4825243093 | acerbic | (uh-SAIR-bick) (adjective) the author sounds bitter, sarcastic, or is offering stinging criticism -"If you had lived 2,000 years ago and sung like that, I think they would have stoned you." - Simon Cowell 1. synonym-sarcastic, harsh antonym-mild, kind 2. herb 3. picture above | 0 | |
4825251243 | satiric | (suh-TEER-rick) (adjective) the author is ridiculing the subject in order to make a point, or teach the readers -Son: "Dad, I'm considering a career in organized crime" Father: "Government or private sector?" 1. satire 2. satirischen 3. gif above | 1 | |
4825254099 | whimsical | (suh-TEER-rick) (adjective) the author sounds playful, mischievous, or intentionally a little weird or fantastical -I am a professional mermaid known as Bambalina, the pearl of the seven seas. 1. whim 2. wunderlich 3. syn: playful ant: serious | 2 | |
4825258487 | didactic | (dye-DACK-tick) (adjective) the author is attempting to educate or instruct the reader - "At the lake's end stands a big hydroelectric dam, 480 feet high, built by the Tennessee Valley authority in the 1930s" - Bill Bryson 1. Bill Bryson has an annoying, didactic style of writing. 2. didaktisch 3. Picture above | 3 | |
4825265406 | erudite | (AIR-roo-dite) (adjective) the author sounds learned, polished, scholarly - My dozens of scholarly awards allows me to better inform you on the incogitable world of pishposheity. 1. gelehrt 2. syn - knowledgeable ant - uneducated 3. picture above | 4 | |
4825270226 | forthright | (FORTH-right) (adjective) the author gets straight to the point with no hesitation -Frankly, I despise you. 1. offen 2. syn - blunt ant - tactful 3. picture above | 5 | |
4825272961 | jovial | (JOE-vee-ull) (adjective) the author sounds light-hearted or happy about his/her subject -Jolly good day, sir! 1. fröhlich 2. syn - lighthearted ant - gloomy 3. picture above | 6 | |
4825281808 | morose | (muh-ROCE) (adjective) the author sounds depressed, gloomy, and pessimistic -Don't worry about me. Go enjoy yourself. I'll stay here and be miserable. - Eeyore 1. mürrisch 2. syn - melancholy ant - cheerful 3. picture above | 7 | |
4825281809 | reverent | (REV-ur-rint) (adjective) the author sounds very respectful or worshipful towards his/her subject -I always must pray, study scripture, fast, and pay tithes and offerings to bring glory to God. 1. reverend 2. andächtig 3. picture above | 8 | |
4825284554 | guileless | (GILE-liss) (adjective) the author is trying to be honest or straightforward, though s/he may come off unsophisticated or naïve -"Dresses wouldn't look good on you, dad - they're not you're style" says the 7 year old to his father 1. arglos 2. syn - unsophisticated; genuine ant - clever 3. picture above | 9 | |
5029692470 | effusive | (ih-FEW-siv) (adjective) - the author is gushing with praise over the subject -Mrs. Schultz is LITERALLY the best teacher in the world. Gandhi could not compare to her. 1. Pouring out; enthusiastic 2. Niagara falls 3. I hate my parent's effusive praise towards my oldest brother. It's as if the rest of us couldn't compare to him. | 10 | |
5029698602 | accusatory | (uh-KYU-suh-tore-ee) (adjective) - the author is charging (someone or some entity) with wrongdoing -Have you been taking cookies from the cookie jar? 1. Accuse 2. Police officer 3. picture | 11 | |
5029708240 | conventional | (kuhn-VEN-shun-null) (adjective) - the author is noticeably unoriginal, lacking spontaneity and individuality -JK LOL 1. konventionell 2. syn- ordinary; typical ant- abnormal 3. A conventional church wedding has a bride in white. | 12 | |
5029715608 | lyrical | (LEER-ick-cull) (adjective) - the author sounds as though he/she is expressing a poet's inner feelings; the writing is emotional, full of images, and song-like -Roses grew from the depths of her heart, Daisies sprouted from her lungs, Daffodils arose from inside her stomach, And liles near her tongue 1. lyric 2. lyrisch 3. picture above | 13 | |
5029722595 | solemn | (SAHL-lum) (adjective) - the author sounds deeply earnest, tending towards sad reflection -"I am nearer home today than I ever have been before" 1. Prayer 2. earnest; thoughtful ant- Cheerful; joyful 3. "Expressions of solemn testimony have long been important to the children of God upon the earth." | 14 | |
5029726508 | patronizing | (PAY-trun-nyze-ing) (adjective) - the author is condescending towards the reader's knowledge or opinions -"Your dads work for our dads" 1. New Trier girls 2. snobbish; arrogant ant- humble 3. picture above | 15 | |
5029729581 | intimate | (IN-tim-mit) (adjective) - the author sounds very familiar with the reader, as if he or she knows the reader personally -My dear readers, what do you think about this? 1. Affectionate ant- cold 2. "Sitting here in my study, surrounded by my books, enjoying the sweet and intimate companionship of the great and the wise" 3. picture above | 16 | |
5029733425 | callous | (KAL-us) (adjective) - the author sounds very unfeeling, as if disinterested in the feelings of others or the reader -Sucks to suck 1. Monkey bars 2. insensitive ant- mindful; responsive 3. The man who stole from the poor was a callous thief | 17 | |
5029739071 | objective | (ub-JECK-tiv) (adjective) - the author has an unbiased view, as if trying to leave personal opinions aside -Trump also wants to end birthright citizenship, which means children soon to be born in America will not be considered citizens unless their parents are also citizens. 1. Ms. Daniels 2. My first choice was to telephone the Atlanta office but I wondered if I might get a more objective hearing from an office further from a good old boy network. 3. detached ant- biased; involved | 18 | |
5029742841 | quizzical | (KWIZ-ick-kull) (adjective) - the author is questioning an odd, amusing or otherwise strange subject -She's quite strange, however her odd personality amused me. 1. fragend 2. She raised a quizzical eyebrow, but he didn't explain. 3. incredulous ant- certain; understanding | 19 | |
5029817165 | reflective | (ree-FLECK-tiv) (adjective) - the author is thoughtful, or in the process of reflecting while writing - I come to find that I'm very impatient 1. mirror 2. reflektierende 3. His reflective gaze searched her face, his brows furrowed with concern. | 20 | |
5029824465 | indignant | (in-DIG-nint) (adjective) - the author is righteously angry at some perceived insult or injustice - | 21 | |
5029831850 | scolding | (SKOHL-ding) (adjective, in this case) - the author is speaking to an audience that s/he thinks needs a reprimand -You should have known better! 1. Mrs. Daniels 2. Schelte 3. picture | 22 | |
5029838744 | ribald | (RYE-bald) (adjective) - the author is raunchy or obscene - Let's make fun of that fat person in Spanish 1. deftig 2. Alexis 3. He got into some trouble with the chancellor, Gardiner, over a ribald play, "Pammachius," | 23 | |
5029843634 | obsequious | (ob-SEE-kwee-us) (adjective) - the author is kissing up to either subjects within the writing or to his/her readers -I think your idea is the best idea ever thought of in the history of anything, Mr. Bossman, sir. 1. Band kids 2. unterwürfig 3. picture | 24 | |
5029847139 | subjective | (sub-JECK-tiv) (adjective) - the author is emotional, basing his/her judgments on emotion rather than fact -Animal testing is evil and unethical and shouldn't be allowed ever!! 1. Mom 2. subjektiv 3. biased; abstract ant- mediated | 25 | |
5029851159 | abashed | (uh-BASHED) (adjective) - the author is somehow ashamed, embarrassed, or apologizing to the readers -I'm extremely sorry for my behavior at the banquet last night, it was inappropriate and uncalled for. 1. beschämt 2. bewildered; bugged ant- clear; oriented 3. picture | 26 | |
5029854438 | contemplative | (kun-TEMP-pluh-tiv) (adjective) - the author has thoughtful consideration for his subject; synonym to reflective -As I typed out my vocab, I realized that I'm extremely impatient and I don't know how I will ever manage to finish. 1. besinnlich 2. Her contemplative face showed the boy that she realized that she was acting strange that day. 3. Picture | 27 | |
5029858068 | derisive | (de-RYE-siv) (adjective) - the author is ridiculing his/her subject -You're ridiculously awkward, it's so weird 1. höhnisch 2. cheeky; disdainful ant- kind 3. picture | 28 | |
5029861701 | matter-of-fact | (adjective) - the author describes the subject plainly, with little to no embellishing -The sky is blue 1. sich an Tatsachen haltend 2. unvarnished; deadpan ant- excited; unreasonable | 29 | |
5045436528 | vituperative | (vit-TOO-per-uh-tiv) (adjective) - the author is verbally abusive to his/her subject and/or the readers - You suck! 1. My sister 2. schmähend 3. Picture | 30 | |
5045439902 | sardonic | (sar-DON-ick) (adjective) - the author is sarcastic, mocking, and bitter - If I ever need a heart transplant, I'd want my ex's. It's never been used. 1. Dr. Evil 2. sardonisch 3. picture | 31 | |
5045444130 | disingenuous | (dis-in-JEN-yoo-us) (adjective) - the author is hiding his/her true purpose, perhaps hypocritically -You must be so busy if you don't have time to eat dinner with us. 1. Passive 2. unaufrichtig 3. picture | 32 | |
5045447469 | fanciful | (FAN-siff-full) (adjective) - the author is playful or imaginative, not totally grounded in reality - I'm a professional mermaid 1. Ms. Schultz's mermaid friend 2. phantastisch 3. picture | 33 | |
5045451161 | choleric | (KOLL-er-ick) (adjective) - the author is irritated or angry about his subject -I can't believe you would even think about petting my pet bunny after I specifically told you not to! 1. KKK 2. cholerisch 3. picture | 34 | |
5045456064 | allusive | (uh-LOO-siv) (adjective) - the author refers indirectly to another work -And so the two fell in young love, then they both died 1. connotative; implied 2. anspielend 3. The links between the art-work and the biblical themes it seeks to explore, illustrate, and interpret, are often highly allusive | 35 | |
5045459736 | audacious | (aw-DAY-shus) (adjective) - the author is bold, reckless, going farther than expected - I studied opera at Julliard, that is, after I complete my doctrine in law at Harvard. 1. kühn 2. adventurers 3. Picture | 36 | |
5045463649 | bantering | (BAN-ter-ing) (here: adjective) - the author is teasing or joking playfully -You're so dumb lol *wink* 1. taunt; chaff ant- be serious 2. neckisch 3. Joey | 37 | |
5045466818 | frank | (FRAYNK) (adjective) - the author is honest, candid, volunteering information rather than making the reader wait - Did you hear that Jessica cheated on that biology test? 1. Candor 2. frank- german 3. real; straight forward ant- indirect | 38 | |
5045471974 | incisive | (in-SY-siv) (adjective) - the author's conclusions are piercing, cutting into the subject in a new, sharp way - Introducing the new IPhone 18, it reads your mind. 1. knife 2. prägnant 3. Apple's new phone was exactly like the old one, in no way incisive. | 39 | |
5054684273 | conciliatory | (kun-SILL-ee-uh-tore-ee) (adjective) - the author is giving in, trying to appease his audience -Politicians: I did this stupid thing, please still vote for me 1. Hillary Clinton 2. versöhnlich 3. picture | 40 | |
5054687051 | colloquial pic | (kuh-LOKE-kwee-ull) (adjective) - the author is talking to a specific audience, using particular language that they would understand -SMH 1. Inside joke 2. umgangssprachlich 3. picture | 41 | |
5054690307 | paternalistic | (puh-turn-null-LIST-tick) (adjective) - the author is speaking to his or her reader like a father to his children - Oh, honey, you should know better. 1. Fatherly 2. paternalistischen 3. picture | 42 | |
5054693003 | laudatory | (LAW-duh-tory) (adjective) - the author's work contains or expresses praise - I liked what you had to say 1. approving ant- blaming; critical 2. lobend 3. picture | 43 | |
5054695217 | clinical | (KLIN-nick-kull) (adjective) - the author is dispassionately analytical, unemotionally critical of his subject -Sorry ma'am, you have cancer. 1. Doctor's professional coldness 2. klinisch 3. picture | 44 | |
5054700533 | authoritative | (uh-THOR-it-tay-tiv) (adjective) - the author commands respect, is or refers directly to an expert -You should respect me cause I did this and that 1. Teachers/bosses 2. maßgebend 3. Picture | 45 | |
5054706223 | pretentious | (pree-TEN-shus) (adjective) - the author believes himself to be more important than the reader, sounds snobbish or imposing -Well, we're a little more sophisticated than dirty UofI, here at Midwestern. 1. Rich kids 2. protzig 3. picture | 46 | |
5054707839 | cautionary | (KAW-shun-nair-ee) (adjective) - the author is warning the reader - If you don't do this, this will happen 1. Wet floor signs 2. warn 3. picture | 47 | |
5054707857 | hyperbolic | (hy-per-BAHL-ick) (adjective) - the author is exaggerating, overstating his or her point -I'm literally dead 1. Text 2. hyperbolisch 3. picture | 48 | |
5054714185 | pedantic | (ped-DAN-tick) (adjective) - the author is overly concerned with detail and showily demonstrating his or her knowledge of the subject -These trees are all over 1 million feet tall *fact fact fact* 1. Bill Bryson 2. pedantisch 3. picture | 49 |
Tone words AP Language Flashcards
Primary tabs
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!