AP English Language and Composition Tone Words by Definition

eulogistic

involving formal praise in speech or writing, usually for the dead

grave

something serious or solemn

pensive

dreamily thoughtful

pious

displaying a reverence for God

venerative

regarding with reverence

fervent

warmth; intensity of spirit

giddy

frivolous; lighthearted

laudatory

containing and expressing praise

elegiac

of, relating to, or involving mourning or expressing sorrow

lugubrious

mournful, dismal, gloomy, especially to a ludicrous degree

bantering

good-humored, playful in conversation

cynical

tendency to believe human behavior is selfish and opportunistic

derisive

ridiculing, mocking

facetious

lightly amusing; unserious; frivolous, especially at the wrong time

farcical

comedic with high exaggeration

flippant

lacking in seriousness; disrespectfully casual; uncaring

ludicrous

ridiculous; laughable; outlandish; silly

mock-heroic

satiric imitation of heroic traits

sardonic

scornfully or cynically mocking; sarcastic

satiric

characterized by satire

wry

satiric; bitter

choleric

easily angered

indignant

marked by anger; aroused by justice

inflammatory

likely to stir up anger or trouble

vexed

annoyed; irritated; distressed

blithe

joyous, merry, glad

euphoric

beyond earthly happiness

jocund

cheery, joyful, and happy

whimsical

playful; humorous or fanciful; unpredictable

bemused

preoccupied; deep in thought

expectant

having expectations

antagonistic

hostile, unfriendly

belligerent

aggressively hostile; warlike

vitriolic

scathing or bitter

apprehensive

uneasy about the future

diffident

timid; reserved in manner

fatalistic

in the belief that everything is predetermined and out of our hands

foreboding

to have inward conviction of

stark

plain; harsh; bleak or grim

timorous

timid

effusive

unrestrained and excessive in emotional expression

picturesque

strikingly expressive or vivid

sentimental

colored by emotion rather than realism

convoluted

very complicated or involved

abstract

theoretical; without reference to specifics

allusive

characterized by indirect references

classical

formal; standard; traditional

cogent

convincing; reasonable

cultured

high degree or taste

epistolary

involving letters

erudite

learned; scholarly

idiomatic

peculiar to a particular language

urbane

sophisticated

acerbic

sharp or sour

bombastic

pretentious and pompous

brusque

blunt

callous

emotionally hardened

condescending

in a patronizing, degrading manner

contemptuous

scornful, expressing in disgrace

contentious

involving or likely to cause contention

disdainful

scornful

evasive

tending or intending to evade

haughty

proud and vain to the point of arrogance

iconoclastic

inclined to attack cherished beliefs and emotions

imperious

arrogantly domineering; overbearing

insolent

rude; not showing proper respect; arrogant

irreverent

showing disrespect for things that are normally respected

patronizing

to treat in a condescending manner

petulant

easily irritated or annoyed

pretentious

exaggerated show of dignity or importance

provocative

tending to provoke

strident

loud, harsh, and unpleasantly noisy

aloof

indifferent, disinterested

banal

pointless and uninteresting

detached

disinterested; unbiased

objective

uninfluenced by emotions

restrained

held back; deprived

stolid

having or revealing little emotion

turgid

pompous; excessively ornate or complex in style or language

ambiguous

doubtful, uncertain from obscurity or indistinctiveness

incredulous

unbelieving

skeptical

showing doubt

tentative

in an unsure state of mind

ambivalent

mixture of opposite feelings

obscure

not clearly expressed; ambiguous or vague

pedantic

concerned with unimportant details

austere

stern; strict; frugal

didactic

inclined to teach or moralize (often excessively)

moralistic

concerned with principles of morality

puritanical

strict or severe in matters of morality

candid

open and sincere; straightforward; honest

colloquial

ordinary and informal (usually refers to conversation)

homespun

simple and homely

insipid

vapid; bland

lucid

easily understood; clear

mundane

ordinary; common; everyday

terse

effectively concise; brief

audacious

fearless; recklessly daring; unrestrained; insolent

baroque

elaborate; ornamental

cinematic

having the qualities of a motion picture

conciliatory

agreeable; characterized by appeasement

crepuscular

having to do with shadowy areas (usually has to do with humanity)

decadent

marked by a decay in morals and values; indulgent

discursive

moving pointlessly from one subject to another; rambling

evocative

having the ability to call forth memories or other responses

lethargic

slow; sluggish

petty

lesser; minor

provincial

limited in perspective; self-centered

prurient

preoccupied with lewd and lustful thoughts

self-concerning

aware of oneself as an individual; not confident

sepulchral

pertaining to burial

transitory

short-lived; temporary

trite

stale; worn out; overused

zealous

highly motivated; fervent