SAT: Words to Capture Tone: Words to Capture Tone, List 9

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!
13 words 192 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. eager
    having or showing keen interest or intense desire
    The good news for veterans is that, because of their service, most Americans are eager to help them succeed in their job searches and careers. US News (Sep 1, 2015)
  2. emphatic
    forceful and definite in expression or action
    He looked toward Mother, who gave a quick but emphatic shake of the head. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
  3. persuasive
    intended or having the power to induce action or belief
    While the judge’s ruling is not binding on other states, it’s forceful and it might be persuasive from one judge to another.  MSNBC (Jul 1, 2015)
  4. pervasive
    spreading or spread throughout
    What I resist most is the insistent, pervasive, inescapable message that we all must be happy. The Guardian (Aug 19, 2015)
  5. intentional
    done or made with purpose and will
    The police said they did not yet know if the shooting was accidental or intentional. New York Times (Aug 24, 2015)
  6. motivated
    strongly driven to succeed or achieve something
    To feel motivated to clean something, you’ve first got to notice, and care, that it’s dirty. The Guardian (Sep 4, 2015)
  7. perceptive
    having the ability to understand
    Perry is extremely socially perceptive, a quality that has helped him connect with people from many different backgrounds. Slate (Jun 5, 2015)
  8. reserved
    marked by self-restraint and reticence
    I grew silent and reserved as the nature of the world in which I lived became plain and undeniable; the bleakness of the future affected my will to study. Black Boy
  9. unanticipated
    not expected
    “It’s unpredictable, unanticipated, and it’s simply an unfortunate accident when it happens.” New York Times (Jun 20, 2015)
  10. unprecedented
    novel; having no earlier occurrence
    In an unprecedented show of military might Beijing has promised never-before-seen firepower on display. BBC (Sep 1, 2015)
  11. hollow
    devoid of significance or point
    Speaking about political dialogue, Assad said any initiative that is not based on fighting “terrorism” will be “hollow” and “meaningless.” Washington Times (Jul 26, 2015)
  12. superficial
    of, affecting, or being on or near the surface
    Alongside the superficial changes, more fundamental shifts are under way as rebel leaders seek to eliminate European influences and align their region with Russia. The Guardian (Aug 16, 2015)
  13. brash
    offensively bold
    There’s a common perception of entrepreneurs as bold, brash, and exceedingly confident individuals. Forbes (Aug 6, 2015)
Created on Mon Jun 09 14:18:45 EDT 2025 (updated Wed Jun 11 16:56:07 EDT 2025)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.