Tone+Words+for+the+Exam

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Often tone questions are also ways to check your vocabulary! Ensure you have a good understanding of the meanings of each tone word on this page ... and also how they apply to non-fiction readings. The terms below cover every tone word on the December exam ... and then some!

ALL AP STUDENTS: Please fill in the meaning of any TWO tone words, and then add your name! PLEASE NOTE: I'm not so much looking for dictionary definitions as I am easy-to-follow meanings. If you already know what a word means, just put it in your own words!

** __A List of Words To Use When Discussing Tone or Attitude__ **


 * 1)  accusatory- charging someone with wrong-doing, blaming. Mrs. Rosen
 * 2)  acerbic- sharp, bitter, or harsh in temper or language language; can be sarcastic; negative attitude towards subject (Laura Chen)
 * 3)  ambivalent-Simultaneously experiencing/expressing contradictory feeling, beliefs or emotions (HoiChi Yeung) **The end result is feeling quite neutral or even uninterested (ie., NOT feeling violently contradictory feelings!) (Mrs. Rosen)**
 * 4)  **apathetic-showing no emotion (Kevin Hsu)** NOT just ambivalent, but more negative - lack of effort or total lack of interest (Mrs. Rosen)
 * 5)  ardent- working hard, intensely devoted, eager, zealous, and passionate. (Abe Yoon)
 * 6)  awe-looking at something with amazement and wonder towards something sacred and superior. (Vincent Qu)
 * 7) bantering- to speak in a playful or teasing way. (MJ)
 * 8)  bitter- harshly reproachful and marked by cynicism [Emily Albrecht]
 * 9)  callous- emotionally hardened; indifferent (Victor Kung) **NOT indifferent to a situation, as in ambivalent ... but indifferent to someone's feelings or suffering (Mrs. Rosen)**
 * 10)  **capricious- not sticking to what he or she thinks, but always changing his or her mind; impulsive and whimsical. (Abe Yoon)**
 * 11)  **caustic- intense use of sarcasm;stinging, biting (Jean Zhang)**
 * 12)  **choleric-fiery, easily angered, passionate (Sophie Lin)**
 * 13)  **conciliatory- trying to appease someone through compromise, reconcile (Sophie Lin)**
 * 14)  **condescension; condescending- displaying a patronizingly superior attitude; behaving toward other people in a way that shows you consider yourself socially or intellectually superior to them (Amie George)**
 * 15)  **contemplative- characterized by contemplation (thoughtful observation/full or deep consideration); thoughtful, reflective, meditative (Erika Beebe)**
 * 16)  **contemptuous-demonstrating disdain for something worthless, looking down on others. (Forrest Zhao) **
 * 17)  **conventional-** conforming or adhering to accepted standards, using ordinary language (Alicia Chen)
 * 18)  **critical- full of criticism, often used negatively (Vincent Li** )
 * 19)  **cynical- bitter or pessimistic. Also distrusting towards others. [Jacob Long]**
 * 20)  **derisive- expressing contempt or ridicule (David Huang) **
 * 21)  **didactic-intended to convey instruction and information, often with a neutral tone of showing both sides. (Lily Feng)**
 * 22)  **disdainful- full of or showing scorn/disdain (Erika Beebe)**
 * 23)  **earnest-** **with a serious and sincere tone often to discuss something as great importance. (Tim Chen)**
 * 24) Elegiac- mourning or expressing sorrow for that which is irrecoverably past. (MJ)
 * 25)  **erudite- knowledgeable or scholarly [Jacob Long]**
 * 26)  **fanciful-use of overly imaginative or unsupportable claims without evidence or reason (Sean Feng)**
 * 27)  **forthright- honest; direct; straightforward; blunt (Donna Ni)**
 * 28)  **gloomy-depressingly dark; overspread with or enveloped in darkness or dimness; dismal, depressing, hopeless (Amie George)**
 * 29)  **haughty- disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant. [Helen Yu]**
 * 30)  **indignant-angered at something unjust or wrong (David Huang) **
 * 31)  **intimate-** involving warm friendship or a personally close or familiar association or feeling; to be familiar or close with (Alicia Chen)
 * 32)  **introspective- reflecting and examining inward on one's own feelings, thoughts, and beliefs (Chris Germain)**
 * 33)  **irate-very angry (Kevin Hsu)**
 * 34) **ironic - contrasted to what was expected or intended, the opposite of what was really supposed to happen. (Forrest Zhao)**
 * 35)  **irreverent- lacking proper respect or seriousness (Donna Ni)**
 * 36)  **jovial-cheerful and friendly (Shannon Yeh)**
 * 37)  **judgmental- Inclined to pass judgment, critical (David Huang) **
 * 38)  **judicious-characterized by good judgement or sound thinking (Donna Ni)**
 * 39)  **lyrical- expressing deep emotion (Donna Ni)** also poetic (Mrs. Rosen)
 * 40)  malicious- vicious, mischievous or strong hatred or grudge (Amy Liu)
 * 41)  matter-of-fact-created through use of formal language and a very factual treatment of the subject (Vincent Li)  
 * 42)  mocking- to repeat, imitate, or make fun of someone in a bad manner. (Vincent Qu)
 * 43)  morose- ill-tempered or depressed (Emily Barns) **ill-tempered only in the sense of pouting about something you're depressed about! (Mrs. Rosen)**
 * 44)  **objective- unbiased; not influenced by ones feelings or emotions (Victor Kung)**
 * 45)  **obsequious-Obedient, compliant with someone else's orders or wishes; abject or cringing submissiveness (HoiChi Yeung)** definite negative connotation - complying with someone in order to look good yourself or to win their favor (often claimed of salespeople!) (Mrs. Rosen)
 * 46)  optimistic- taking a favorable view of events or conditions and expecting the most favorable outcome [Helen Yu]
 * 47)  patronizing- talking down to, experienced tone (Amy Liu) **treating someone like you are better / smarter / more able than s/he is (Mrs. Rosen)**
 * 48)  **pedantic- excessively concerned with formal rules; authors with a pedantic tone sound dry and scholarly (Shannon Yeh)**
 * 49)  **pessimistic-** **expecting the worst possible outcome; often gloomy (Laura Chen)**
 * 50) **polemic -the practice of argumentation or controversy, often involve an argumentative topic in which the author conveys support for one side-Lily Feng**
 * 51)  **quizzical- questioning, ridiculing or chaffing (Amy Liu)** Careful - the word largely has a POSITIVE connotation! (Mrs. Rosen)
 * 52)  reflective- characterized by deep thought, contemplation, or careful consideration (Vincent Li)   
 * 53)  reverent- exhibiting respect, deeply respectful (Jessie Liu)
 * 54)  reverent- see above (Jessie Liu =P)
 * 55)  ribald- vulgar in speech or language, mocking (Jessie Liu)
 * 56)  ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of (Jean Zhang)
 * 57)  sanguineous- confident, cheerfully optimistic, or hopeful (Vincent Li )
 * 58)  sarcastic-closely related to irony, to use bitter words and exaggerated words to express contempt (Sean Feng)  Also, compared to sardonic, it's less bitter. e.g. "No one sleeps in class right?" (MJ)
 * 59)  sardonic- scornful and mocking; disdainfully sarcastic or ironically humorous; (Donna Ni) **Therefore, STRONGER connotation than sarcastic (Mrs. Rosen)**  e.g. "Way to sleep during class." (MJ)
 * 60)  **satiric-using irony, sarcasm, or wit to expose and discredit something (often human vice or folly) (Chris Germain)** Often used to try and CORRECT that human vice or folly ... whereas sarcasm just mocks. Therefore, you must judge the PURPOSE of the piece to know if the tone is sarcastic or satiric! (Mrs. Rosen)  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
 * 61)  scornful- contemptuous; often expressing disdain towards a person, object or idea usually considered as unworthy or lowly. (Tim Chen)
 * 62)  sincere- coming from true, genuine feelings and thoughts. (Emily Barns)
 * 63)  solemn- in a grave and sedate manner; e.g. "the judge sat there solemnly". [Joy]
 * 64)  strident- making or having a harsh sound; grating; loud; shrill; discordant. [Joy]
 * 65) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">turgid- Boring and difficult to understand (MJ)
 * 66) <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> whimsical- lightly fanciful [Emily Albrecht]