AP Lang: A - L Tone Words

Abhorring

to regard with extreme aversion; to loathe, or detest

Accusatory

tone of accusation; to accuse of a crime or offense

Acerbic

tone of harshness or severity

Adoring

to regard with esteem, love, and respect; honor

Affectation

speech or writing that is artificial

Ambiguous

open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations

Amused

pleasurably entertained, occupied, or diverted

Antagonistic

acting in opposition; opposing, esp. mutually/ hostile; unfriendly

Apathetic

having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent or unresponsive

Apoloegetic

containing an apology or excuse for a faulty

Apprehensive

fearful or uneasiness about something that might happen

Ardent

characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent; intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic; zealous; vehement; fierce

Authoritarian

accustomed to exercising authority; peremptory; dictatorial

Baffled

to confuse, bewilder, or perplex

Belligerent

warlike; given to waging war

Benevolent

characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings

Biting

sarcastic, having a biting or sarcastic tone

Blunt

abrupt in manner; obtuse

Candid

frank; outspoken; open and sincere/ free from reservation, disguise, or subterfuge; straightforward

Caustic

making harsh, corrosive comments

Clinical

extremely objective and realistic; dispassionately analytic; unemotionally critical

Colloquial

characteristic of conversation rather than formal speech or writing; also informal

Comforting

soothing in time of distress or conflict

Complimentary

conveying, or expressing a compliment

Conciliatory

to overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease

Condemnatory

to express strong disapproval

Condescending

showing or implying a sense of superiority; talking down to others

Contented

satisfied, ready to accept; willing

Contentious

argumentative, quarrelsome

Conversational

spoken exchange of ideas, opinions, and feelings

Curt

rudely brief in speech or abrupt; brief; concise; terse; laconic

Cynical

bitterly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic; sneering

Desperate

 having an urgent need, desire

Didactic

intended for instruction; instructive

Disbeleiving

to have no belief in; refuse or reject belief in

Disgusted

to excite nausea or loathing in. To offend the taste or moral sense of

Dubious

questionable motives, inclined to doubt

Earnest

serious in intention or sincerely zealous

Elevated

exalted or noble; lofty

Eloquent

having or exercising the power of fluency

Empathetic

showing empathy, identifying with the emotions of others

Erudite

characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly

Eulogistic

to praise in speech or writing, especially in the form of a eulogy

Evasive

deliberately vague or ambiguous

Exhortatory

advising, urging, or earnestly

Facetious

not meant to be taken seriously or literally; sarcastic

Farcical

ludicrous; absurd; humorous and highly improbable

Fatalistic

an acceptance of events as inevitable

Foreboding

a strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune, evil

Forthright

 going straight to the point; frank; direct; outspoken

Grave

serious or solemn; feeling of threatening a seriously bad outcome or involving serious issues; critical

Grim

 harsh, surly, forbidding, or morbid air

Histrionic

over the top dramatic

Hostile

opposed in feeling, action, or character

Impartial

not partial or biased; fair

Impatient

not accepting delay, opposition, pain, etc., with calm or patience

Impertinent

insolent, rude; uncivil

Incredulous

not credulous; skeptical

Indignant

of or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base

Insipid

without distinctive or interesting qualities; vapid

Introspective

given to examining one’s own sensory and perceptual experiences

Ironic

containing or exemplifying irony; coincidental; unexpected

Irreverent

showing lack of respect or veneration

Jovial

endowed with or characterized by a hearty, joyous humor

Laudatory

containing or expressing praise

Lofty

exalted in rank, dignity, or character; elevated in style, tone, or sentiment

Ludicrous

 provoking or deserving derision; ridiculous; laughable