The ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone: List 5

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. jaded
    bored or apathetic after experiencing too much of something
    “The tone and dialogue are cool, almost jaded, gesturing obliquely at the emotions roiling beneath the surface.” New York Times (Nov 12, 2020)
  2. judgmental
    relating to an assessment of a person, situation, or event
    It was easy to be judgmental then because I was riddled with preconceptions. The Guardian (Jun 22, 2020)
  3. laudatory
    full of or giving praise
    While initial reviews were laudatory, more substantive critiques emerged. Los Angeles Times (Nov 19, 2020)
  4. malicious
    having the nature of threatening evil
    "You are a vile, repulsive, repellent, malicious little brute!" the Trunchbull was shouting. Matilda
  5. cavalier
    showing a lack of concern or seriousness
    “His was a reckless and cavalier attitude to risk and one that we, the prosecution, would describe as grossly negligent.” The Guardian (May 23, 2016)
  6. melancholy
    characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
    The first movement is a melancholy, grief-stricken song. New York Times (Oct 13, 2020)
  7. melodramatic
    having excitement and emotional appeal
    Every year at Christmas, we wrote “books” for him, toiling for weeks over implausible plots and volumes of melodramatic poetry, our handwriting getting bigger and bigger in an effort to fill up our exercise books. The Guardian (Oct 13, 2020)
  8. morose
    showing a brooding ill humor
    With just one phone call, Lawrence shifts from vaguely depressed to downright morose. New York Times (Oct 16, 2016)
  9. naive
    marked by or showing unaffected simplicity
    “I don't want you to be naive. What kind of a mother would I be if I didn't try to teach my daughter about the world?” Starfish
  10. reserved
    marked by self-restraint and reticence
    I would consider myself otherwise to be a fairly average person: neither homely nor beautiful, rather quiet and reserved, no sparkling personality, but polite and pleasant. Washington Post (Nov 20, 2020)
  11. solemn
    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
  12. restrained
    cool and formal in manner
    It’s one example of these stories’ restrained but always trenchant humor. Washington Post (Aug 13, 2020)
  13. negative
    characterized by denial or opposition or resistance
    He expressed a distinctly negative view toward Gawker, the people said. New York Times (Dec 13, 2020)
  14. positive
    characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance
    I try to lighten the mood with something positive. Dry
  15. neutral
    not supporting or favoring either side in a dispute
    Zeus liked the Trojans best, on the whole, but he wanted to be neutral because Hera was so disagreeable whenever he opposed her openly. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
  16. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
    I needed to sound confident but not overbearing; friendly but not obsequious. The Guardian (May 3, 2020)
  17. obstinate
    refusing to change one's mind or ways; difficult to convince
    “Under ordinary circumstances, I even like your obstinate braying and your mulish devotion to the cause.” The Reader
  18. outspoken
    given to expressing yourself freely or insistently
    He was quite outspoken in his belief that it was a mistake for guides to pamper their clients. Into Thin Air
  19. passive
    lacking in energy or will
    “I’m passive. I just sit here watching the world.” Wishtree
  20. forceful
    strong and definite in expression or action
    Rosamund's tone is amiable, she laughs frequently, but it is also forceful and insistent. BBC (Nov 28, 2020)
  21. foreboding
    ominously prophetic
    That early brawl, replete with requisite uppercuts and jabs aimed at the temple, set a foreboding tone. New York Times (Sep 28, 2020)
  22. patronizing
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    “I’m not sure,” she said, giving me a perfunctory, patronizing smile, “that you’re Princeton material.” Becoming
  23. pedantic
    marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
    I felt drawn by professionalism to the edge of sterility, capable of no more than pedantic, lifeless, unassailable prose. Hunger of Memory
  24. impartial
    free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
    People are unable to remain objective, even when motivated to be impartial, which suggests an unintentional element to their decision-making. Scientific American (Dec 3, 2020)
  25. incisive
    demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
    Here, you will find not only a retelling of the famously bumpy relationship between Wagner and Friedrich Nietzsche, but an incisive analysis of the link between Wagner’s music and James Joyce’s literary stream-of-consciousness. Seattle Times (Sep 25, 2020)
Created on Mon Dec 14 12:47:30 EST 2020 (updated Tue Dec 15 10:24:25 EST 2020)

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