AP Literature Tone Words

Abrasive

Grating, rough, harsh; showing little concern for others’ feelings.

Absurd

Illogical, ridiculous, silly, implausible, foolish.

Accusatory

Suggesting someone has done something wrong; complaining.

Acerbic

Sharp, forthright, biting, hurtful, abrasive, severe.

Acquiescent

Accepted without protest; compliant, agreeable, accepting.

Admiring

Approving; thinking highly of; respectful; praising.

Aggressive

Hostile, determined, forceful, argumentative.

Aggrieved

Indignant, annoyed, offended, disgruntled.

Ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; contains a double meaning.

Ambivalent

Having mixed feelings; uncertain; in a dilemma; undecided.

Amused

Entertained, diverted, pleased.

Angry

Incensed or enraged; threatening or menacing.

Animated

Full of life or excitement; lively, spirited, impassioned, vibrant.

Apathetic

Showing little interest; lacking concern; indifferent, unemotional.

Apologetic

Full of regret; repentant; remorseful; acknowledging failure.

Appreciative

Grateful; thankful; showing pleasure; enthusiastic.

Ardent

Enthusiastic; passionate.

Arrogant

Pompous; disdainful; overbearing; condescending; vain; scoffing.

Assertive

Self-confident; strong-willed; authoritative; insistent.

Awestruck

Amazed, filled with wonder/awe; reverential.

Belligerent

Hostile; aggressive; combatant.

Bemused

Puzzled; confused; bewildered.

Benevolent

Sympathetic; tolerant; generous; caring; well-meaning.

Bitter

Angry; acrimonious; antagonistic; spiteful; nasty.

Blithe

Casual, cheerful indifference considered to be improper and callous.

Callous

Cruel disregard; unfeeling; uncaring; indifferent; ruthless.

Candid

Truthful; straightforward; honest; unreserved; direct.

Caustic

Bitter (often coupled with sarcasm); corrosive; toxic; critical.

Cautionary

Giving warning; raising awareness; reminding.

Celebratory

Praising; paying tribute to; glorifying; honoring.

Chatty

Informal; lively; conversational; familiar.

Colloquial

Familiar, everyday language; informal; casual.

Comic

Humorous; witty; entertaining; diverting.

Compassionate

Sympathetic; empathetic; warm-hearted; tolerant; kind.

Compliant

Agree or obey rules; acquiescent; flexible; submissive.

Concerned

Worried; anxious; apprehensive.

Conciliatory

Intended to placate or pacify; appeasing.

Condescending

Stooping to the level of one’s inferiors; patronizing.

Confused

Unable to think clearly; bewildered; vague.

Contemptuous

Scornful; insolent; mocking.

Coy

Flirtatiously shy; playfully aloof.

Critical

Finding fault; disapproving; scathing; criticizing.

Cruel

Causing pain and suffering; unkind; spiteful; severe.

Curious

Wanting to find out more; inquisitive; questioning.

Cynical

Scornful of motives/virtues of others; mocking; sneering.

Defensive

Shielding; guarding; watchful.

Deferential

Respectful; humble; submissive; yielding.

Defiant

Obstinate; argumentative; defiant; contentious.

Demeaning

Disrespectful; undignified.

Depressing

Sad, melancholic; discouraging; pessimistic.

Derisive

Snide; sarcastic; mocking; dismissive; scornful.

Detached

Aloof; objective; unfeeling; distant.

Didactic

In the manner of a teacher, in a lecturing way, patronizing.

Dignified

Serious; respectful; formal; proper.

Diplomatic

Tactful; subtle; sensitive; thoughtful.

Disapproving

Displeased; critical; condemnatory.

Disheartening

Discouraging; demoralizing; undermining; depressing.

Disparaging

Dismissive; critical; scornful.

Disappointed

Discouraged; unhappy because expectations were not met.

Dispassionate

Impartial; indifferent; unsentimental; cold; unsympathetic.

Distressing

Heart-breaking; sad; troubling.

Docile

Compliant; submissive; deferential; accommodating.

Earnest

Showing deep sincerity or feeling; serious.

Egotistical

Self-absorbed; selfish; conceited; boastful.

Empathetic

Understanding; kind; sensitive.

Encouraging

Optimistic; supportive.

Enthusiastic

Excited; energetic.

Eulogistic

Paying tribute to someone; laudatory; praising.

Evasive

Ambiguous; cryptic; unclear.

Facetious

Inappropriate; flippant.

Farcical

Ludicrous; absurd; mocking; humorous and highly improbable.

Flippant

Superficial; glib; shallow; thoughtless; frivolous.

Forceful

Powerful; energetic; confident; assertive.

Formal

Respectful; stilted; factual; in accordance with strict social styles/rules.

Frank

Honest; direct; plain; matter-of-fact.

Frustrated

Annoyed; discouraged.

Gentle

Kind; considerate; mild; soft.

Ghoulish

Delighting in the revolting or the loathsome.

Grim

Serious; gloomy; depressing; lacking humor; macabre.

Hard

Unfeeling; hard-hearted; unyielding.

Haughty

Arrogantly superior and disdainful; conceited.

Humble

Deferential; modest; sincerely self-deprecating.

Hypercritical

Unreasonably critical; nitpicking.

Impartial

Unbiased; neutral; objective.

Impassioned

Filled with emotion; ardent.

Imploring

Pleading; begging.

Impressionable

Trusting; child-like.

Inane

Silly; foolish; stupid; nonsensical.

Incensed

Enraged.

Incredulous

Disbelieving; unconvinced; questioning; suspicious.

Indignant

Annoyed; angry because one feels personally attacked; dissatisfied.

Informative

Instructive; factual; educational.

Inspirational

Encouraging; reassuring.

Intense

Earnest; passionate; concentrated; deeply felt.

Intimate

Familiar; informal; confidential; confessional.

Ironic

Meaning the opposite of what is said.

Irreverent

Lacking respect for things that are generally taken seriously.

Jaded

Bored; having had too much of the same thing; lacks enthusiasm.

Joyful

Positive; optimistic; cheerful; elated.

Judgmental

Critical; finding fault; disparaging.