POSITIVE TONE VOCABULARY

POSITIVE TONE VOCABULARY 1. confident (adj.) - full of assurance; certain; relying on oneself; sometimes overbold, impudent, or presumptuous 2. admiring (adj.) regarding with respect or warm approval 3. uplifting (adj.) morally or spiritually elevating; inspiring happiness or hope 4. vivacious (adj.) attractively lively and animated (especially of a woman) 5. animated (adj.) full of life or excitement; lively 6. elated (adj.) ecstatically happy 7. inspiring (adj.) encouraging, motivating, or enlivening 8. vibrant (adj.) full of energy and enthusiasm 9. precocious (adj.) (of a child) having developed certain abilities or at an earlier age than usual. 10. exuberant (adj.) - filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement. 11. reverent (adj.) feeling or showing deep and solemn respect 12. earnest (adj.) resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction 13. vital (adj.) - full of energy; lively; absolutely necessary or important 14. doting (adj.) extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring 15. fawning (adj.) displaying exaggerated flattery or affection; obsequious

16. awed (adj.) an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or fear 17. forthright (adj.) direct and outspoken; straightforward; honest 18. complimentary- (adj.) expressing civility, regard, praise, esteem, or respect 19. complementary (adj.) combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other (like complementary colors) 20. passionate (adj.) showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief 21. compassionate (adj.)- feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others 22. sympathetic- (adj.) expressing a sameness of feeling, or a mutual understanding arising from this sameness of feeling. Also, expressing the ability to enter into another person's mental state, feelings, emotions, especially in pity or compassion for another's trouble or suffering 23. empathetic (adj.) showing concern about the problems or suffering of other people 24. perspicacious (adj.) having keen mental perception and understanding 25. effusive (adj.) effusive- expressing excessive emotion in an unrestrained manner; overly demonstrative; gushing approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner

26. concerned- (adj.) uneasy, solicitous, or anxious; interested or involved in some matter 27. benevolent (adj.) well-meaning and kindly; good-natured, benign 28. moralistic- (adj.) attempting to teach morals or ethics; concerned with principles and practice in regard to right, wrong, and duty; and general conduct or behavior 29. upright (adj.) strictly honorable or honest 30. righteous (adj.) morally right or justifiable 31. candid- (adj.) truthful and straightforward; frank 32. idyllic (adj.) (especially of a time of place) extremely happy, pleasant, or picturesque 33. blithe (adj.) showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper; may also mean happy or joyous 34. benign (adj.) gently; kindly; warm-hearted; good-natured 35. diligent (adj.) hard-working 36. unfaltering (adj.) steady; resolute; steadfast 37. assiduous (adj.) showing great care and perseverance 38. driven (adj.) having a compulsive or urgent quality; propelled or motivated by something 39. perseverant (adj.) having steady persistence in a course of action, purpose, especially in spite of difficulties 40. unimpeachable (adj.) entirely trustworthy; not able to be doubted, questioned, or criticized 41. tenacious (adj.) not readily relinquishing a position, principle, or course of action

42. dogged (adj.) having or showing tenacity and grim persistence 43. voluble (adj.) speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently 44. pellucid (adj.)- lucid in style or meaning; easily understood 45. eloquent (adj.) fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing 46. euphonious, or euphonous (adj.) having a pleasant sound 47. dulcet (adj.) (especially of sound) sweet and soothing 48. politic (adj.) seeming sensible and judicious; prudent 49. trenchant (adj.) vigorous or incisive in expression or style 50. incisive- cutting right to the heart of the matter; sharp; keen; penetrating; piercing; acute

NEGATIVE TONE VOCABULARY 1. procrustean (adj.) marked by arbitrary, often ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstances 2. convoluted (adj.) very complicated and difficult to understand 3. Contentious (adj.)- argumentative; quarrelsome 4. churlish (adj.) rude in a mean-spirited and surly way 5. boorish (adj.) rough and bad-mannered; coarse (n. a boor) 6. profane (adj., v.) -(of a person or their behavior) not respectful of orthodox religious practice; irreverent; or to treat (something sacred) with irreverence or disrespect 7. vitriolic (adj.) filled with bitter criticism or malice 8. incensed- (adj.)very angry; enraged 9. caustic (adj.) sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way 10. insipid (adj.)- lacking in the power of exciting emotion; flat, dull, uninteresting; characterless 11. banal (adj.) so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring 12. trite (adj.) (of a remark, opinion, or idea) overused and consequently lacking originality and freshness 13. hackneyed (adj.) lacking significance through having been overused; trite 14. turgid- (adj.) pompous; inflated; bombastic 15. disingenuous (adj.) not candid or sincere, typically by pretending to know less about something than one really does 16. ungenerous (adj.) selfish

17. disconcerted (adj.) unsettled; discomfited; upset 18. quotidian (adj.) ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane 19. spurious (adj.) not being what it purports to be; false or fake 20. hypocritical (adj.) behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than one does 21. pandering (adj.) - expressing one s views in accordance with the likes of a group to which one is attempting to appeal 22. taunting- (adj.) insulting; scoffing; full of bitter and sarcastic words 23. puerile (adj.) childishly silly or trivial; lacking good judgment 24. histrionic (adj.) overly theatrical or melodramatic in character or style 25. repugnant (adj.) extremely distasteful; unacceptable 26. recalcitrant (adj.) having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline 27. petty (adj.)- relatively worthless or unimportant; trivial; tending to make much of small matters; narrow-minded; mean 28. moribund (adj.) at the point of death, or lacking vitality or vigor 29. indignant-(adj.) feeling the mingled emotions of anger and scorn or contempt, as when a person is exasperated by unjust, mean, or ungrateful action or treatment 30. inchoate (adj.) (as in an argument or idea) just begun and so not fully formed; rudimentary 31. intransigent (adj.) unwilling or refusing to change one s views or to agree about something 32. depraved (adj.) morally corrupt; wicked 33. petulant (adj.) childishly sulky or bad-tempered

34. inflammatory (adj.) (especially of speech or writing) arousing or intended to arouse angry or violent feelings 35. incendiary (adj.) tending to arouse strife, sedition, etc.; inflammatory 36. inciting (adj., v.) encouraging or stirring up (violent or unlawful behavior) 37. condemnatory (adj.) expressing strong disapproval; censorious 38. disheartened (adj.) discouraged, let-down, losing hope or determination 39. wrathful (adj.) full of or characterized by intense anger 40. critical (adj.) expressing adverse or disapproving comments 41. pugnacious (adj.)- eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight 42. outraged (adj.) furious; feeling that one s decency, morality, or taste has been violated 43. livid (adj.) furiously angry 44. nettled (adj., v.) irritated or annoyed 45. apathetic (adj.) showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern 46. belligerent (adj.) hostile and aggressive 47. accusatory (adj.) indicating or suggesting that one believes a person has done something wrong 48. arch (adj.) - having or showing an amused feeling of being superior to or knowing more than other people 49. vexed (adj., v.) irritated; annoyed 50. mercurial (adj.) - (of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind

51. capricious (adj.) given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior 52. fickle (adj.) changing frequently, especially as regards one s loyalties, interests, or affection 53. bellicose (adj.) demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight 54. superfluous (adj.) - unnecessary; beyond what is needed 55. prosaic (adj.) commonplace; unromantic 56. fulsome (adj.) complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree 57. contrived (adj.)created or arranged in a way that seems artificial and unrealistic.

NEGATIVE WITH A SUPERIOR ATTITUDE TONE VOCABULARY 1. scornful (adj.) feeling or expressing contempt or derision 2. disdainful (adj.) showing contempt or lack of respect 3. contemptuous- (adj.) scornful; expressing contempt or disdain; insulting 4. affected (adj.)- artificial, pretentious, and designed to impress 5. pompous (adj.) affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important 6. supercilious (adj.) behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others; looking down one s nose at others 7. haughty (adj.) arrogantly superior and disdainful 8. judgmental (adj.) having or displaying an excessively critical point of view 9. insolent (adj.) showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect 10. patronizing (adj.) treating with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority 11. condescending- (adj.) patronizing; when the author seems to perceive either the subject or the reader as being on a lower level intellectually, morally, or socially. 12. pretentious (adj.)- showy; ostentatious; making claims, explicit or implicit, of some distinction, importance, dignity, or excellence 13. sarcastic (adj.) mean marked by bitterness and a power or will to cut or sting; implies an intentional inflicting of pain by deriding, taunting, or ridiculing 14. cynical (adj.)- inclined to question the sincerity and goodness of people's motives and actions, or the value of living

15. sanctimonious (adj.) - making a show of being morally superior to other people. 16. preachy (adj.) - having or revealing a tendency to give moral advice in a tedious or self-righteous way. 17. magniloquent (adj.) speaking or expressed in a lofty or grandiose style; pompous;bombas tic; boastful. 18. grandiloquent (adj.) - speaking or expressed in a lofty style, often to the point of being pompous or bombastic. 19. domineering (adj) - inclined to rule arbitrarily or despotically; overbearing; tyrannical 20. imperative (adj.) expressive of a command, entreaty, or exhortation 21. peremptory (adj.) - insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way. 22. pedantic (adj.) - making a display of learning, but displaying a scholarship lacking in judgment or sense of proportion; also, narrowminded and insisting on exact adherence to a set of arbitrary rules

NEUTRAL TONE VOCABULARY (DEPENDS ON CONTEXT) 1. didactic (adj.) - used for teaching; containing doctrines, precepts, principles, or rules; morally instructive, or intending to be so. 2. admonitory (adj.) giving or conveying a warning or reprimand 3. reticent (adj.) not revealing one s thoughts or feelings readily 4. cautionary (adj.) serving as a warning 5. objective (adj.) - without bias or prejudice; detached; impersonal 6. detached (adj.)- not involved by emotion, interests, etc.; aloof; impartial 7. candid (adj.)- open; frank; outspoken; honest 8. restrained (adj.)- holding back; keeping under control; withholding 9. factual (adj.)- pertaining to or consisting of facts, actuality, reality, or the state of things as they are 10. authoritative (adj.) - able to be trusted as being accurate or true; reliable. 11. sentimental- (adj.) can mean simply having or showing tenderness, emotion, delicate feeling, etc., but more often means affectedly or superficially emotional; pretending but lacking true depth of feeling; maudlin; mawkish 12. reminiscent- (adj.) absorbed in or suggesting absorption in memories; can also mean reminding one of something else. 13. ambiguous (adj.) -open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning. 14. urgent- (adj) calling for haste or immediate action; insistent; importunate 15. baffled (adj.) totally bewildered or perplexed

16. incredulous (adj.) disbelieving; skeptical 17. ambivalent (adj.) having mixed feelings 18. erudite (adj.) learned 19. learned-(two syllables) showing much learning; well-informed; erudite; scholarly 20. ceremonious (adj.) - relating or appropriate to grand and formal occasions. 21. formal (adj.) - done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette; suitable for or constituting an official or important situation or occasion. 22. clinical- (adj.) purely scientific; dispassionately curious 23. austere (adj.) - severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance. 24. exhorting (adj.) strongly encouraging or urging (someone) to do something. 25. arcane (adj.) understood by few; mysterious or secret. 26. esoteric- (adj.) intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest. 27. nondescript -(adj.) lacking interesting or distinctive features or characteristics 28. discerning-(adj.) having or showing good judgment 29. circuitous (adj.) longer than the most direct way (as in a certain teacher s way of giving a lecture or telling a story) 30. polemical (adj.) of, relating to, or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech. 31. entreating -(adj.) asking earnestly or anxiously to do something

32. soporific (adj.) tending to induce drowsiness or sleep 33. frenetic (adj.) - fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way. 34. diffident (adj.) - modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence. 34. punctilious (adj.) - showing great attention to detail or correct behavior. 35. veritable (adj.) means very or intensely so; used as an intensifier, often to qualify a metaphor. 36. incisive (adj.) - intelligently analytical and clear-thinking. 37. allusive (adj.) - having reference to something implied or inferred; containing, abounding in, or characterized by allusions. 38. colloquial (adj.)- conversational; informal; using the words, phrases, and idioms characteristic of conversation and informal writing 39. impartial (adj.)- not biased in favor of one party more than another; unprejudiced; disinterested; equitable; just; fair 40. incongruous (adj.) not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something. 41. informative (adj.)- giving information; instructive 42. dramatic (adj.) - full of action and/or conflict; highly emotional; vivid; exciting 43. allusive (adj.)- using a lot of allusions, or references to history and/or earlier literary works, by way of illustration

HUMOROUS / NOT SERIOUS TONE VOCABULARY 1. facetious (adj.)- lightly joking; jocose, especially at an inappropriate time 2. arch (adj.) - having or showing an amused feeling of being superior to or knowing more than other people 3. bantering- (adj.) teasing or ridiculing in a joking, good-humored way 4. nonchalant (adj.) (of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm. 5. flippant (adj.)- impertinent, disrespectfully frivolous; saucy 6. tongue-in-cheek (adj.) without really meaning what one is saying or writing. 7. teasing (adj.) making fun of or attempt to provoke (a person or animal) in a playful way. 8. whimsical (adj.)- full of capriciousness, giddiness, or fancy; fantastic, fanciful, or odd. 9. Fanciful (adj.)- guided by imagination rather than by reason and experience; whimsical; full of wild images; odd; unusual 10. jovial (adj.) cheerful and friendly. 11. jocular (adj.) fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful. 11. jocund (adj.) cheerful and lighthearted 12. ironic (adj.)- using a method of humorous or sarcastic expression in which the intended meaning of the words used is the direct opposite of their usual sense. Also, meaning the contrary of what is expressed. 13.mock-serious (adj.)- ridiculing or making sport of something or someone by making a false show of gravity (seriousness) 14. mock-heroic (adj.)- imitating a hero or heroic actions in a mocking way

15. satiric (adj.) - holding up vices, follies, stupidities, abuses, etc. to ridicule and contempt 16. risible (adj.) such as to provoke laughter 17. burlesque (adj. or n.) parodying; jocular; tending to excite laughter by ludicrous images, or by a contrast between the subject and the manner of treating it, as when a trifling subject is treated with mock gravity 18. sardonic- (adj.) bitterly ironical; sarcastic; mocking 19. irreverent- (adj.) lacking reverence (respect) for authority; showing disrespect

SERIOUS / SORROWFUL / FEARFUL TONE VOCABULARY 1. sober (adj.) marked by seriousness, gavity, solemnity, etc., as of demeanor or speech. 2. solemn-(adj.) grave, sober, or mirthless, as a person, the face, speech, tone, or mood 3. melancholy (adj., n.) depressed or dejected or a mood of depression or dejection 4. timorous (adj.) easily frightened 5. elegiac- (adj.) written in a mournfully contemplative tone; also may be full of lament and praise for the dead, as Shelley's poem "Adonais." 6. lugubrious- (adj.) mournful; very sad; dismal; doleful; usually implying ridiculously excessive grief 7. gloomy (adj.) causing feelings of sadness : not hopeful or promising 8. despairing- (adj.) feeling very sad and without hope : showing or feeling despair 9. bereft (adj.) sad because a family member or friend has died (related to bereaved and bereavement) 10. foreboding (adj. or n.) implying or seeming to imply that something bad is going to happen or such a feeling 11. ominous (adj.)- giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening; inauspicious. 12. portentous (adj.) - giving a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen 13. lamenting (adj.) expressing sorrow, regret, or unhappiness about something 14. somber- dismal; melancholy; mentally depressed or depressing; sad

15. apprehensive-(adj.) afraid that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen : feeling or showing fear or apprehension about the future; fearful 16. abashed (adj.) embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed. 17. poignant (adj.) evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret. 18. tremulous (adj.) timid; nervous 19. disconsolate (adj.) -sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled 20. remorseful (adj.) - feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses 21. diffident- modest; reserved; retiring; humble; bashful; shy