APEL vocab list 4

Candid

Completely honest, straightforward

Laconic

using few words

sanctimonious

making a show of being morally superior to other people

Cynical

believing that people act only out of selfish motives

melancholy

sadness

Sardonic

grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic

detached

Impartial, disinterested; unconcerned, distant, aloof

nostalgic

longing for the past

sinister

(adj.) appearing evil or dangerous; threatening evil or harm

scornful

feeling or expressing contempt or derision

smug

(adj.) overly self-satisfied, self-righteous

arrogant

(adj.) haughty, too convinced of one's own importance

ambivalent

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

anxious

worried, concerned, nervous

contemptuous

Feeling hatred; scornful

eloquent

persuasive and moving, especially in speech

disdainful

showing contempt or lack of respect

fanciful

(adj) whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely imaginative rather than based on reason or reality

flippant

not showing a serious or respectful attitude

indifferent

Having no preference

pretentious

pompous, self-important

remorseful

filled with sorrow or guilt

satirical

sarcastic, critical, and mocking another's weaknesses.

vindictive

revengeful

whimsical

(adj.) subject to odd ideas, notions, or fancies; playful; unpredictable

apprehensive

fearful or anxious, especially about the future

elegiac

Expressing sorrow or lamentation

quizzical

indicating mild or amused puzzlement

rapturous

characterized by, feeling, or expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm

reproachful

expressing disapproval or disappointment

solemn

serious; grave

suspenseful

pleasant excitement as to the uncertainty of events

accusatory

charging of wrong doing

acerbic

biting, bitter in tone or taste

apathetic

showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern

bitter

having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet

angry, hurt, or resentful because of one's bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment

conciliatory

intended or likely to placate or pacify

condescending

possessing an attitude of superiority, patronizing

callous

emotionally hardened, unfeeling

contemplative

studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue

choleric

(adj.) easily made angry, bad-tempered

churlish

(adj.) lacking politeness or good manners; lacking sensitivity; difficult to work with or deal with; rude

derisive

expressing contempt or ridicule or mocking

despairing

hopeless, despondent, discouraged

earnest

resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction

gloomy

darkness, sadness, rejection

haughty

arrogant

indignant

feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

jovial

cheerful and friendly

mocking

making fun of someone or something in a cruel way; derisive.

morose

having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable

malicious

Intended to hurt or harm

objective

Factual, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased

optimistic

hopeful and confident about the future

pessimistic

seeing the worst side of things; no hope

petulant

Irritable or short-tempered

Reverant

deeply respectful

ridiculing

slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of

reflective

taking time to think carefully about things; thoughtful

sarcastic

Marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt

self-deprecating

modest about or critical of oneself, especially humorously so; self-effacing

sincere

without deceit or pretense; genuine; honest

ribald

(adj.) irreverently mocking; coarse, vulgar, or indecent in language

scholarly

concerned with academic learning or research

terse

brief and to the point; concise

matter-of-fact

Concerned only with factual content rather than style or expression

lyrical

expressing a poet's inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like

intimate

very familiar

pedantic

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.

poignant

evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret

caustic

sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.

colloquial

Characteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal

didactic

intended to teach

effusive

expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner

erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

formal/informal

formal- good etiquette; reserved

informal- colloquial; relaxed

forthright

(adj.) frank, direct, straightforward