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AP Language tone/diction words + definitions Flashcards

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13628253637admiringcomplimentary, favorable0
13628253638alarmedexcited1
13628257167allusivesuggestive, hinting2
13628257235aloofdistant3
13628259801ambivalentindecisive4
13628261495angryirate5
13628261496anxiousuneasy, brooding6
13628264791apatheticuncaring, uninvolved7
13628266496apologeticregretful8
13628269720audaciousbold, insolent9
13628269721belligerentcontentious10
13628272025benevolentkindly11
13628272026bitterhating, malicious, resentful, rancorous12
13628273734candidfrank, truthful13
13628278329captiousready to detect trivial faults14
13628280295censoriousseverely critical15
13628280296clinicaldetached, coolly dispassionate16
13628283941coldunemotional17
13628283942complacentself-satisfied18
13628286551condescendingshowing superiority, patronizing19
13628295248confidentcertain, full of conviction20
13628297390confusedperplexed21
13628297391contemptuousscornful, disdainful, disrespectful, irrelevant22
13628301600criticaljudging harshly23
13628304682cynicalcontemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives24
13628307194depresseddejected25
13628307195desperateshowing a loss of hope26
13628310470detachedunconcerned, aloof, distant, unbiased27
13628312741didacticinstructive28
13628315938dispassionateunaffected by strong feelings; showing coolness of judgement29
13628317803dogmaticauthoritative, assertive, arrogant30
13628321161dreamyvague, in a state of reverie, appearing tranquil31
13628325074effusiveexcessively demonstrative, gushing32
13628327159elatedjoyful33
13628327160elegiacExpressing sorrow or lamentation34
13628329606fancifulwhimsical35
13628329607flippantlacking proper respect or seriousness36
13628335899forgivingpardoning, excusing37
13628337930frivolouslacking seriousness, playful, silly38
13628340309Giddylighthearted39
13628345506hesitantreluctant40
13628345507impartialunbiased41
13628345508impassionedardent, fervent, fervid42
13628348183importunateoverly persistent in demand43
13628350113incredulousnot believing44
13628351976indignantshowing anger at injustice45
13628351977insolentarrogant, overbearing, impudent46
13628354678ironicexpressing the opposite of the literal meaning47
13628357766irreverentdisrespectful48
13628359982jocularjoking, humorous49
13628362883lugubriousdismal, mournful50
13628365965matter of factconcerned with fact only, not imaginative or fanciful; objective51
13628368599melancholysadness52
13628371222optimisticinclined to expect the best possible outcome53
13628373401pedantictending to show off one's learning54
13628375391pessimisticseeing the worst side of things; no hope55
13628375392pompousarrogant, self important56
13628378798puerilechildish, juvenile, immature57
13628380904pungentcaustic, stinging, biting, strong58
13628382472restrainedreserved59
13628382474sardonicgrimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic60
13628385197satiricalridiculing, ironic, mocking, taunting61
13628389175sentimentalaffectedly emotional, maudlin62
13628391432skepticalinclined to doubt; slow to accept something as true63
13628393923somberserious; gloomy64
13628396217superciliousproud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority65
13628398229tongue-in-cheekironic, facetious, sarcastic66
13628401233threateningmenacing67
13628403298urgentneeding quick action or attention68
13628403299vexedannoyed, agitated69
13628405115vindictivevengeful, unforgiving (Cersei Lannister)70
13628407228zealouseager, earnest, devoted71
13628447851artificialfake72
13628450315colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing73
13628450316colorfulrichly eventful or picturesque74
13628453856concreteexisting in a material or physical form; real or solid; not abstract.75
13628453857connotativethe implied or associated meaning of a word76
13628456150culturedmarked by refinement in taste and manners77
13628459254elevatedlifted up; in language this means using fanciful expressions78
13628462652emotionalshowing strong feelings79
13628465399esotericintended for or understood by only a small group80
13628465400EuphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant81
13628467542exact(verb): to demand and obtain by force or authority; (adj): specific82
13628474812grotesqueabsurd; distorted83
13628477648homespunsimple and unsophisticated84
13628479429idiomaticcharacteristic of a particular language85
13628481919insipidlacking flavor; dull; not at all stimulating86
13628486005jargonspecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.87
13628488370learnedhaving much knowledge; scholarly; erudite88
13628488392moralisticconcerned with morals89
13628493051obscuredifficult to understand; partially hidden90
13628496777plainunimaginative, bland91
13628499076poetichaving a quality or style characteristic of poetry92
13628499077scholarlyconcerned with academic learning or research93
13628500904prosaic(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward; characteristic of prose, not poetic94
13628500923preciseexact; accurate95
13628503310pretentiouspompous, self-important96
13628505205slanginformal language97
13628505206symbolicserving as a symbol98
13628505208vulgarlacking refinement or taste; crude99

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