Reading Comprehension Character and Tone Words

acquisitive

excessively interested in acquiring money or material things

ambivalent

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

anguished

experiencing intense pain especially mental pain

apathetic

showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern

ardent

very enthusiastic, impassioned

arrogant

(adj.) haughty, too convinced of one's own importance

belligerent

hostile and aggressive

compassionate

Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.

conciliatory

appeasing; soothing; showing willingness to reconcile

candid

Completely honest, straightforward

cynical

doubtful or distrustful of the goodness or sincerity of human motives

exuberant

full of unrestrained enthusiasm or joy

flamboyant

Excessively showy; unrestrained

flippant

(adj.) lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy

gracious

courteous, kind, and pleasant

gullible

easily deceived

hypocritical

insincere

indifferent

Having no preference

inhibited

unable to act in a relaxed and natural way because of self-consciousness or mental restraint

inquisitive

curious

insolent

showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

mediocre

average, ordinary, undistinguished

nostalgic

longing for the past

persistent

refusing to give up

pessimistic

seeing the worst side of things; no hope

pious

devoutly religious

pragmatic

practical

progressive

going forward to something considered better

prudent

wise, careful, cautious

radical

extreme

regressive

disposed to move backward

resourceful

(adj.) able to deal promptly and effectively with all sorts of problems; clever in finding ways and means of getting along

sullen

bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy

vain

full of self-admiration; conceited; OR without result; unsuccessful

vulnerable

(adj.) open to attack; capable of being wounded or damaged; unprotected

allusive

characterized by indirect references

bantering

talk or exchange remarks in a good-humored teasing way

benevolent

well meaning and kindly

burlesque

a ludicrous, mocking, lewd imitation

clinical

efficient and unemotional; coldly detached

colloquial

Characteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing

condesending

dissplaying a superior attitude; to talk down to

contemptuous

Feeling hatred; scornful

contentious

quarrelsome, inclined to argue

didactic

intended to instruct

diffident

lacking self-confidence

disdainful

scornful

effusive

Overflowing with words or feelings; gushing

elegiac

Expressing sorrow or lamentation

facetious

(adj.) humorous, not meant seriously

incisive

Sharply cutting; direct and powerful

impartial

unbiased; neutral

indignant

feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

inflammatory

Arousing anger or strong emotion

insipid

lacking flavor; dull; not at all stimulating

moralistic

characterized by a narrow and conventional moral attitude

patronizing

treating with condescension; acting superior

pedantic

tending to show off one's learning

petty

(adj.) unimportant, trivial; narrow-minded; secondary in rank, minor

sardonic

grimly mocking or cynical

satiric

ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point, teach

turgid

(adj.) swollen, bloated, filled to excess; overdecorated or excessive in language

verisimilitude

the appearance of being true or real

reverie

daydream

harmony

peaceable or friendly relations; accord; agreement; tranquility; concord

reproach

to find fault with, blame

resignation

reluctant acceptance

ferocious

Savage; fierce

pacify

(v.) to make peaceful or calm; to soothe