AP Tone Words

flippant

lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy

foreboding

a feeling of evil to come

formal

(of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms

forthright

characterized by directness in manner or speech

grave

causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm; of great gravity or crucial importance

happy

experiencing pleasure or joy

haughty

having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

harsh

extremely unkind or cruel; severe

humble

marked by meekness or modesty

indignant

angered at something unjust or wrong

inflammatory

causing excitement or anger; leading to violence or disorder

informative

providing or conveying information

inquisitive

showing curiosity

insolent

insulting in manner or speech

instructive

tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance

insulting

expressing extreme contempt

intimate

marked by close aquaintance, association, or familiarity

ironic

suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens; given to irony, sarcastic

irreverant

showing a lack of respect

judgmental

critical; disapproving; authoritative and often having critical opinions

jovial

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

lyrical

Songlike; characterized by emotions, subjectivity, and imagination.

matter-of-fact

Concerned only with factual content rather than style or expression

meditative

deeply or seriously thoughtful

meloncholic

sad and depressed

mocking

treating with contempt or ridicule

morose

having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable

mournful

expressing sorrow

malicious

wishing or appearing to wish evil to others

nervous

causing or fraught with or showing anxiety; excited in anticipation

nostalgic

unhappy at being away and longing for familiar things or persons

objective

belonging to immediate experience of actual things or events; undistorted by emotion or personal bias

obsequious

attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery

outraged

angered at something unjust or wrong

paranoid

Exhibiting or characterized by extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others

passionate

having or expressing strong emotions

patronizing

treating with condescension; acting superior

peaceful

not violent or disorderly; calm and quiet

persuasive

tending or intended or having the power to induce action or belief

pessimistic

seeing the worst side of things; no hope

playful

full of fun and high spirits

pleading

expressing earnest entreaty

pleasant

affording pleasure

poignant

deeply affecting, touching; keen or sharp in taste or smell

pompous

overly self-important in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious

pretentious

making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction

proud

having or displaying great dignity or nobility

quarrelsome

Always ready to argue; argumentative; confrontational

questioning

characterized by or indicating intellectual curiosity; inquiring

quizzical

perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know); puzzled

reflective

illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions

regretful

repentant; apologetic

relaxed

made less tense or rigid; without strain or anxiety

reminiscent

evocative; suggestive of something already past

remorseful

feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses

resigned

submissive; compliant or yielding

respectful

full of or exhibiting respect

restrained

prudent; cool and formal in manner; not showy or obtrusive

ribald

humorously vulgar

reverent

feeling or showing profound respect or veneration

ridiculing

slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of

sad

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

sarcastic

the use of witty language used to insult or show displeasure or ridicule

sardonic

disdainfully or ironically humorous

sentimental

showing or causing a lot of emotion; excessive emotional response to experience; nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish

serious

requiring effort or concentration; completely lacking in playfulness

shameful

(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame

sharp

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; quick and forceful; marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

scornful

filled with contempt; showing disdain; angry; disgusted

sincere

characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions

solemn

dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises; serious; grave

sanguine

confidently optimistic and cheerful

whimsical

lightly acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable

accusing

containing or expressing accusation

admiring

to regard with wonder, pleasure, approval, or respect

admonitory

1. expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective 2. containing warning

affectionate

feeling or showing a great liking for a person or persons; loving; devoted; tender

aggravated

v. to make worse or more unpleasant; to annoy

agitated

physically disturbed or set in motion

ambivalent

characterized by a mixture of opposite feelings or attitudes

amiable

diffusing warmth and friendliness

agreeable

1. to your own liking or feelings or nature

2. prepared to agree or consent

amused

pleasurably entertained, occupied, or diverted

anxious

mentally upset over possible misfortune or danger etc

apathetic

marked by a lack of interest

apologetic

offering or expressing apology

appreciative

having or showing gratitude, recognizing the value of someone or something

apprehensive

in fear or dread of possible evil or harm

arrogant

having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride

artificial

1. contrived by art rather than nature

2. not genuine or natural

ashamed

feeling sorry for wrongdoing

authoratative

official, coming from a source that calls for ovedience or belief; dictatorial

baffled

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements

bantering

teasing or making fun of in a playful, good-natured way

belligerent

given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive; one at war, one engaged in war

benevolent

generous in providing aid to others

bewildered

completely confused; puzzled

bitter

1. harsh or corrosive in tone 2. very difficult to accept or bear 3. expressive of severe grief or regret

bored

uninterested because of frequent exposure or indulgence

brash

offensively bold