AP Lang Tone Terms

impartial

unbiased

colloquial

using a conversational style; informal

condescending

with an air of superiority

enigmatic

unable to describe; puzzling, riddle-like

maternal/paternal

parental

despondent

showing extreme discouragement or depression

bittersweet

showing a mixture of pain and pleasure

cynical

an attitude of distrust toward human nature

laudatory

pertaining to or expressing praise

laconic

terse; concise; succinct, using few words

benevolent

kindly, generously

irreverent

lacking respect especially when the occasion calls for piety or seriousness, such as in a place of worship

flippant

lacking proper respect, but not quite irreverent

elegiac

mournful; expressing sorrow

clinical

highly objective; rigorously scientific

cryptic

hidden; mysterious; unknown; even spooky

acerbic

bitter; sharp; acidic

didactic

a preaching or teaching tone

euphoric

feeling of elation or great joy

hostile

extremely angry, even violently so

contemptuous

expressing hatred and an extreme lack of respect

disdainful

expressing dislike or hate, but not quite contempt

frivolous

childish, immature, lacking seriousness

flat, unstimulating, vapid, silly

indignant

attitude of being angry because of something unfair or unjust

iconoclastic

attacking traditional or popular ideas or institutions

facetious

playfully humorous

grandiose

feigned grandeur; pompous

sympathetic

a sensitivity to others’ emotions

nostalgic

a sentimental yearning for a return to some past period of time

poignant

affecting the emotions strongly

patronizing

an air of treating someone well because of a feeling of superiority

pretentious

attitude of extreme show to impress

moralistic

characterized by a narrow and conventional moral attitude; forcing your beliefs upon others

vociferous

characterized by loudness and vehemence

saccharine

cloyingly sweet

somber

conveying a gloomy, dismal, or depressing character or mood

supercilious

disdainful; haughtily scornful

obsequious

fawning; full of servile compliance

tranquil

free from disturbance or turmoil

ribald

humor that is vulgar or lewd

sophomoric

immature and overconfident

rueful

inspiring pity or compassion; regretful

prosaic

not poetic; matter of fact; full; ordinary

whimsical

playful and appealing; OR erratic or unpredictable

suspenseful

pleasant excitement as to the uncertainty of events

pithy

precisely meaningful; cogent and terse

precocious

prematurely developed; advanced for age

sarcastic

ridicule by saying the opposite of what the speaker means

ostentatious

showy; pretentious; designed to attract attention

pedantic

unimaginative; excessively concerned with small details, rules, or with showing academic knowledge (ex. Hermione Granger)