AP English Tone Words

Question 1

Acerbic

Answer 1

Harsh or severe temper or expression

Question 2

Acrimonious

Answer 2

angry and bitter language

Question 3

Admonitory

Answer 3

a tone of warning, reminding

Question 4

Affable

Answer 4

warmth and friendliness

Question 5

Aloof

Answer 5

distant and reserved emotionally

Question 6

Ambiguous

Answer 6

statements are not clear in meaning

Question 7

Ambivalent

Answer 7

uncertainty caused by the inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to do two conflicting things

Question 8

Audacious

Answer 8

extremely bold or daring

Question 9

Bellicose

Answer 9

having a aggressive fighting attitude

Question 10

Benevolent

Answer 10

expressing goodwill or kindly feelings

Question 11

Cajoling

Answer 11

to persuade with flattery

Question 12

Capricious

Answer 12

erratic, led on a whim

Question 13

Colloquial

Answer 13

familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing

Question 14

Commonplace

Answer 14

happening often, not special

Question 15

Connotative

Answer 15

implied meaning

Question 16

Contemptuous

Answer 16

expressing deep hate or disapproval

Question 17

Contentious

Answer 17

tending to be full of controversy

Question 18

Contrite

Answer 18

feeling sorrow or remorse

Question 19

Convoluted

Answer 19

complex and involved

Question 20

Curt

Answer 20

rudely brief in speech

Question 21

Deferential

Answer 21

having respect for elders or superiors

Question 22

Diffident

Answer 22

lacking in confidence

Question 23

Dour

Answer 23

to be stern or harsh

Question 24

Droll

Answer 24

having humorous qualities

Question 25

Elegiac

Answer 25

expressing sorrow

Question 26

Esoteric

Answer 26

hard to understand

Question 27

Facetious

Answer 27

inappropriately humorous

Question 28

Flippant

Answer 28

disrespectful and shallow, lacking seriousness

Question 29

Histrionic

Answer 29

overly dramatic

Question 30

Impassive

Answer 30

without emotion

Question 31

Imperious

Answer 31

the attitude of someone who gives orders and expects others to obey them blindly

Question 32

Implacable

Answer 32

unable to be changed

Question 33

Incredulous

Answer 33

disinclined to believe, skeptical

Question 34

Indignant

Answer 34

expressing displeasure at something that is unjust

Question 35

Inscrutable

Answer 35

not showing emotion, difficult to understand

Question 36

Insipid

Answer 36

without distinctive qualities

Question 37

Insolent

Answer 37

without interesting qualities

Question 38

Insular

Answer 38

to be isolated

Question 39

Intractable

Answer 39

not easily managed

Question 40

Irreverent

Answer 40

showing lack of respect

Question 41

Jargon

Answer 41

special words or expressions

Question 42

Laconic

Answer 42

using only a few words to express complex ideas

Question 43

Laudatory

Answer 43

expressing praise

Question 44

Loquacious

Answer 44

formal and sophisticated

Question 45

Maudlin

Answer 45

foolishly sentimental, weak

Question 46

Mundane

Answer 46

ordinary and uninteresting

Question 47

Paignant

Answer 47

deeply touching, affects the feelings

Question 48

Parochial

Answer 48

limited outlook

Question 49

Pedantic

Answer 49

overly concerned with small details

Question 50

Perfunctory

Answer 50

lacking interest or care

Question 51

Petulant

Answer 51

rude in speech, ill humored

Question 52

Pithy

Answer 52

short, clear, catchy sentences

Question 53

Plaintive

Answer 53

desperately pleading tone

Question 54

Pragmatic

Answer 54

a practical point of view

Question 55

Prosaic

Answer 55

unimaginative and dull

Question 56

Querulous

Answer 56

full of complaints

Question 57

Quixotic

Answer 57

foolishly impractical or unrealistic

Question 58

Resolute

Answer 58

determined and firm in action

Question 59

Reverent

Answer 59

deeply respectful

Question 60

Sanctimonious

Answer 60

hypocritical

Question 61

Sardonic

Answer 61

bitter and mocking tone

Question 62

Scornful

Answer 62

feeling someone is beneath you

Question 63

Strident

Answer 63

having a harsh sound

Question 64

Subservant

Answer 64

willing to submit to others

Question 65

Succinct

Answer 65

expressed in few words

Question 66

Taciturn

Answer 66

reserved in speech, quiet

Question 67

Terse

Answer 67

neat and brief language

Question 68

Vitriolic

Answer 68

full of bitterness and hate

Question 69

Vociferous

Answer 69

instantiate on gaining attention

Question 70

Wry

Answer 70

distorted in meaning, ironically amusing