101 Tone Words and Definitions

Mr. DeCubellis (United States of America)
DIRECTIONS: Our class test requires you to have memorized the definitions and notes on this page. Pay close attention to those with subtle similarities and differences. Practice utilizing adjective and adverb forms of each word. For example:> adjective: Leo uses a mocking tone when he describes Mrs. Bilse as a literary genius.> adverb: Leo mockingly describes Mrs. Bilse as a literary genius.

RHETORIC REVIEW: Tone is more than merely an author's attitude; it includes the stylistic means by which an author conveys his/her attitude.Tone is an integral part of a work'€™s meaning because it controls your response. To misinterpret tone is to misinterpret meaning. In order to recognize tonal shift and to interpret complexities of tone, you must be able to make inferences based on an active reading of the work. The writer's tone is revealed through organization, choice of detail, and sentence structure, and, most saliently, diction.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abashed
    feeling or caused to feel uneasy and self-conscious
  2. abstruse
    difficult to understand
    (Do not confuse with abstract.)
  3. acerbic
    sour or bitter in taste
  4. admonishing
    expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective
  5. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  6. ambivalent
    uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
  7. ardent
    characterized by intense emotion
  8. audacious
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
  9. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
    truculent
  10. bemused
    deeply absorbed in thought
  11. blithe
    carefree and happy and lighthearted
  12. brusque
    rudely abrupt or blunt in speech or manner
  13. burlesque
    make a parody of
    ...especially of something serious or to treat something ordinary with mock dignity.
  14. capricious
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  15. caustic
    harsh or corrosive in tone
  16. censorious
    harshly critical or expressing censure
  17. choleric
    quickly aroused to anger
  18. colloquial
    characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
  19. conciliatory
    intended to placate
  20. contentious
    showing an inclination to disagree
  21. derisive
    expressing contempt or ridicule
  22. disinterested
    unaffected by concern for one's own welfare
    A judge and jury must, by law, be disinterested. That is, unbiased. Neutral.
  23. didactic
    instructive, especially excessively
  24. diffident
    lacking self-confidence
  25. dogmatic
    pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
  26. dubious
    fraught with uncertainty or doubt
  27. ebullient
    joyously unrestrained
  28. effusive
    uttered with unrestrained enthusiasm
  29. elegiac
    expressing sorrow often for something past
  30. empathetic
    showing ready comprehension of others' states
  31. erudite
    having or showing profound knowledge
  32. eulogistic
    formally expressing praise
  33. euphoric
    characterized by a feeling of well-being or elation
  34. exhortatory
    giving strong encouragement
    This word shares its root with "hortative," a word which you already know.
  35. exuberant
    joyously unrestrained
  36. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
    ...and not meant to be taken seriously
  37. farcical
    broadly or extravagantly humorous
    Ludicrous, mocking, highly improbable
  38. fatalistic
    accepting that everything that happens is inevitable
  39. fervent
    characterized by intense emotion
    Specifically great warmth, enthusiasm
  40. flippant
    showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
    disrespectful, frivilously shallow
  41. foreboding
    ominously prophetic
  42. forthright
    directly and without evasion; not roundabout
  43. frivolous
    not serious in content, attitude, or behavior
    Self-indulgently carefree
  44. histrionic
    overly dramatic or emotional
    Over-the-top, out of control, emotional
  45. holier-than-thou
    excessively or hypocritically pious
  46. impartial
    free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
    Same as disinterested
  47. impassioned
    characterized by intense emotion
    Ardent
  48. impassive
    deliberately unexpressive
  49. impertinent
    improperly forward or bold
  50. impudent
    improperly forward or bold
  51. incisive
    demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
    Trenchant, keen, penetrating
  52. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
  53. indifferent
    marked by a lack of interest
    (Not to be confused with disinterested)
  54. indignant
    angered at something unjust or wrong
  55. insipid
    lacking interest or significance or impact
    Vapid, unstimulating
  56. irascible
    quickly aroused to anger
  57. irreverent
    showing lack of due respect or veneration
  58. jocund
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
  59. jovial
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
  60. laudatory
    full of or giving praise
  61. learned
    having or showing profound knowledge
    Scholarly, erudite
  62. lofty
    of high moral or intellectual value
  63. lugubrious
    excessively mournful
    Exaggeratedly dismal
  64. lyrical
    expressing deep emotion
    Highly rhapsodic, expressing deep personal emotion
  65. malicious
    having the nature of threatening evil
    Desiring to do harm
    Spiteful
  66. matter-of-fact
    not fanciful or imaginative
    Direct or unemotional
  67. melancholic
    characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
  68. mischievous
    naughtily or annoyingly playful
  69. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
    coolly unconcerned, indifferent
  70. nonplussed
    filled with bewilderment
    puzzled

    Also unperturbed
  71. obdurate
    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
  72. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  73. oratorical
    related to the practice of public speaking
    Given to making speeches
  74. patronizing
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    condescending
  75. ponderous
    labored and dull
  76. pedantic
    marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
    Overly concerned with minute details
  77. penitent
    feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds
  78. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
  79. poignant
    keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
    Emotionally moving
  80. recalcitrant
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
  81. reticent
    reluctant to draw attention to yourself
  82. reverent
    feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
  83. risible
    arousing or provoking laughter
  84. sanguine
    confidently optimistic and cheerful
  85. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
    mocking, sneering
  86. self-deprecating
    conscious of your own shortcomings
  87. sprightly
    full of spirit and vitality
    animated, lively
  88. stolid
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
  89. strident
    being sharply insistent on being heard
  90. subdued
    restrained in style or quality
  91. supercilious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  92. terse
    brief and to the point
    curt
  93. timorous
    shy and fearful by nature
  94. vexed
    troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
  95. vitriolic
    harsh, bitter, or malicious in tone
    caustic
  96. whimsical
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
    Given to fanciful notions, capricious
  97. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
  98. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    Warped
  99. zealous
    marked by active interest and enthusiasm
  100. droll
    comical in an odd or whimsical manner
  101. anthem
    a song of devotion or loyalty
    "Anthemic" is the tone word derived from the word "anthem."
  102. vituperative
    marked by harshly abusive criticism
    This is about as extreme as one can get.
  103. doctrinaire
    stubbornly insistent on theory rather than practicality
Created on Mon May 23 08:01:40 EDT 2016 (updated Thu Dec 06 10:53:15 EST 2018)

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