AP LANG TONE WORDS

Somber

serious, gloomy, dark, sad

Like elegiac and lugubrious, mood, more intense

Satiric

mocking, caustic, sharp, corrosive

Urgent

pressing, dire, serious, intense

Mock-heroic

burlesque, mocking, cartoon

Diffident

shy, bashful, modest, timid, meek, humble

Ironic

sarcastic, paradoxical, scoffing

Petty

unimportant, trivial, inconsequential

Elegiac

Melancholy, sad, mournful, sorrowful

Like somber and lugubrious

Disdainful

contemptuous, scornful, sneering, disrespectful

Lugubrious

gloomy, sad, melancholy, glum, miserable

Like somber and elegiac, when your friends mock you for being sad

Condescending

patronizing, superior, snobbish, haughty

Sulking

moody, quiet, ill-tempered, withdrawn

Fawning

obidient, appeasing, codependent

Optimistic

positive, joyful, hopeful, uplifting

Jaded

tired, exhausted, weary, cynical, weary, disillusioned

Ardent

passionate, enthusiastic, intense, sincere

Scathing

harsh, severe, critical, withering

Negative connotation, abusive, lack of respect

Unassuming

modest, humble, demure, down-to-earth

Solemn

serious, grave, formal, sincere, sad

Funeral

Frivolous

joking, lighthearted, senseless, unserious

Negative connotation

Lack of seriousness, sense, purpose

Detached

disconnected, separate, disengaged, loosened

Disconnected from feelings/emotions

Burlesque

parody, skit, satire, caricature

Mock-serious

ironic, sarcastic, teasing, poking fun

Pretending to be serious as a joke

Vibrant

spirited, lively, energetic, high-spirited

Also can mean intense, bright, colorful, vivid

Austere

strict, harsh, stern, cold, grim

Credulous

gullible, naive, impressionable

Opposite of incredulous (not believing, skeptical)

Fatuous

silly, foolish, childish, idiotic, brainless, stupid, goofy

Foolish (f words)

Haughty

proud, vain, arrogant, self-absorbed, snobbish

When expressing superiority

Audacious

bold, wise, brazen, insolent, unafraid

Inane

silly, foolish, stupid, absurd, ridiculous

Mocking, joking, satire

Negative connotation, hurts more than fatuous, the intent behind the statement is pointless

Narcissistic

selfish, self-absorbed, egocentric

Pedantic

scholarly, intelligent, didactic

Strong negative connotation

Bantering

joking, sarcastic, mocking, satirical

Flippant

frivolous, shallow, sassy, cheeky, pokey

always NEGATIVE connotation

Disrespectful lack of seriousness

Similar to facetious

Not showing a serious or respectful attitude

The way something is said or done

“Flippant remark”

Facetious

joking, satirical, sassy, playful

Can be inappropriate humor about a serious topic

Similar to flippant

Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor

Synonym of funny

Inflammatory

provoking, agitating, passionate, and controversial

Cynical

ironic, sarcastic, skeptical, unbelieving, pessimistic

Incisive

penetrating, acute, sharp, keen, ironic

Flattering, smart

Scornful

scoffing, malicious, disdainful

Irreverent

making fun of something that isn’t usually funny

Making fun of things that aren’t funny, emotion behind the remark

Not a negative connotation

Pragmatic

practical, sensible, realistic, rational, logical

Pompous

Arrogant, boastful, self-important

Reticent

Inverted, withdrawn, bashful

Indignant

Mad, outraged, furious, ballistic, resentful

Contemptuous

insulting, disrespectful, scoffing, taunting

Caustic

sarcastic, satirical, ironic, scornful, bitter, harsh

Malicious

spiteful, ill-natured, cruel, hateful, evil, mean

Didactic

educational, informative, instructive

Seductive

alluring, charismatic, enchanting, appealing

Whimsical

fanciful, quaint, quirky, playful

Poignant

touching, moving, sad

Patronizing

condescending, humiliating, snobbish

Incredulous

doubtful, distrustful, unreliable

Forthright

direct, frank, candid, honest, straightfoward, blunt, pointblank

Unabashed

Shamless, blatant, bold

Neutral/positive connotation

Wry

ironic, mocking, satire, sarcastic

Pretentious

Flashy, flamboyant, overambitious

Brazen

bold, inmodest, unashamed, unembarrassed

NEGATIVE connotation- offensive term for women

Ambivalent

unsure, doubtful, indecisive

Incensed

Provoking, antagonizing, infuriating, maddening

Naïve

Innocent, simple, unaware, ignorant

Imperious

Commanding, authoritative, dominating

Candid

Frank, outspoken, straightforward

Resentful

Irritated, angry, sore, bitter, mad

Belligerent

Hostile, aggressive, threatening

Cautionary

Warning, careful, advisory, exemplary

Demeaning

Disregarding, humiliating, shaming, discrediting

Placating

Calm, soothing, appease, allowance

Befuddled

Confused, bewildered, disorientated, dazed

Defiant

Resistant, aggressive, uncooperative

Condescending

patronizing, superior, snnobish, haughty

Sulking

moody, quiet, ill-tempered, withdrawn

Fawning

Obedient, appeasing, codependent

Optimistic

positive, joyful, hopeful, uplifting

Jaded

tired, exhausted, cynical, weary, disillusioned

Ardent

passionate, enthusiastic, intense, sincere

Scathing

harsh, severe, critical, withering

Unassuming

modest, humble, demure, down-to-earth

Solemn

serious, grave, formal, sincere, sad

Frivolous

joking, lighthearted, senseless, unserious

Insipid

tasteless, lacking, boring

Impartial

unbiased, unprejudiced, neutral

Moralistic

Educational, smug, prude

Taunting

mocking, provoking, teasing, ridicule, poke fun

Turgid

overly complex, difficult to understand

Sardonic

mocking, satirical, ironic

Insolent

rude, impolite, disrepectful

Effusive

extravagant, lavish, enthusiastic

Sentimental

nostalgic, tender, emotional

Contentious

controversial, debatable, unsure

Esoteric

difficult, puzzling, cryptic, abstract

Vulgar

tasteless, gross, obscene, flashy

Trite

ordinary, common, stereotypical, predictable

Obscure

unclear, uncertain, unsure

Provincial

small-minded, old-fashioned, narrow, unsophisticated, unrefined

Precise

accurate, exact, factual, specific

Euphemistic

polite, mild, softened, neutral

Bombastic

ranting, pretentious, pompous, high-sounded, inflated

Grotesque

horrifying, hideous, absurd

Concrete

solid, real, tangible, physical