Tone, Attitude, Style descriptors

Question 1

acerbic

Answer 1

harsh or severe

Question 2

ambivalent

Answer 2

mixed feelings

Question 3

callous

Answer 3

insensitive and unsympathetic

Question 4

capricious

Answer 4

unpredictable change, erratic

Question 5

churlish

Answer 5

rude and mean-spirited

Question 6

conciliatory

Answer 6

intended to win over something

Question 7

cynical

Answer 7

believing that people are motivated by self-interest, distrust

Question 8

disillusioned

Answer 8

disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed

Question 9

fervent

Answer 9

having a passionate intensity

Question 10

genial

Answer 10

friendly and cheerful

Question 11

irate

Answer 11

feeling great anger

Question 12

nostalgic

Answer 12

exhibiting a desire to return to a former time in one’s life

Question 13

petulant

Answer 13

childishly bad-tempered

Question 14

prudent

Answer 14

showing thought for the future

Question 15

sanguine

Answer 15

cheerfully optimistic

Question 16

self-deprecating

Answer 16

modest about or critical of oneself

Question 17

self-effacing

Answer 17

not claiming attention to oneself; modest

Question 18

strident

Answer 18

loud and harsh

Question 19

superficial

Answer 19

at or on the surface

Question 20

zealous

Answer 20

passion for a person

Question 21

abstract

Answer 21

existing in thought but not having concrete existence

Question 22

allusive

Answer 22

working by suggestion rather than explicit mention

Question 23

apathetic

Answer 23

showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Question 24

candid

Answer 24

truthful and straight-forward; frank

Question 25

choleric

Answer 25

bad-tempered or irritable

Question 26

colloquial

Answer 26

not formal language, conversational

Question 27

derisive

Answer 27

expressing contempt or ridicule

Question 28

despairing

Answer 28

loss or absence of hope

Question 29

discursive

Answer 29

rambling, passing aimlessly from one subject to another

Question 30

disdainful

Answer 30

showing contempt or lack of respect

Question 31

disjointed

Answer 31

lacking a coherent sequence or connection

Question 32

earnest

Answer 32

showing sincere and intense conviction

Question 33

eloquent

Answer 33

fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing

Question 34

glib

Answer 34

thoughtlessly fluent

Question 35

haughty

Answer 35

arrogantly superior

Question 36

idiosyncratic

Answer 36

relating to a peculiar characteristic, habit, or mannerism of an individual

Question 37

indignant

Answer 37

anger or annoyance at unfair treatment

Question 38

jovial

Answer 38

cheerful and friendly

Question 39

morose

Answer 39

ill-tempered

Question 40

obsequious

Answer 40

obedient or attentive to an excessive degree

Question 41

ostentatious

Answer 41

vulgar or pretentious display designed to impress or attract notice

Question 42

pedantic

Answer 42

designed to impress

Question 43

pompous

Answer 43

irritatingly grand or self-important

Question 44

pretentious

Answer 44

attempting to impress by affecting greater importance than is actually possessed

Question 45

quaint

Answer 45

old-fashioned charm

Question 46

quizzical

Answer 46

puzzlement

Question 47

sardonic

Answer 47

grimly mocking

Question 48

sinister

Answer 48

giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen

Question 49

smug

Answer 49

having excessive pride in oneself

Question 50

terse

Answer 50

sparing in the use of words; abrupt

Question 51

urbane

Answer 51

charming, confident

Question 52

vulgar

Answer 52

lacking sophistication or good taste; unrefined