AP English Tone Words Flashcards

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1
Q

Acerbic

A

Harsh or severe temper or expression

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2
Q

Acrimonious

A

angry and bitter language

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3
Q

Admonitory

A

a tone of warning, reminding

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4
Q

Affable

A

warmth and friendliness

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5
Q

Aloof

A

distant and reserved emotionally

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6
Q

Ambiguous

A

statements are not clear in meaning

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7
Q

Ambivalent

A

uncertainty caused by the inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to do two conflicting things

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8
Q

Audacious

A

extremely bold or daring

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9
Q

Bellicose

A

having a aggressive fighting attitude

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10
Q

Benevolent

A

expressing goodwill or kindly feelings

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11
Q

Cajoling

A

to persuade with flattery

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12
Q

Capricious

A

erratic, led on a whim

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13
Q

Colloquial

A

familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing

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14
Q

Commonplace

A

happening often, not special

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15
Q

Connotative

A

implied meaning

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16
Q

Contemptuous

A

expressing deep hate or disapproval

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17
Q

Contentious

A

tending to be full of controversy

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18
Q

Contrite

A

feeling sorrow or remorse

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19
Q

Convoluted

A

complex and involved

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20
Q

Curt

A

rudely brief in speech

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21
Q

Deferential

A

having respect for elders or superiors

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22
Q

Diffident

A

lacking in confidence

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23
Q

Dour

A

to be stern or harsh

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24
Q

Droll

A

having humorous qualities

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25
Q

Elegiac

A

expressing sorrow

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26
Q

Esoteric

A

hard to understand

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27
Q

Facetious

A

inappropriately humorous

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28
Q

Flippant

A

disrespectful and shallow, lacking seriousness

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29
Q

Histrionic

A

overly dramatic

30
Q

Impassive

A

without emotion

31
Q

Imperious

A

the attitude of someone who gives orders and expects others to obey them blindly

32
Q

Implacable

A

unable to be changed

33
Q

Incredulous

A

disinclined to believe, skeptical

34
Q

Indignant

A

expressing displeasure at something that is unjust

35
Q

Inscrutable

A

not showing emotion, difficult to understand

36
Q

Insipid

A

without distinctive qualities

37
Q

Insolent

A

without interesting qualities

38
Q

Insular

A

to be isolated

39
Q

Intractable

A

not easily managed

40
Q

Irreverent

A

showing lack of respect

41
Q

Jargon

A

special words or expressions

42
Q

Laconic

A

using only a few words to express complex ideas

43
Q

Laudatory

A

expressing praise

44
Q

Loquacious

A

formal and sophisticated

45
Q

Maudlin

A

foolishly sentimental, weak

46
Q

Mundane

A

ordinary and uninteresting

47
Q

Paignant

A

deeply touching, affects the feelings

48
Q

Parochial

A

limited outlook

49
Q

Pedantic

A

overly concerned with small details

50
Q

Perfunctory

A

lacking interest or care

51
Q

Petulant

A

rude in speech, ill humored

52
Q

Pithy

A

short, clear, catchy sentences

53
Q

Plaintive

A

desperately pleading tone

54
Q

Pragmatic

A

a practical point of view

55
Q

Prosaic

A

unimaginative and dull

56
Q

Querulous

A

full of complaints

57
Q

Quixotic

A

foolishly impractical or unrealistic

58
Q

Resolute

A

determined and firm in action

59
Q

Reverent

A

deeply respectful

60
Q

Sanctimonious

A

hypocritical

61
Q

Sardonic

A

bitter and mocking tone

62
Q

Scornful

A

feeling someone is beneath you

63
Q

Strident

A

having a harsh sound

64
Q

Subservant

A

willing to submit to others

65
Q

Succinct

A

expressed in few words

66
Q

Taciturn

A

reserved in speech, quiet

67
Q

Terse

A

neat and brief language

68
Q

Vitriolic

A

full of bitterness and hate

69
Q

Vociferous

A

instantiate on gaining attention

70
Q

Wry

A

distorted in meaning, ironically amusing