AP English Language and Composition Tone Words by
Definition
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45.
abstract
theoretical; without reference to specifics
103.
decadent
marked by a decay in morals and values;
indulgent
54.
acerbic
sharp or sour
46.
allusive
characterized by indirect references
13.
derisive
ridiculing, mocking
73.
aloof
indifferent, disinterested
75.
detached
disinterested; unbiased
80.
ambiguous
doubtful, uncertain from obscurity or
indistinctiveness
88.
didactic
inclined to teach or moralize (often
excessively)
84.
ambivalent
mixture of opposite feelings
36.
diffident
timid; reserved in manner
32.
antagonistic
hostile, unfriendly
104.
discursive
moving pointlessly from one subject to
another; rambling
35.
apprehensive
uneasy about the future
98.
audacious
fearless; recklessly daring; unrestrained;
insolent
61.
disdainful
scornful
41.
effusive
unrestrained and excessive in emotional
expression
87.
austere
stern; strict; frugal
74.
banal
pointless and uninteresting
9.
elegiac
of, relating to, or involving mourning or
expressing sorrow
11.
bantering
good-humored, playful in conversation
50.
epistolary
involving letters
99.
baroque
elaborate; ornamental
51.
erudite
learned; scholarly
33.
belligerent
aggressively hostile; warlike
1.
eulogistic
involving formal praise in speech or writing,
usually for the dead
30.
bemused
preoccupied; deep in thought
27.
euphoric
beyond earthly happiness
26.
blithe
joyous, merry, glad
62.
evasive
tending or intending to evade
55.
bombastic
pretentious and pompous
105.
evocative
56.
brusque
blunt
having the ability to call forth memories or
other responses
57.
callous
emotionally hardened
31.
expectant
having expectations
91.
candid
open and sincere; straightforward; honest
14.
facetious
22.
choleric
easily angered
lightly amusing; unserious; frivolous,
especially at the wrong time
cinematic
having the qualities of a motion picture
15.
farcical
comedic with high exaggeration
100.
classical
formal; standard; traditional
37.
fatalistic
47.
in the belief that everything is predetermined
and out of our hands
48.
cogent
convincing; reasonable
6.
fervent
warmth; intensity of spirit
92.
colloquial
ordinary and informal (usually refers to
conversation)
16.
flippant
lacking in seriousness; disrespectfully casual;
uncaring
101.
conciliatory
agreeable; characterized by appeasement
38.
foreboding
to have inward conviction of
58.
condescending
in a patronizing, degrading manner
7.
giddy
frivolous; lighthearted
59.
contemptuous
scornful, expressing in disgrace
2.
grave
something serious or solemn
60.
contentious
involving or likely to cause contention
63.
haughty
proud and vain to the point of arrogance
44.
convoluted
very complicated or involved
93.
homespun
simple and homely
102.
crepuscular
having to do with shadowy areas (usually
has to do with humanity)
64.
iconoclastic
inclined to attack cherished beliefs and
emotions
49.
cultured
high degree or taste
52.
idiomatic
peculiar to a particular language
12.
cynical
tendency to believe human behavior is
selfish and opportunistic
65.
imperious
arrogantly domineering; overbearing
81.
incredulous
unbelieving
23.
indignant
marked by anger; aroused by justice
72.
strident
loud, harsh, and unpleasantly noisy
24.
inflammatory
likely to stir up anger or trouble
83.
tentative
in an unsure state of mind
94.
insipid
vapid; bland
97.
terse
effectively concise; brief
66.
insolent
rude; not showing proper respect; arrogant
40.
timorous
timid
67.
irreverent
showing disrespect for things that are
normally respected
112.
transitory
short-lived; temporary
113.
trite
stale; worn out; overused
28.
jocund
cheery, joyful, and happy
79.
turgid
8.
laudatory
containing and expressing praise
pompous; excessively ornate or complex in style
or language
106.
lethargic
slow; sluggish
53.
urbane
sophisticated
95.
lucid
easily understood; clear
5.
venerative
regarding with reverence
17.
ludicrous
ridiculous; laughable; outlandish; silly
25.
vexed
annoyed; irritated; distressed
10.
lugubrious
mournful, dismal, gloomy, especially to a
ludicrous degree
34.
vitriolic
scathing or bitter
29.
whimsical
playful; humorous or fanciful; unpredictable
18.
mock-heroic
satiric imitation of heroic traits
21.
wry
satiric; bitter
89.
moralistic
concerned with principles of morality
114.
zealous
highly motivated; fervent
96.
mundane
ordinary; common; everyday
76.
objective
uninfluenced by emotions
85.
obscure
not clearly expressed; ambiguous or vague
68.
patronizing
to treat in a condescending manner
86.
pedantic
concerned with unimportant details
3.
pensive
dreamily thoughtful
107.
petty
lesser; minor
69.
petulant
easily irritated or annoyed
42.
picturesque
strikingly expressive or vivid
4.
pious
displaying a reverence for God
70.
pretentious
exaggerated show of dignity or importance
108.
provincial
limited in perspective; self-centered
71.
provocative
tending to provoke
109.
prurient
preoccupied with lewd and lustful thoughts
90.
puritanical
strict or severe in matters of morality
77.
restrained
held back; deprived
19.
sardonic
scornfully or cynically mocking; sarcastic
20.
satiric
characterized by satire
selfconcerning
aware of oneself as an individual; not
confident
43.
sentimental
colored by emotion rather than realism
111.
sepulchral
pertaining to burial
82.
skeptical
showing doubt
39.
stark
plain; harsh; bleak or grim
78.
stolid
having or revealing little emotion
110.