AP Literature Tone vocab 35-51

pithy

brief but meaningful; expressing an idea clearly in very few words.

poignant

emotionally moving, touching, or evoking a keen sense of sadness.

precocious

displaying abilities, intelligence, or maturity beyond what is expected for one's age.

pretentious

attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed.

prosaic

ordinary, dull, unimaginative, or lacking poetic beauty.

ribald

humorously coarse, irreverent, or earthy in style.

rueful

expressing sorrow, regret, or mournful remorse for past mistakes.

saccharine

excessively sweet, overly sentimental, or cloying in a way that feels artificial.

sarcastic

using sharp irony or mockery to convey contempt or criticize.

somber

grave, gloomy, or subdued in mood or tone.

sophomoric

pretentious or juvenile; conceited and overconfident despite being immature or uninformed.

supercilious

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others; condescendingly proud.

sympathetic

showing compassion, sensitivity, and understanding toward someone else's feelings or hardships.

suspenseful

arousing excited expectation, intense curiosity, or nervous apprehension about upcoming events.

tranquil

free from disturbance; serene, quiet, and calm.

vociferous

clamorous, vehement, and loudly insistent in expressing feelings or demands.

whimsical

playfully quaint, fanciful, or delightfully unpredictable.