The ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone: List 3

On the ACT Reading Test, you will almost certainly encounter questions that ask about an author's tone — that is, the author's attitude toward their subject matter. Master our comprehensive collection of common words used to describe an author's tone, and you'll be well prepared to tackle these questions.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. conciliatory
    intended to placate
    Moore, in a written statement provided to officers, struck a conciliatory tone and promised to “do better.” Los Angeles Times (Nov 9, 2020)
  2. engaging
    attracting or delighting
    It is almost always possible to present an intellectually honest and engaging account of any field, using a minimum of technical apparatus. Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences
  3. caustic
    harsh or corrosive in tone
    In spite of the incredible buzz surrounding their first new album release in more than five years, the early reviews were lukewarm, if not outright caustic. Salon (Dec 12, 2020)
  4. resentful
    full of or marked by indignant ill will
    Ron, whose hands and forearms still bore scratches and cuts from Hermione’s bird attack, was taking a defensive and resentful tone. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  5. reverent
    feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
    The remote acceptance speeches worked really well, and award presentations from essential workers — doctors, a rancher, a UPS delivery driver — struck a reasonably reverent tone. New York Times (Sep 21, 2020)
  6. enthusiastic
    having or showing great excitement and interest
    People became enthusiastic; and they began to tick off the days on the calendar; and they watched eagerly for the postman, hoping for invitations. The Fellowship of the Ring
  7. exuberant
    joyously unrestrained
    Graham is matter-of-fact, rather than exuberant, and quickly changes the subject to the immense amount of work that remains to be done. Washington Post (Dec 6, 2020)
  8. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
    Was Kuchar being facetious, or was he seriously in the dark on the Olympic format? Golf Digest (Aug 3, 2016)
  9. fervent
    characterized by intense emotion
    The very nature of a protest suggests a fervent desire for change, the need to right a perceived historic injustice. Washington Times (Jun 10, 2020)
  10. flippant
    showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
    That may sound blase or flippant, but it’s a sincere rhetorical question. Washington Times (Oct 21, 2020)
  11. acerbic
    harsh or corrosive in tone
    Thurber was a grandmaster of the short story — perhaps best known for “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” — and his often absurd and acerbic cartoons. Salon (Sep 3, 2019)
  12. forlorn
    marked by or showing hopelessness
    We are forlorn like children, and experienced like old men, we are crude and sorrowful and superficial—I believe we are lost. All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel
  13. frank
    characterized by directness in manner or speech
    Federal law allows agencies to deliberate over draft documents away from the public eye to facilitate frank discussions before they’re released. Washington Times (Sep 23, 2020)
  14. irreverent
    showing lack of due respect or veneration
    “His impish smile and irreverent sense of humor were enough to quell whatever sensibilities he offended. He didn't mean any harm; that was just Bunky being Bunky.” Fox News (May 28, 2020)
  15. genuine
    not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed
    I searched his face for any kind of sarcasm, but he looked genuine. The Thing About Jellyfish
  16. boastful
    showing excessive self-importance
    After introducing the show, she introduces herself, in the studiously offhand tone of someone accustomed to trying not to sound boastful. The New Yorker (Dec 20, 2018)
  17. bombastic
    ostentatiously lofty in style
    “His discourse was bombastic,” Sisman adds, “and delivered in a loud voice that discouraged interruption.” New York Times (Feb 14, 2020)
  18. grave
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    It is a grave and solemn place, over which hangs the threat of an inevitable doom. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
  19. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    In whatever haughty terms one wants to describe it—epic, historic, miraculous, transcendent—the choice is justified. Golf Digest (Feb 25, 2020)
  20. hopeful
    having or manifesting optimism
    She felt a little sad that Akira didn’t like it, but she also felt a little happy and hopeful and even excited. A Place to Belong
  21. poignant
    arousing powerful emotions, especially pity or sadness
    The novel's most painful sections — told in poignant flashbacks — explore the interwoven strands of grief, anger and shame that Gifty felt as her beloved brother succumbed, rallied and succumbed again. Washington Post (Aug 25, 2020)
  22. hostile
    characterized by enmity or ill will
    While Joseph was prickly and hostile, Zeke was all smiles and warmth, the kind of person people liked to be around. Dread Nation
  23. idealistic
    motivated by noble or moral beliefs rather than practicality
    Their goals in organizing the workshop were both idealistic and pragmatic. New York Times (Oct 15, 2020)
  24. candid
    openly straightforward and direct without secretiveness
    Many spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing a desire to provide candid accounts of events and conversations they witnessed without fear of retribution. Washington Post (Sep 23, 2020)
  25. complacent
    contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
    “We’re not going to relax or get complacent though. We’ve got a tough road ahead of us and some big dreams down the line.” Seattle Times (Nov 12, 2020)
Created on Mon Dec 14 12:47:13 EST 2020 (updated Tue Dec 15 10:01:31 EST 2020)

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