AP Literature Tone Words

allusive

working through suggestion

angry

showing strong displeasure/hostility

apprehensive

anxious of the future

baffled

thoroughly confused

bantering

good-humored teasing

benevolent

well-meaning and kind

burlesque

comically exaggerated

candid

straight-forward; frank

cavalier

lack of concern

ceremonial

formal relating to religion/public nature

clinical

efficient, unemotional

colloquial

ordinary, informal

compassionate

sympathizing and concerned

complimentary

praising, approving

concerned

worried and troubled

condescending

patronizing superiority

confident

self-assured

contemptuous

scornful

contentious

controversial, polarizing

cynical

distrustful of others/society

detached

disconnected

didactic

intending to teach

diffident

shy due to lack of confidence

disdainful

lack of respect

dramatic

sudden and striking

effusive

feelings of gratitude, pleasure, approval

elegiac

serious reflection

facetious

not serious, flippant

factual

concerned with details

fanciful

over-imaginative, unrealistic

flippant

lack of serious/respectful attitude

giddy

excited to the point of disorientation

impartial

neutral

incisive

analytical, sharp

indignant

feeling anger due to injustice or unworthiness

inflammatory

arousing anger/violent feelings

informative

providing useful information

insipid

lacking flavor, vigor, or interest

insolent

showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

ironic

happening in the opposite manner of expectations

irreverent

showing a lack of respect for serious matters

learned

having much knowledge

lugubrious

looking/sounding sad and dismal

melancholic

feeling pensive sadness

mock-heroic

imitating the style of heroic literature to mock/satirize

mock-serious

pretending to be serious in a joking manner

moralistic

over-fond of moral judgement of others

nostalgic

exhibiting feelings of sentimental longings/wistfulness

objective

a thing aimed at or sought

patronizing

apparently kind but betraying feeling superiority

pedantic

obsessed with petty, minor details

petty

of little importance

poignant

evoking a keen sense of sadness

pretentious

attempting to impress by showing greater importance than what is actually possessed

provocative

causing annoyance or anger deliberately

restrained

under control

sardonic

mocking speech or writing

satiric

criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way; intended to bring attention to an idea

scornful

full of contempt or disdain

sentimental

feelings of tenderness, sadness, and/or nostalgia

somber

oppressively solemn or sober; grave; gloomy

sympathetic

feeling sympathy

taunting

intending to provoke someone in an insulting manner

turgid

tediously pompous or bombastic (inflated)

urgent

requiring immediate attention/action

vexed

annoyed, frustrated, or worried

vibrant

full of energy and enthusiasm

whimsical

playfully quaint or fanciful; typically appealing and amusing