AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

Language and Tone Words

Terms : Hide Images
100378992jargonspecialized vocab to those of a certain group or job
100378993elegiacmournful
100378994dogmaticstating opinion with arrogant manner
100378995sophomoricopinionated in an immature way
100378996grotesquecharacterized by distortion
100378997glibspoken too fluidly to be convincing
100378998euphemisticmild or indirect delivery
100378999pretentiousattempting to impress by affecting greater importance
100379000precisemarked by exactness
100379001picturesquevisually attractive in a quaint or pretty style
100379002simplepresenting no difficulty
100379003colloquialused in ordinary or familiar conversation
100379004artificialinsincere or affected
100379005concretenot abstract, definite
100379006pedantictoo concerned with details
100379007moralisticconcerned with the principles of right and wrong
100379008exactaccurate or correct in all details
100379009idiomaticdenoting expressions that are natural to a native speaker
100379010connotativeto imply or suggest in addition to the literal meaning
100379011provincialunsophisticated or narrow-minded
100379012bombastichigh-sounding language with little meaning used to impress
100379013detacheddisengaged, removed
100379014poetichaving an imaginative or sensitively emotional style of expression
100379015scholarlyhaving or showing knowledge or devotion to academic pursuits
100379016informalrelaxed, friendly, unofficial
100379017culturedrefined taste and manners and good education
100379018symbolicsignificant purely in terms of what is being implied
100379019literaltaking words in their most basic sense
100379020obscurenot clearly expressed or easily understood
100379021vulgarunrefined, explicit, coarse and rude
100379022insipidlacking flavor
100379023esotericintended to be understood by only a small number of people
100379024ordinarynormal, no special features
100379025homespunsimple and unsophisticated
100379026figurativedeparting from a literal use of words, metaphorical
100379027slangwords or phrases that are informal, more common in speech than writing
100379028sensuousrelating to the senses rather than intellect
100379029learnedhaving knowledge acquired by study
100380879triteoverused and consequently of little import
100380880emotionalarousing or characterized by intense feeling
100380881angryhaving a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility
100380882fancifulover-imaginative and unrealistic
100380883jokingintended to cause amusement or laughter
100380884apologeticregretfully acknowledging or excusing an offense or failure
100380885peacefulfree from disturbance, tranquil
100380886sarcasticmarked by or given to using irony in order to mock
100380887zealouseager
100380888frivolousnot having any serious purpose or value
100380889provocativedeliberately causing a strong reaction
100380890sadfeeling or showing sorrow, unhappy
100380891upsetunhappy, disappointed, worried
100380892boringnot interesting, tedious
100380893happyfeeling or showing pleasure or contentment
100380894hollowwithout significance
100380895horrificcausing an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust
100380896objectivenot influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering facts
100380897drybare or lacking adornment, unemotional
100380898didacticintended to teach (neg. connotation)
100380899candidtruthful and straightforward, frank
100380900vexedannoyed, frustrated, distressed
100380901confusedbewildered or perplexed
100380902poignantevoking a sense of sadness or regret
100380903urgentcrucial, requiring immediate action or attention
100380904sharpproducing a sudden, piercing effect, intended to criticize or hurt
100380905indignantangered or annoyed with what is perceived as unfair treatment
100380906pitifulvery small or poor, inadequate
100380907restrainedprevented from doing something, kept under control
100380908audaciousshowing a lack of respect, willing to take surprisingly bold risks
100380909benevolentwell meaning and kindly
100380910nostalgicevoking sentimental longing for the past
100380911humorouscausing lighthearted laughter and amusement, comic
100380912condescendingshowing feelings of superiority, patronizing
100380913complimentarygiven or supplied free of charge
100380914sentimentalprompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia
100380915giddyexcitable and frivolous
100380916irreverentshowing a lack of respect for things usually taken seriously
100380917wistfulshowing a feeling of vague or regretful longing
100380918admiringregarding with respect or warmth
100380919worshipfulfeeling or showing reverence and adoration
100380920approvingofficially accepting as satisfactory
100380921adoringloving and respectful
100380922celebratoryhonored or publicly praised
100380923laudatoryexpressing praise and commendation
100380924eulogisticpraising highly in speech or writing
100380925stridentloud and harsh, grating
100380926subduedovercome, quiet, under control
100380927acerbicsharp and forthright
100380928admonitorygiving or conveying a warning or reprimand
100380929dislikingfeeling distaste for or hostility toward
100380930abhorringregarding with disgust and hatred
100380931insolentshowing a rude and arrogant lack of respect
100380932scornfulfeeling or expressing contempt
100380933straightforwardhonest and frank
100380934directgetting straight to the point, frank
100380935unambiguousnot open for more than one interpretation
100380936forthrightdirect and outspoken, straightforward and honest
100380937curtrudely brief
100380938self-assuredconfidence in one's own abilities or character
100380939briskactive, fast, and energetic
100380940ironichappening in the opposite way to what is expected and typically causing wry amusement because of this
100380941slyhaving or showing a cunning and deceitful nature
100380942bitingpersuaded to accept a deal or offer
100380943causticexpressive of such sarcasm
100380944understateddescribe or represent something as being small, worse, or less important than it actually is
100380945evasivedirected toward avoidance or escape
100380946grimforbidding or uninviting
100380947cynicalbelieving that people are motivated by self-interest
100380948apatheticshowing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
100380949dispassionatenot influenced by strong emotion
100380950antagonisticactively opposed or hostile toward something
100380951hostileunfriendly, antagonistic
100380952belligerenthostile and aggressive
100380953contentiouslikely to cause argument, controversial
100380954inflammatoryarousing or intended to arouse angry or violent feelings
100380955despairingthe complete loss or absence of hope
100380956querulouscomplaining in a whining manner
100380957elevatedhigher or greater than what is considered normal
100380958grandstately, majestic, dignified
100380959loftyarogantly or condescendingly superior in manner
100380960eloquenthaving or exercising the power of fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech
100380961statelyhaving or exercising the power of fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech
100387094jovialcharacterized by a hearty, joyous humor
100387095jocularjesting and facetious
100387096facetiousnot meant to be taken seriously or literral
100387097ghoulishmorbid or disgusting
100387098risiblecapable of causing laughter
100387099flippantdisrespectful, shallow, lacking in serious
100387100blithejoyous, merry, carefree
100387101mischeviousmaliciously or playfully annoying
100387102sprightlyanimated, vivacious, gay
100387103whimsicalgiven to whimsy or fanciful notions
100387104resignedsubmissive
100387105placidpleasantly calm or peaceful
100387106stablesteadfast; not wavering or changeable, as in character or purpose; dependable
100387107melancholya gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged; depression
100387108drearycausing sadness or gloom
100387109tragicextremely mournful, melancholy, or pathetic
100387110lugubriousmournful, dismal, or gloomy, esp. in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner
100387111sanguinecheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident
100387112hopefulpromising advantage of success
100387113maudlintearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental
100387114poignantsharply distressing or painful to the feelings
100387115insecuresubject to fear or doubt, unsure
100387116modesthumble, not ostentation
100387117abashedashamed or embarrased
100387118impartialnot partial or biased
100387119factualbased on or restricted to facts
100387120diffiedentrestrained or reserved in manner
100387121patronizingto behave in an offensively condescending manner toward
100387122fearfulshowing fear or anxiety
100387123bemusedpuzzled, confused, bewildered
100387124wryusing or expressing dry or mocking humor
100387125comfortingconsoling from fear or grief
100387126elatedin high spirits, exultant
100387127exhilaratedvery happy, animated
100387128ecstaticfeeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or excitement
100387129motivatedstimulate one's enthusiasm for doing something
100387130lyricalexpressing the writer's emotions in an imaginative and beautiful way
100387131questioningfeeling or expressing doubt
100387132skepticalnot easily convinced, doubtful
100387133reverentfeeling or showing deep contempt
100387134venerativeregarding with great respect
100387135appreciativerecognizing the full worth
100387136speculativebased on assumption rather than knowledge
100387137ruminativethinking deeply about something

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!