SAT: Words to Capture Tone: Words to Capture Tone, List 8

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. quarrelsome
    given to arguing
    He’s quarrelsome on Twitter, always ready to tussle with any old nobody who’s talking trash. Washington Post (Apr 8, 2015)
  2. contentious
    showing an inclination to disagree
    At this moment, the respectful, cordial tenor of the meeting took a noticeably different and more contentious tone. The New Yorker (Aug 27, 2015)
  3. rancorous
    showing deep-seated resentment
    The brothers had a rancorous split and have essentially not talked since. New York Times (Sep 5, 2013)
  4. vituperative
    marked by harshly abusive criticism
    If you read the online versions of newspaper columns you can click over to the reader comments, which are often critical, vituperative and insulting. Seattle Times (Feb 7, 2015)
  5. receptive
    open to arguments, ideas, or change
    Sometimes she seems receptive to advice, but more often she just has an answer for everything and gets really defensive. Washington Post (Sep 9, 2015)
  6. reluctant
    not eager
    Montgomery officials are proceeding slowly in addressing the problem sidewalks, reluctant to move forward until they have more laboratory findings. Washington Post (Aug 30, 2015)
  7. seductive
    tending to entice into a desired action or state
    He finds pleasure in thinking itself, surrendering to the seductive pull of creative association. New York Times (Aug 12, 2015)
  8. pernicious
    exceedingly harmful
    So, while there is pressure on young men and women to look like models there is another equally pernicious trend emerging - the normalisation of obesity. BBC (May 30, 2015)
  9. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    Ominous foreshadowings at the film’s beginning hint how that story ends, but the derring-do along the way is something to see. New York Times (May 28, 2015)
  10. anxious
    causing or fraught with or showing nervousness
    Jo’s sudden change of tone made the girls laugh, but all looked rather anxious, and no one said a word as Snodgrass took his seat. Little Women
  11. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
    Their representative assemblies passed obsequious resolutions expressing loyalty and gratitude to the King, and the people; and erected his statue in a public place. James H.Stark
  12. domineering
    tending to rule in a cruel manner
    Even now, as he sits there fiddling with some kind of plastic box, he's easily ignored in the presence of his large and domineering companions. The Hunger Games
Created on Mon Jun 09 14:16:27 EDT 2025 (updated Wed Jun 11 16:54:41 EDT 2025)

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