SAT: Words to Capture Tone: Words to Capture Tone, List 16

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. choleric
    characterized by anger
    He returned more choleric than before, calling those he met rebels and traitors, in his mad fury. Samuel Adams Drake
  2. churlish
    having a bad disposition; surly
    Of course, it’s churlish to speak sourly of a guiltless, newborn child. Time (Jul 24, 2013)
  3. diffident
    showing modest reserve
    His manner is diffident and reserved, but the music-making is intense, full of character and rendered on the highest technical level.
    —Washington Post (Mar 30, 2015)
  4. fatuous
    devoid of intelligence
    "This is a fatuous show with nothing fresh to say about popular culture and our fixation with fame," his one-star write-up continued. BBC (Dec 12, 2012)
  5. histrionic
    overly dramatic or emotional
    The mildness of Dellavedova’s provocations only makes the histrionic local reaction to them – the impassioned denunciations, the drippingly earnest think pieces – all the more hilarious. The Guardian (Jun 1, 2015)
  6. jejune
    lacking interest or significance or impact
    But in their translation into the bald language of reality—the jejune prose of fact—our dreams have a way of losing their finer essence. Rhoda Broughton
  7. melancholic
    characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
    As a child she was a shy, melancholic loner riddled with very early-onset teenage angst. The Guardian (Aug 2, 2014)
  8. mordant
    harshly ironic or sinister
    The amiable Brian takes refuge in mordant humor: “Bad luck. Good luck. It’s all chance,” he says, then adding darkly, “Rotten sort of lottery, life.” New York Times (May 1, 2015)
  9. saturnine
    bitter or scornful
    He was, in short, what is called a deep designing villain, and the saturnine and sinister expression of his countenance at once proclaimed this. Various
  10. supercilious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Except for their accents, these people are identical to a certain class of spoiled, supercilious New Yorkers who exude a smug sense of entitlement. New York Times (Jun 26, 2014)
  11. unctuous
    unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating
    When singing about searing indignities, that unctuous and unbothered voice of his makes it sound as if he’s just buttering up his adversary. New York Times (Jun 13, 2011)
  12. vivacious
    vigorous and animated
    "Patients today are unyielding in their desire to continue to be active and maintain a physically vivacious life," Grossman said. US News (Sep 2, 2015)
Created on Mon Jun 09 14:26:40 EDT 2025

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