AP English Tone Words Flashcards
Acerbic
Harsh or severe temper or expression
Acrimonious
angry and bitter language
Admonitory
a tone of warning, reminding
Affable
warmth and friendliness
Aloof
distant and reserved emotionally
Ambiguous
statements are not clear in meaning
Ambivalent
uncertainty caused by the inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to do two conflicting things
Audacious
extremely bold or daring
Bellicose
having a aggressive fighting attitude
Benevolent
expressing goodwill or kindly feelings
Cajoling
to persuade with flattery
Capricious
erratic, led on a whim
Colloquial
familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing
Commonplace
happening often, not special
Connotative
implied meaning
Contemptuous
expressing deep hate or disapproval
Contentious
tending to be full of controversy
Contrite
feeling sorrow or remorse
Convoluted
complex and involved
Curt
rudely brief in speech
Deferential
having respect for elders or superiors
Diffident
lacking in confidence
Dour
to be stern or harsh
Droll
having humorous qualities
Elegiac
expressing sorrow
Esoteric
hard to understand
Facetious
inappropriately humorous
Flippant
disrespectful and shallow, lacking seriousness