Tone Vocabulary:

1. Abstruse – difficult to understand 35. Incredulous – skeptical or disbelieving

2. Accusatory – charging of wrong doing 36. Indignant – marked by anger aroused by injustice
3. Allusive – containing or characterized by indirect references 37. Intimate – very familiar
4. Apathetic – indifferent due to lack of energy or concern 38. Judgmental – authoritative and often having critical opinions
5. Apologetic – self-deprecating; humble 39. Jovial – happy
6. Audacious – fearlessly, often recklessly daring; bold 40. Lyrical – expressing inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like
7. Befuddled – confused or perplexed 41. Matter-of-fact – accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional
8. Belligerent – hostile or eager to fight 42. Mocking – treating with contempt or ridicule
9. Benevolent – characterized by or suggestive of doing good 43. Morose – gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent
10. Bitter- exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief 44. Malicious – purposely hurtful
11. Cynical – questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people 45. Nostalgic – a bittersweet longing for conditions of the past
12. Condescending – a feeling of superiority 46. Objective – an unbiased view-able to leave personal judgments aside
13. Callous – unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others 47. Optimistic – hopeful, cheerful
14. Contemplative – studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue 48. Obsequious – polite and obedient, marked by wordy praise
15. Critical – finding fault 49. Peaceful – calm and even-tempered
16. Choleric – hot-tempered, easily angered 50. Persuasive – marked by appeals to reason or other convincing devices.
17. Complimentary – filled with praise and compliments 51. Philosophical – exploring the basic truths of existence and reality.
18. Contemptuous –something is worthless or lacks respect 52. Pious -- Having or displaying a reverence for God and religion.
19. Caustic – intense use of sarcasm; stinging, biting 53. Poetical -- Having poetic qualities, such as pleasing rhythms or images.
20. Conventional – lacking spontaneity, originality, and individuality 54. Pompous -- Displaying one’s importance in an exaggerated way.
21. Defiant – boldly resisting 55. Prurient -- Preoccupied with lewd and lustful thoughts.
22. Derisive – ridiculing, mocking 56. Psychological -- Having to do with the human mind and behavior.
23. Detached – separated; disconnected 57. Puritanical (or Victorian) – Marked by prudishness and severe morality.
24. Dignified – expressing formality 58. Realistic -- Inclined to represent things as they really are.
25. Disdainful – scornful 59. Romantic – emphasizing freedom of form, imagination, and emotion.
26. Disparaging – to reduce in esteem or rank; to belittle 60. Sardonic -- Mocking, taunting, bitter, scornful, sarcastic
27. Earnest – intense, a sincere state of mind 61. Satirical -- Using sarcasm and irony to expose human folly.
28. Erudite – learned, polished, scholarly 62. Sensuous: -- Taking pleasure in things that appeal to the senses.
29. Fanciful – using the imagination 63. Stark -- Plain, harsh, Simple or bare, even bleak or grim.
30. Forthright – directly frank without hesitation 64. Subjective -- Relying on inner impressions and biases
31. Frivolous – unworthy of serious attention; trivial 65. Trite -- Stale, worn out, shallow.
32. Giddy – frivolous and lighthearted; flighty 66. Urbane -- Sophisticated, socially polished
33. Haughty – proud and vain to the point of arrogance 67. Whimsical -- Inclined to be playful, humorous, or fanciful
34. Impartial – without bias or prejudice 68. Wordy/Verbose -- Using more words than necessary