AP Literature Tone Words

A comprehensive vocabulary list of tone words that characterizes different emotional expressions in literature.

Abashed

Ashamed or embarrassed; also, disconcerted.

Abhorring

To regard with extreme aversion; to loathe or detest.

Abstruse

Difficult to understand.

Absurd

Ridiculous; silly.

Accusatory

A tone of accusation; to accuse of a crime or offense.

Acerbic

Tone of harshness or severity.

Acrimonious

Angry and bitter.

Admonishing

Cautioning, reproving or scolding; especially in a mild and good-willed manner; reminding.

Adoring

To regard with esteem, love, and respect; honor.

Affectionate

Showing, indicating, or characterized by affection or love.

Affectation

Speech or writing that is artificial.

Ambiguous

Open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations.

Ambivalent

Uncertainty or fluctuation, or doing two opposite or conflicting things.

Amused

Pleasurably entertained, occupied, or diverted.

Animated

Vigorous or spirited.

Annoyed

To be irritated or bothered by something or someone.

Antagonistic

Acting in opposition; opposing, especially mutually/hostile; unfriendly.

Anxious

Full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried.

Apathetic

Having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent or unresponsive.

Apologetic

Containing an apology or excuse for a fault.

Appreciative

Feeling or expressing a feeling of gratitude.

Apprehensive

Fearful or uneasy about something that might happen.

Approving

To speak or think favorably of, to judge favorably.

Ardent

Characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent.

Arrogant

Making claims or pretensions to superior importance or rights; insolently proud.

Audacious

Bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless.

Authoritarian

Accustomed to exercising authority; peremptory; dictatorial.

Baffled

To confuse, bewilder, or perplex.

Bantering

Playful conversation.

Belligerent

Warlike; given to waging war.

Bemused

Bewildered, confused, lost in thought; preoccupied.

Benevolent

Characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings.

Bewildered

Completely puzzled or confused; perplexed.

Biting

Having a sarcastic or biting tone.

Bitter

Characterized by intense antagonism or hostility.

Blithe

Joyous, merry in disposition; glad; cheerful.

Blunt

Abrupt in manner; obtuse.

Bold

Courageous and daring; not hesitating in face of danger.

Boorish

Possessing a boring nature; tedious.

Brisk

Quick and active; sharp and stimulating.

Brusque

Abrupt in manner; blunt; rough.

Burlesque

An artistic composition that vulgarizes lofty material or treats ordinary material with mock dignity.

Calm

Free from excitement or passion; tranquil.

Candid

Frank; outspoken; open and sincere.

Capricious

Flighty; led by whims; erratic.

Casual

Without definite or serious intention; careless or offhand.

Caustic

Making harsh, corrosive comments.

Celebratory

Seeming or tending to be indifferent to what is happening; apathetic.

Censorious

Severely critical; faultfinding.

Ceremonial

Of, pertaining to, or characterized by ceremony; formal.

Cheerful

Characterized by or expressive of good spirits.

Cheery

In good spirits.

Choleric

Extremely irritable or easily angered.

Churlish

Critical or harsh in a mean-spirited way.

Cliché

An overused expression or idea.

Clinical

Extremely objective and realistic; dispassionately analytic.

Colloquial

Characteristic of conversation rather than formal speech or writing.

Comforting

Soothing in times of distress or conflict.

Comic

Funny; humorous.

Commanding

Imposing; having an air of superiority.

Compassionate

Having or showing compassion.

Complex

Characterized by a very complicated or involved form.

Complicated

Complex; unusually involved or tedious.

Complimentary

Conveying or expressing a compliment.

Conceited

Having an excessively favorable opinion of one’s self or abilities.

Concerned

Interested, or having a connection or involvement.

Conciliatory

To overcome distrust or animosity of; appease.

Condemnatory

To express strong disapproval.

Condescending

Showing or implying a sense of superiority; talking down to others.

Confounded

To cause to be confused or perplexed.

Confute

To prove to be incorrect or wrong.

Contemptuous

Scornful, showing contempt or disdain.

Contented

Satisfied, ready to accept; willing.

Contentious

Argumentative; quarrelsome.

Conversational

Spoken exchange of ideas, opinions, and feelings.

Critical

Inclined to find fault or judge with severity.

Curt

Rudely brief in speech or abrupt.

Cynical

Bitterly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic.

Demanding

Calling for intensive effort or attention; taxing.

Depressed

Gloomy; morose; downcast.

Derisive

Characterized by or expressing contempt; mocking.

Derogatory

Tending to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or thing.

Despairing

Overcome by a sense of futility or defeat.

Desperate

Having an urgent need or desire.

Detached

Impartial or objective; disinterested; aloof.

Diabolic

Devilish; fiendish.

Didactic

Intended for instruction; instructive.

Diffident

Lacking confidence in one’s own ability or worth.

Direct

Proceeding in a straight line; straight; undeviating.

Disappointed

Depressed or discouraged by the failure of one’s hopes or expectations.

Disbelieving

Having no belief in; refuse belief in.

Disdainful

Expressing contempt or disdain.

Disgusted

To excite nausea or loathing in.

Disrespectful

Showing a lack of respect; rude and discourteous.

Disturbed

Marked by symptoms of mental illness.

Dogmatic

Asserting opinions in a strict, arrogant manner.

Domineering

Overbearing; tyrannical.

Doubtful

Uncertain outcome or result.

Dramatic

Pertaining to drama; excessively confrontational.

Dreary

Causing sadness or gloom.