SAT Tone, Mood, and Classification Vocabulary - 100 Words

A set of 100 vocabulary words and definitions related to tone, mood, and classification for SAT preparation.

somber

solemn, grave, serious

wry

amusing and ironic, dry, cynical

prosaic

banal, mundane, dull, lacking imagination; boring, common place

didactic

educational, instructional

celebratory

festive

reverent

respectful

platitude

banal statement, a pointless or unoriginal empty comment

deliberate

on purpose, planned, calculated

defiant

challenging aggressively, disobedient, tending to confront or challenge, adamant

disdain

scorn, contempt, extreme disgust

aloof

unfriendly, uninvolved or unwilling to become involved, distant, detached

ambivalent

undecided, unsure, having mixed feelings, uncertain

eclectic

deriving from a broad and diverse range of sources

laudatory

expressing praise

glib

slick, superficial, marked with ease and formality

derisive

mocking, showing contempt or ridicule, scathing, irreverent

evocative

bearing strong remembrance, nostalgic

sardonic

sarcastic

condescending

harsh, regarding as inferior

flippant

disrespectful

indignant

characterized by disapproval

satirical

mockery of objects in an often humorous and ironic manner.

convoluted

hard to follow

tempered

moderate.

antiquated

ancient

serenity

marked with grace

frivolous

carefree, not serious

atypical

unusual, not representative

pretentious

not modest, showy

underhanded

dishonest, clandestine

pragmatic

practical

perplexing

confusing

fortuitous

happening by chance or luck

unsubstantiated

not established as accurate

eccentric

unusual

esoteric

something that is intended for a particular group of people

ephemeral

lasting for a short time

equivocal

open to many interpretations, ambiguous.

factitious

artificially created

irate

extremely angry

quizzical

mild or amused puzzlement

ebullient

very enthusiastic

concession

to acknowledge or offer something, often to one particular group.

assertion

to declare or affirm something

conjecture

judgment without complete evidence, an inference

idiosyncratic

deviating from that which is customary, a trait characteristic of an individual

pedagogical

relating to teaching or education

arbitrary

determined by individual choice rather than law or reason, a whim

sentimental

prompted by sadness or nostalgia

admonition

advice, warning

insolent

rude, lacking respect

digression

to leave the main subject temporarily

diffident

shy, timid

profound

great and intense

resilient

capable of withstanding difficult conditions

whimsical

odd, playful, lighthearted

impetuous

impulsive and passionate

callous

apathetic, insensitive

remiss

negligent, careless

tentative

not fully worked out, uncertainty

multifaceted

covering many different aspects or qualities

jargon

words or phrases that are only be understood by a particular occupation

morose

sullen, ill-tempered

incredulous

unwilling to accept something as true

heretical

deviating from accepted principles, radical, unorthodox

preconception

an opinion formed in advance of knowledge, bias

wistful

longing for something, often in a sad way, reminiscent.

inapt

not appropriate

misgiving

a feeling of doubt, apprehension

impartial

Unbiased

mandate

a command, a course of action

bemusement

confusion, bewilderment

sanguine

optimistic, cheerful

surly

menacing, threatening

trepidation

a fear of something that will happen

objective

uninfluenced by emotions or personal beliefs

pervasive

spreading fast to an area

appraisal

an evaluation, usually of the value of something

antithetical

in opposition to

petulant

peevish, ill-tempered

chagrin

a feeling of annoyance caused by failure or disappointment

blithe

lacking concern, casual

vindictive

disposed to see revenge

concurrence

in agreement

accusatory

charging of wrong doing

apathetic

indifferent due to lack of energy or concern

awe

solemn wonder

bitter

expressing hostility or animosity

antipathy

deep dislike; aversion

contemplative

studying, thinking

choleric

hot tempered, easily angered

contemptuous

showing or feeling that something is worthless

conventional

traditional; lacking spontaneity

sanguineous

accompanied by bloodshed

ribald

offensive in speech

obsequious

obedient, subservient

lyrical

expressing the author/poet’s true inner feelings; emotional

forthright

directly frank without hesitation

erudite

learned, polished