ela vocab (tone)

accusatory

suggesting someone has done something wrong, putting blame on

absurd

illogical; silly, ridiculous; implausible; contrary to reason

acerbic

sharp or bitingly critical, abrasive

admiring

thinking highly of, praising

aggressive

exhibiting hostility or being forceful

aggrieved

offended because of unfair treatment; indignant, disgruntled

ambivalent

having two opposing feelings simultaneously, uncertain

amused

entertained by, diverted, pleased

angry

feeling enraged by something

animated

full of life or excitement; lively, spirited

apathetic

showing little interest or a lack of concern

apologetic

feeling remorseful or regret

appreciative

feeling or showing gratitude

ardent

enthusiastic or passionate about

arrogant

behaving as if one is superior than another; pompous, vain, condescending

assertive

behaving confidently while putting forth one’s views, direct

awestruck

filled with wonder and awe

belligerent

hostile, aggressive, eager to partake in conflict

benevolent

kind and generous with good intentions

bitter

characterized by a long-lasting anger and resentment; sharp, acrimonious, nasty

callous

cruel disregard, especially in a situation that requires care; unfeeling, indifferent, ruthless

candid

being honest and straightforward

caustic

severely critical or sarcastic

cautionary

gives warning, raises awareness

celebratory

intended to commemorate or honor

chatty

conversational, tends to talk a lot; garrulous, loquacious

colloquial

characterized by the informal language commonly used in a particular area or region

comic

causing laughter or amusement, humorous

compassionate

feeling and showing sympathy for those who are suffering

complex

having many varying characteristics or layers; complicated

compliant

easily agreeing to or obeying; submissive

concerned

showing worry or anxiety

conciliatory

intended to placate or pacify, appeasing

condescending

stooping to the level of one’s inferiors to make a show of one’s superiority, patronizing

confused

unable to think clearly or piece something together, bewildered

contemptuous

feeling or expressing deep disdain or disapproval; scornful

critical

finding fault or judging with severity

cruel

causing pain and suffering without remorse

curious

wanting to find out more or discover; inquisitive

cynical

scornful and distrusting of the motives or virtues of others

defensive

defending or guarding a position; quick in defending against criticism

defiant

stubbornly refusing to obey rules or authority

demeaning

lowering the character, status, or respect for something or someone

depressing

causing feelings of deep sadness and hopelessness

derisive

expressing contempt and scorn

detached

not showing any emotional involvement or interest in a situation; aloof

dignified

calm, controlled, and deserving of respect

diplomatic

skilled at handling sensitive situations with tact

disapproving

showing that one believes something is wrong; displeased, critical, condemnatory

disheartening

causing a loss of hope, confidence, and spirits; demoralizing, depressing

disparaging

intended to belittle the importance or value of something or someone; dismissive, critical

direct

being straightforward or honest

disappointed

unhappy because something has gone wrong

dispassionate

lacking passion, not influenced by emotion; impartial, indifferent

distressing

causing immense stress, pain, and sorrow; heart-breaking, troubling

docile

easy to teach and control; easily follows the will of others; compliant, submissive

earnest

showing deep sincerity or feeling; serious, passionate

egotistical

self-absorbed, only concerned with one’s self; conceited, selfish

empathetic

showing understanding with someone who is struggling, able to put one in someone else’s shoes

encouraging

giving hope and confidence; optimistic, supportive

enthuasiatic

showing intense excitement and interest

evasive

tending to avoid or dodge talking honestly, directly, or clearly about an issue; vague, ambiguous

excited

feeling very happy and enthusiastic toward; stirred

facetious

treating a serious situation with little care, making jokes in an attempt to be funny; inappropriate, flippant

farcical

extremely unlikely, silly, and unreasonable in a way that is humorous; ludicrous, absurd

flippant

lacking respect and seriousness, characterized by levity; superficial, glib, frivolous

forceful

expressing one’s opinions in a strong, powerful, and confident manner

formal

following established styles and rules, showing respect

frank

direct, plainly stated

frustrated

showing annoyance with a situation because of an inability to achieve one’s goals

gentle

showing immense care and softness, as if something may break

ghoulish

delighting or reveling in the revolting or loathsome

grim

worrying and without hope, serious; depressing

gullible

quick to believe untrue things without much thought, too trusting; naive

hard

firm and rigid, unyielding, guarded

humble

lacking arrogance or assertiveness; modest, deferential

humorous

causing laughter, funny

hypercritical

unreasonably critical of, judging every minute detail; nit-picking

impartial

unbiased, neutral, not taking sides

impassioned

filled with emotion and passion, ardent

imploring

making an earnest request to someone, typically out of desperation; pleading, begging

impressionable

easily influenced by others; trusting, child-like

inane

lacking any real meaning or importance; silly, foolish, stupid, nonsensical

incensed

enraged by injustice or wrong

incredulous

unwilling to believe something; skeptical, unconvinced

indignant

righteous anger; enraged because of injustice or what is perceived as wrong

informative

providing useful information; educational, factual

intense

showing immense passion or exhibiting strong feelings toward

inspirational

provides motivation and encourages one to do something

intimate

behaving in way that shows a close relationship or familiarity with another

ironic

the opposite of what is meant or expected

irreverent

lacking the proper respect for something commonly held in high regard

jaded

boredom caused by experiencing the same thing over and over

joyful

filled with joy; elated, jubilant, cheerful

judgemental

quick to criticize or find fault with

laudatory

expressing praise, often in formal ways (writing, speeches)

light-hearted

cheerful, carefree, not serious

loving

showing deep affection or concern

macabre

strange and unpleasant because of a connection to death or violence; gruesome, horrifying

mean-spirited

characterized by malice or pettiness; inconsiderate and unsympathetic