Tone/Style Words

AP Lang

STYLE WORDS:

Artificial

lack of authenticity, unnatural, often for economic, social, or political aims

Bombastic

given exaggerated importance by artificial or empty means

Colloquial

familiar, informal, conversational

Concrete

specific, particular, descriptive language

Connotative

suggesting or implying something; not using the dictionary definition

Cultured

educated, refined, sophisticated

Detached

exhibiting an aloof objectivity usually free from prejudice or self-interest

Emotional

appealing to or arousing emotion

Esoteric

requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group

Euphemistic

the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant (passed away instead of died)

Exact

strict, particular, and complete accordance with fact or a standard

Figurative

expressing one thing in terms normally denoting another with which it may be regarded as analogous

Grotesque

departing from the natural, the expected, or the typical

Homespun

simple, homely

Idiomatic

peculiar to a particular group, individual, or style (dialect)

Insipid

dull & tasteless

Jargon

obscure/informal language (slang)

Learned

acquired by learning/scholarly writing

Literal

adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression

Moralistic

characterized by or expressive of a concern with morals

Obtuse

difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression

Pedantic

overly scholarly, bookish, common/pedestrian

Picturesque

evoking mental images

Pretentious

expressive of unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature (trying to impress by affecting greater skill than is possessed)

Provinical

unsophisticated/limited in outlook, small town, etc.

Sensuous

imagery aimed at the senses

Trite

boring/unoriginal

Vulgar

morally crude, undeveloped, or unregenerate

Scholarly

characteristic of learned persons

POSITIVE TONE WORDS:

Amiable

friendly, pleasant

Amused

Entertained

Benevolent

Friendly in nature

Complimentary

expressing praise or admiration

Elated

marked by high spirits

Exuberant

joyously unrestrained and enthusiastic

Fanciful

unrestrained imagination rather than by reason and experience (thinking with your heart not your head)

Impassioned

filled with passion or zeal : showing great warmth or intensity of feeling

Jovial

good-humored cheerfulness

Jubilant

feeling or expressing great joy

Reverent

honor or respect shown

Whimsical

playful, capricious

NEGATIVE TONE WORDS

Apathetic

no care/consideration

Audacious

recklessly bold/daring

Brash

done in haste w/o regard for consquences

Choleric

excessive anger

Coarse

harsh, abrupt, sometimes crude

Condemnatory

expressing strong disapproval

Condescending

superior attitude towards others

Disgruntled

unhappy and annoyed

Facetious

joking/humorous (often inappropriate)

Haughty

showing an attitude of superiority towards people or things perceived to be inferior

Indignant

anger towards something unjust/unworthy

Inflammatory

tending to excite anger, disorder, or tumult

Obnoxious

odiously or disgustingly objectionable/offensive

Quarrelsome

apt to dispute in an often petty manner

Smooth

excessively and often artfully suave

Superficial

concerned with only the obvious or apparent

Surly

irritability sullen mood

Testy

easily annoyed/irritable

Wrathful

filled with strong vengeful anger or indignation

HUMOR/IRONY/SARCASM TONE WORDS

Bantering

speak or address in a witty/teasing manner

Droll

having a humorous, whimsical, or odd quality

Mock-Heroic

ridiculing heroic style

Sardonic

dry/dark humor

Caustic

marked by incisive (direct) sarcasm

Contempuous

feeling/expressing deep hatred

Cynical

distrustful of human nature and motives

Disdainful

expressing contempt for someone/something regarded as unworthy or inferior

Flippant

lacking proper respect/seriousness

Insolent

over-bearing & bold

Ironic

expressing something opposite of the literal meaning

Irreverent

lacking proper respect or seriousness

Mock-serious

pretending to be serious as a joke

Pompous

excessively arrogant/flashy

Ribald

vulgar/harsh

Sharp

cutting in language or import

Wry

cleverly, often ironically or grimly humorous

satiric

ironic, meant to prove something

SORROW-FEAR-WORRY TONE WORDS

apprehensive

viewing the future with anxiety or alarm

dejected

low in spirits; depressed

despairing

utter loss of hope

foreboding

an omen, prediction, or presentiment of coming evil

grave

significantly serious

hollow

lacking in real value, sincerity, or substance

melancholy

depressed in spirits

morose

having a sullen & gloomy disposition

ominous

foreboding evil

poignant

painfully affecting the feelings & emotionally moving

remorseful

full of distress arising from a sense of guilt for past wrongs

resigned

feeling or showing acceptance that something unwanted or unpleasant will happen or cannot be changed

sober

sedated or earnestly thoughtful demeanor, often serious

solemn

very serious or formal

somber

so shocked as to be dark and gloomy

staid

settled sedateness & often prim self-restraint (ex: older unmarried widow sitting on chair by themselves depressed)

OTHER: