Tone Words M-Z

For AP Lang

Meditative

deeply or seriously thoughtful

Mock

pretending to be serious or disingenuous

Mock-heroic

imitating that which is heroic, as in manner, character, or action

Moralistic

characterized by or displaying a concern with morality

Mournful

feeling or expressing sorrow or grief; sorrowful; sad

Nonchalant

coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual

Nostalgic

longing for past events

Obdurate

stubborn; unyielding; stubbornly resistant to moral influence

Objective

not influenced by personal feelings or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased

Obsequious

overly obedient or submissive

Ominous

foreboding; threatening; inauspicious

Optimistic

disposed to take a favorable view of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome

Oratorical

given to making speeches; pertaining to speech-like quality

Outraged

angered and resentful; indignant

Overbearing

domineering; dictatorial; haughty, or rudely arrogant

Paranoid

exhibiting or characterized irrational fear or distrust

Patronizing

displaying or indicative of a condescending manner or tone

Pedantic

ostentatious in one's learning; overly concerned with minute details, esp. in teaching

Penitent

feeling or expressing sorrow wrongdoing or sin; repentant; contrite

Pensive

expressing or revealing thoughtfulness, usually marked by some sadness

Petty

of little or no importance or consequence

Placid

pleasantly calm or peaceful

Playful

pleasantly humorous or jesting

Poignant

keen or strong in mental appeal

Pretentious

characterized by assumption of importance or dignity

Provocative

tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate; inciting, stimulating, irritating, or vexing

Reassuring

to restore to assurance or confidence

Recalcitrant

resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory

Reminiscent

awakening memories of something similar; suggestive

Resigned

submissive or acquiescent

Respectful

full of, characterized by, or showing politeness or deference

Reticent

disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved; restrained

Reverent

deeply respectful; showing great esteem

Righteous

believing one's self to be morally right and just; guiltless

Romantic

characterized by a preoccupation with love; imbued with or dominated by idealism, a desire for adventure, chivalry, etc.

Sanguine

cheerfully hopeful, or confident

Sardonic

characterized by scorn; mocking; cynical; sneering

Satiric

exposing ridicule or derision

Scholarly

concerned with academic learning and research

Self-deprecating

belittling or undervaluing oneself; excessively modest

Sentimental

overly emotional; mawkishly susceptible or tender

Skeptical

marked by or given to doubt; questioning

Solemn

grave, sober, or mirthless, as a person, the face, speech, tone, or mood

Sophomoric

intellectually pretentious, overconfident, conceited; immature

Speculative

theoretical, rather than practical

Stately

imposing in elegance

Stolid

not easily stirred or moved mentally; unemotional

Straightforward

direct; not roundabout; free from deceit; honest

Strident

making or having a harsh sound; grating

Suspenseful

characterized by or causing suspense

Suspicious

openly distrustful

Sympathetic

characterized by, proceeding from, exhibiting, or feeling sympathy; sympathizing; compassionate

Terse

neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy, as language

Thoughtful

showing consideration for others; contemplative; meditative; reflective

Vexed

irritated; annoyed

Vitriolic

very caustic; scathing

Wistful

characterized by melancholy; longing; yearning; pensive

Zealous

ardently active, devoted, or diligent