making amends with those he had wronged.

noun a person who is not sophisticated or knowledgeable in a particular area; a person who is unrefined or unsophisticated

• The groundlings were seated in the pit at the base of the stage during the Shakespearean play.
• The groundlings were the rowdy bunch at the concert who were dancing and singing along.
• The groundlings at the party were having a blast and didn't care about anything else.
• She felt like a groundling in the presence of the sophisticated art collectors at the gallery.

adjective relating to or characterized by a sexual desire for those of the same sex

• The artist explored themes of homoeroticism in his latest collection.
• Some people find homoerotic movies to be really interesting.
• That TV show has a lot of homoerotic tension between the main characters.
• The intense rivalry between the two soccer players had a homoerotic undertone.

adjective not composed of matter; having no physical existence

• The concept of an incorporeal soul has been debated by philosophers for centuries.
• I find it hard to believe in anything incorporeal like ghosts or spirits.
• I ain't afraid of no ghosts or other incorporeal beings.
• His presence in the room felt almost incorporeal, like a ghost haunting the space.

noun lack of elegance or grace; awkwardness or clumsiness in appearance or behavior

• The design of the building was criticized for its inelegance and lack of architectural grace.
• She was embarrassed by the inelegance of her outfit at the party.
• His dance moves were full of inelegance, like a baby giraffe learning to walk.
• The inelegance of his speech betrayed his lack of education on the topic.

adjective relating to or characteristic of infants or infancy; childish

• The psychologist noted that the patient's behavior was indicative of infantile tendencies.
• She always teases him about his infantile sense of humor.
• Stop acting so infantile, grow up!
• The company's decision to cut corners was seen as infantile by their competitors.

noun a fancy dish or delicacy, usually a small snack or appetizer

• The chef presented a delicate kickshaw as the first course of the evening.
• I tried a new kickshaw recipe for the potluck and it was a hit!
• I'm craving some fancy kickshaw right now, let's go to that new restaurant.
• His speech was full of intellectual kickshaw, but lacked substance.

adjective relating to or involving sexual desire or libido

• The psychologist analyzed the patient's libidinal impulses during the therapy session.
• She's always talking about her libidinal desires, it's kind of awkward.
• I can't believe he said that out loud, he has such a libidinal mind.
• The artist's work was described as having a libidinal energy that captivated the audience.

noun a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits or high culture

adjective relating to or associated with people who are uninterested in intellectual pursuits or high culture

• The art critic dismissed the lowbrow painting as lacking depth and sophistication.
• I don't usually enjoy lowbrow humor, but that movie had me laughing non-stop.
• Some people think reality TV is just lowbrow trash, but I can't get enough of it.
• His taste in music is so lowbrow, he wouldn't know good music if it hit him in the face.

adjective having a smooth, flowing sound; pleasing to hear

• The singer had a mellifluous voice that captivated the audience.
• I could listen to her mellifluous voice all day.
• Her voice is so mellifluous, it's like music to my ears.
• The writer's words flowed together in a mellifluous stream of prose.

verb to underestimate or undervalue someone or something

• It would be unwise to misprize the importance of proper research in making investment decisions.
• Don't misprize the value of spending quality time with loved ones.
• I can't believe you misprized the opportunity to see your favorite band in concert.
• She misprized the weight of her words, not realizing the impact they would have on her friend's feelings.

adjective relating to or characteristic of a moralist or morality; excessively concerned with moral values

• The author's moralistic tone throughout the novel emphasized the importance of ethical behavior.
• She always comes off as moralistic, lecturing us about what's right and wrong.
• Stop being so moralistic all the time, it's annoying.
• His moralistic approach to life was like a heavy weight on his shoulders, always guiding his decisions.

noun a weak or indecisive person

adjective lacking vigor or decisiveness; weak; indecisive

• The CEO dismissed the proposal as namby pamby and lacking in substance.
• I can't stand namby pamby people who can't make a decision.
• Stop being so namby pamby and just go for it!
• His argument was so namby pamby, it fell apart under scrutiny.

adjective showing a lack of generosity; stingy

• The company's niggardly approach to employee benefits was met with widespread criticism.
• He's so niggardly when it comes to sharing his snacks.
• Don't be so niggardly with your money, just treat yourself once in a while.
• Her heart was niggardly with forgiveness after being betrayed.

adjective meaning of no value or importance

• The judge deemed the evidence presented by the defense as nugatory and therefore inadmissible in court.
• Don't waste your time on nugatory tasks, focus on what truly matters.
• I can't believe you spent money on that nugatory item, what a waste!
• Her dreams of becoming a famous singer turned out to be nugatory, as she never pursued a career in music.

noun A person who derives pleasure from observing the intimate or private activities of others.

• The authorities were alerted to the presence of a peeping tom in the neighborhood.
• I think there's a peeping tom lurking around our street.
• That guy is such a creepy peeping tom.
• She felt like a peeping tom, observing the private conversation from afar.

adjective distorted or deviating from what is considered normal or acceptable

• His perverted actions towards his coworkers were reported to HR.
• I can't believe he made that perverted joke at the party.
• That guy is so creepy, always saying perverted things.
• The perverted nature of the movie left many audience members uncomfortable.

noun a method of treating mental disorders by investigating the conscious and unconscious elements in the mind and bringing repressed fears and conflicts into the conscious mind

• Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic approach that aims to bring unconscious thoughts and feelings to the conscious mind.
• I've been learning about psychoanalysis in my psychology class, it's really interesting.
• Some people think psychoanalysis is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo, but I find it helpful.
• In a way, psychoanalysis is like peeling back the layers of an onion to get to the core of a person's psyche.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun; in this case, 'puny' means small or weak in size or strength

• The puny budget allocated for the project was insufficient to cover all necessary expenses.
• I can't believe you lost to that puny guy in arm wrestling!
• That puny car of yours won't be able to keep up with us on the highway.
• His puny attempts at trying to impress her were met with indifference.

noun a person who insists on traditional rules and forms

adjective related to or characteristic of a purist

• The purist argued that any deviation from the original recipe would compromise the integrity of the dish.
• The coffee purist insisted on only using freshly ground beans for the perfect cup.
• Some music purists refuse to listen to any genre other than classic rock.
• She was a purist when it came to art, believing that true beauty could only be found in simplicity.

noun a reworking or restatement of already known information

verb to rework or repeat old material

• The academic journal decided to rehash the previous research findings in their latest publication.
• I don't want to rehash our argument from yesterday, let's just move on.
• Stop rehashing the same old drama, it's getting annoying.
• The politician tried to rehash his old promises in a new speech, but nobody was convinced.

adjective relating to or dealing with excrement or obscenity

• The academic study of scatological themes in literature is a growing field of research.
• I can't believe we watched that scatological comedy movie last night, it was so gross!
• Why do you always make scatological jokes? It's not funny.
• The politician's scatological remarks caused a scandal during the press conference.

noun a member of a scholastic society or institution

adjective relating to schools, education, or learning; scholarly

• The scholastic achievements of the students were recognized at the annual awards ceremony.
• I heard that the scholastic team won the academic competition last weekend.
• She's always been a scholastic overachiever, acing every test without even trying.
• His scholastic pursuit of knowledge led him to become a leading expert in his field.

adjective highly original and influencing the development of future events

• The scientist's seminal research laid the foundation for future studies in the field.
• The band's seminal album was a game-changer in the music industry.
• That movie is considered to be a seminal classic among film buffs.
• Her groundbreaking speech was a seminal moment in the fight for equality.

noun a lack of depth, superficiality

• The shallowness of his analysis was evident in his superficial understanding of the topic.
• She couldn't stand the shallowness of his jokes, they were just so surface-level.
• I can't deal with the shallowness of her gossip, it's all just so shallow and petty.
• The shallowness of his character ran deep, masking a complexity that few could see.

noun obscene or indecent material, especially in literature or art

verb to mark with smut or black dirt

• The literary critic analyzed the use of smut in the novel.
• I can't believe she reads that smutty romance novel series.
• I heard he's into that smut stuff, like adult films and magazines.
• The scandalous rumors spread like smut through the small town.

noun a drug or other substance that induces drowsiness or sleep

adjective tending to induce drowsiness or sleep

• The professor's lecture was so soporific that many students struggled to stay awake.
• That movie was so soporific, I fell asleep within the first 10 minutes.
• I can't stand listening to him talk, his voice is so soporific.
• The monotonous sound of the rain on the roof had a soporific effect on me.

adjective relating to or characteristic of the exaggerated or artificial behavior of a stage performer

• The actor's stagy performance was met with mixed reviews from the critics.
• I thought the play was a bit too stagy for my taste.
• The movie was so stagy, it felt like a high school production.
• Her exaggerated gestures made her seem stagy and insincere.

noun a remark or criticism

• The medical report noted a stricture in the patient's esophagus.
• I heard there's a strict stricture on the new dress code at work.
• Man, there's such a tight stricture on how late we can stay out on weekends.
• The government's stricture on free speech is concerning for civil liberties.

noun something that is unnecessary or excessive

adjective exceeding what is necessary or required; unnecessary

• The additional information provided in the report was deemed superfluous and not necessary for decision-making.
• I think all those extra decorations on the cake are superfluous, but they do make it look nice.
• Why did you buy another pair of shoes? That's so superfluous!
• Her constant need for attention is like a superfluous layer of frosting on an already sweet cake.

noun a word that functions as the name of a specific thing, person, or place

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• When reading scientific studies, it is important to take the results with a grain of salt.
• I heard that rumor about her, but I would take it with a grain of salt.
• Don't believe everything you hear about him, just take it with a grain of salt.
• His promises may sound good, but I always take them with a grain of salt.

adjective showy but cheap and of poor quality; morally low; base or vulgar

• The tawdry decorations at the event did not reflect the elegance of the occasion.
• I can't believe she bought that tawdry dress for the party.
• That tawdry jewelry she's wearing looks so cheap.
• His tawdry behavior at the meeting was embarrassing for everyone involved.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. 'Undoubted' is an adjective because it describes something that is certain or unquestionable.

• The undoubted success of the project was evident in the final results.
• There's undoubted talent in that band, they always put on a great show.
• She's undoubted the coolest girl in school, everyone wants to be her friend.
• The undoubted weight of responsibility on his shoulders was visible in his tired eyes.

adjective not yet fully developed or mature; inexperienced

• The unfledged bird struggled to fly for the first time.
• The unfledged chick is so cute hopping around.
• That unfledged newbie needs more training before they can handle this job.
• His unfledged ideas lacked the depth needed for the project.

adjective describing someone or something that is not idealistic or realistic

• The politician's unidealistic approach to governance was met with criticism from the public.
• I don't think he's very unidealistic when it comes to making decisions.
• She's so unidealistic, always looking out for herself first.
• His unidealistic mindset was like a dark cloud hanging over the team's morale.

adjective adjective - having only one meaning; unambiguous

• The scientific community strives to use univocal language in research papers to avoid ambiguity.
• Let's make sure our instructions are univocal so everyone understands what to do.
• Dude, can you speak in a more univocal way? I'm getting confused.
• Her univocal determination to succeed was evident in every aspect of her life.

adjective an adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. 'Unprovidential' describes something that lacks foresight or planning.

• The unprovidential decision to cut funding for public health programs led to a rise in preventable diseases.
• It was unprovidential of him to spend all his savings on a luxury vacation.
• She made an unprovidential move by quitting her job without having another one lined up.
• The unprovidential storm caught everyone off guard, causing chaos and destruction.

noun a lack of intelligence or thought

• The vacuity of the room was evident as there was no furniture or decorations present.
• I can't stand the vacuity of small talk at parties.
• Her Instagram feed is full of vacuity, just selfies and food pics.
• His mind was a vacuity, unable to grasp the complexities of the situation.

adjective relating to or focusing on men, particularly in terms of power or importance

• The society was criticized for its androcentric views that marginalized women.
• Some people still hold onto androcentric beliefs that men are superior to women.
• It's ridiculous how androcentric some guys can be, thinking they're better than everyone else.
• The company's leadership was an androcentric fortress, with no room for women to rise up.

noun a small container or case, especially one containing medicine

• The magazine published a capsule review of the latest art exhibition.
• I just read a quick capsule review of that new movie online.
• I skimmed through a short and sweet capsule review of the concert.
• His speech was like a capsule review of his entire political platform.

verb to make something subjective or to interpret something from a personal perspective

• It is important to subjectivize the data before drawing any conclusions.
• You should subjectivize your opinions before sharing them with others.
• I tend to subjectivize things before making any decisions.
• She has a tendency to subjectivize situations in order to see things from different perspectives.

noun a particular philosophy or view of life; the worldview of an individual or group

• His weltanschauung is deeply rooted in existentialism and nihilism.
• She has a very unique weltanschauung that sets her apart from the rest.
• I can't really vibe with his weltanschauung, it's too out there for me.
• Her weltanschauung is like a colorful mosaic, made up of different beliefs and experiences.

noun the body of literature dealing with historical matters; histories collectively

• Historiography is the study of how history has been written and interpreted over time.
• I find historiography fascinating because it shows how historical events can be viewed in different ways.
• I never realized how much goes into historiography until I took that history class.
• Just like a painting, historiography can have different layers of interpretation depending on who is looking at it.

noun a type of bird in the genus Anser

adjective silly or foolish

• The professor dismissed the student's anserine question as irrelevant to the discussion.
• I can't believe you asked such an anserine question in class!
• Stop being so anserine, dude.
• His anserine behavior made it difficult for others to take him seriously.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun, in this case 'unepic' describes something that is not epic

• The protagonist's actions in the video game were deemed unepic by the critics.
• Dude, that move was totally unepic!
• That party was so unepic, I left after 10 minutes.
• His attempt to impress her with his unepic skills fell flat.

noun material for intellectual nourishment

• The hospital provides pabulum to patients who are unable to eat solid food.
• I don't mind eating hospital pabulum when I'm feeling under the weather.
• I wouldn't touch that pabulum with a ten-foot pole.
• The political candidate's speech was nothing but pabulum, lacking any real substance or depth.

noun A genre of mystery fiction in which the focus is on the motives and psychological reasons behind the crime or mystery

verb Not applicable

adjective Not applicable

adverb Not applicable

pronoun Not applicable

preposition Not applicable

conjunction Not applicable

interjection Not applicable

article Not applicable

• The mystery novel is not just a whodunnit, but also a whydunnit, exploring the motives behind the crime.
• I love reading a good whydunnit book, it keeps me guessing until the very end.
• That movie we watched last night was a total whydunnit - we couldn't figure out the killer's motive!
• Life is like a never-ending whydunnit, always trying to understand the reasons behind people's actions.

adjective describing someone or something as having unlimited or infinite goodness and kindness

• The concept of an omnibenevolent deity is central to many religious beliefs.
• She is known for her omnibenevolent nature, always looking out for others.
• My grandma is like an omnibenevolent angel, always baking us cookies and giving us money.
• The sun could be seen as omnibenevolent, providing warmth and light to all living creatures.

noun a person who opposes or fights against something

adjective opposing or attacking

• The oppugnant arguments presented by the opposition were easily refuted by the expert debater.
• I can't believe how oppugnant my brother is being about the family vacation plans.
• Why are you being so oppugnant about trying the new restaurant? Just give it a chance!
• The darkness was oppugnant to the light, constantly trying to overpower it.

adverb in a way that is difficult to understand or comprehend

• The professor explained the concept abstrusely, leaving many students confused.
• She tried to explain the math problem abstrusely, but I still didn't get it.
• The manual was written abstrusely, making it hard to understand.
• The artist's painting was so abstrusely layered with meaning that it took hours to decipher.

noun the quality of being difficult to understand or comprehend

• The abstruseness of the scientific paper made it difficult for the average reader to understand.
• I couldn't make heads or tails of the abstruseness of that math problem.
• The abstruseness of the movie plot had me scratching my head the whole time.
• The abstruseness of her emotions was evident in the way she avoided talking about her feelings.

adjective having no head or leader; leaderless

• The medical condition known as acephalous refers to the absence of a head.
• I heard that rare species of fish is acephalous.
• That movie was so confusing, it felt like an acephalous mess.
• The company's leadership structure was described as acephalous, with no clear direction or decision-making authority.

noun a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity

• As a wine afficionado, he could easily distinguish between different grape varieties.
• She's a real coffee afficionado - she knows all the best cafes in town.
• My friend is a total sneaker afficionado, he's always buying the latest limited edition releases.
• She's an afficionado of all things vintage, from clothing to furniture.

noun A person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime

• She is an aficionada of classical music, attending every concert in the city.
• My friend is a huge aficionada of Mexican cuisine, always trying out new taco places.
• I'm a total makeup aficionada, always watching tutorials and trying new products.
• He is an aficionada of adventure, always seeking out new challenges and experiences.

adjective a term coined by Thomas Love Peacock to describe a person who is composed of both good and evil qualities

• The professor's agathokakological approach to teaching focuses on both academic excellence and moral character development.
• His agathokakological mindset always pushes him to strive for success in all areas of his life.
• She's all about that agathokakological life, balancing work and play like a pro.
• The artist's agathokakological masterpiece not only showcased his technical skill but also conveyed a deep emotional message.