SAT: Words to Capture Tone: Words to Capture Tone, List 4

On the SAT, all of the Reading Test questions are multiple choice and are based on reading passages that may be taken from literature, science, the social sciences, or a U.S. founding document (or a text inspired by such a document). Many of the reading comprehension questions meant to assess a student’s understanding of those passages will require students to choose words that best describe the writer’s tone or point of view, words like the ones you see on this list. Learn them here so when you see them in an SAT answer choice, you’ll know what they mean!
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sincere
    open and genuine; not deceitful
    It is real and sincere, a reflection of the authentic desires and feelings of the People. Salon (Jun 14, 2015)
  2. enthusiastic
    having or showing great excitement and interest
    As enthusiastic as he was to climb in the Himalaya, Chin didn't know the first thing about launching an international expedition. National Geographic (Aug 10, 2015)
  3. puerile
    displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
    Such puerile charges remind me rather of the tricks of children than actions of men. Charles H. Fowler
  4. idealistic
    motivated by noble or moral beliefs rather than practicality
    Today’s foreign-policy thinkers must also test their idealistic notions of American possibility on a geo­political landscape littered with the wreckage of ideals past. New York Times (Sep 1, 2015)
  5. conciliatory
    making or willing to make concessions
    In theory a more conciliatory leader might offer some hope for compromise and peace. Economist (Sep 3, 2015)
  6. jovial
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
    "We're not pushing a hardcore agenda. The events tend to be very friendly and jovial, but safety is our No. 1 concern." Los Angeles Times (Aug 20, 2015)
  7. witty
    demonstrating striking cleverness and humor
    The whole evening was a strange yet fluid mix of witty comments and funny anecdotes with thoughtful reflection about literature and poignant personal disclosures. Newsweek (Feb 28, 2015)
  8. derisive
    expressing contempt or ridicule
    In the darkness, the players spent Saturday morning as punching bags for the coaches’ derisive comments. Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream
  9. morose
    showing a brooding ill humor
    Eeyore, the morose donkey in Winnie-the-Pooh, at one point complains: ‘A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.’ Salon (May 23, 2015)
  10. bellicose
    having or showing a ready disposition to fight
    Lewis is a magnetic and intimidating Henry VIII, accomplishing more with a harsh whisper than he does with a bellicose tantrum. Washington Post (Apr 3, 2015)
  11. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
    Humor must lie beneath the surface, ready to materialize in the form of a sardonic quip, or a quick dose of withering wit. Los Angeles Times (May 28, 2015)
  12. dire
    fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
    The library’s executive team testified before Congress in the spring about the dire need for more storage space for its ­ever-increasing collections. Washington Post (Sep 3, 2015)
Created on Mon Jun 09 14:05:17 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Jun 09 14:13:18 EDT 2025)

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