AP Lit Tone Words

aloof

not emotionally involved, at a distance

apathetic

uncaring

ambivalent

having mixed feelings, could go either way

audacious

recklessly bold or contemptuous;

Bellicose

inclined or eager to fight

callous

uncaring, or feeling no emotion

condescending

with an air of superiority, talking down to

contemptuous

lacking respect, derisive

caustic

harshly sarcastic

cautionary

prudent forethought

Choleric

easily angered

churlish

boorish, rude

cynical

distrustful (like Grant R.)

demoralized

discourage

diffident

reserved, unassertive

disdainful

scorn, despise

didactic

intending to instruct

derisive

insulting and condescending

earnest

heartfelt and serious

effusive

overflowing and demonstrative

enervating

to deprive of force or strength

elegiac

sorrowful lamentation

empathetic

sensitivity, relating to another's emotions

erudite

scholarly

Facetious

sarcastic

fatuous

foolish or insane

forthright

direct and outspoken

flippant

frivolously disrespectful

frivolous

carefree and unconcerned

gauche

lacking social grace, sensitivity or acuteness

hubristic

to be exessively prideful or arrogant

(not a real word meaning to pertain to hubris)

incredulous

skeptical and unbelieving

incensed

full of rage

indignant

self-rightously angry

intimate

personal and emotional

jejune

immature or childish

jovial

hearty conviviality and good cheer

kowtowing

to act in an obsequious manner

laudatory

praise

laissez-faire

laid back, unwilling to get involved

lugubrious

mournful, dismal, or gloomy

morose

ill-humored, very down

malicious

vicious, wanton, or mischievous

mordant

caustic or sarcastic in a mean way

Nihilistic

totally rejecting of established laws or institutions.

obsequious

overly obedient, dutiful, brown-nosing, fawning

omnipotent

all mighty or infinite in power; all-knowing

patronizing

Talking down to, conveying experience to one who has none

pompous

stuck up, considering self better than everyone else

poignant

producing keen or strong emotion; totally touching

provocative

inciting, stimulating, irritating

quizzical

questioning, ridiculing, or chaffing

reticent

reluctant or restrained

reverent

deeply respectful

reflective

meditative or deliberative

resigned

passive, accepting as inevitable

ribald

abusive, or irreverent; vulgar or indecent

sardonic

scornful derision, mocking, cynical

seductive

enticing, beguiling, captivating

sentimental

emotional attachment

supercilious

haughty, disdainful or contemptuous

unctuous

smug, oily (verbally that is) or excessively pious

vehement

with great energy or exertion, with great emphasis and passion

volatile

tending or threatening to break out into open violence