TONE VOCABULARY – LIST #1 English II Pre-AP

KNOW THE DEFINITIONS, THE SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS, AND HOW TO USE THE WORD IN A SENTENCE.

1. amiable Friendly and pleasant; generally agreeable SYN: agreeable, genial ANT: disagreeable, ill-tempered Everyone knew him as an amiable fellow who would always greet you with a smile. Not having or showing much emotion or interest; having little or no interest or 2. apathetic concern SYN: indifferent, disinterested ANT: concerned, interested Surprisingly, many people are apathetic toward the important issue of planning for retirement. 3. caustic Very harsh and critical SYN: biting, corrosive ANT: ----- She wrote a caustic report about the conditions that led to the crisis. 4. clinical Analytical or coolly dispassionate SYN: ----- ANT: ----- Although the patient was her own son, the doctor was able to put aside her fear for him and treat him in a clinical manner. 5. condemnatory Expressing strong disapproval SYN: reprehensive ANT: blessing The principal looked spoke in a condemnatory manner as he explained the consequences of cheating to the two students he suspected of plagiarizing. 6. condescending Showing that you believe you are more intelligent/better than other people SYN: ----- ANT: ----- His comments were offensive and condescending to us. 7. consoling Giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering SYN: comforting ANT: ----- The mayor spoke with the families of the fallen firefighters in a gentle and consoling way. 8. contemplative Given to or marked by long, quiet thinking SYN: meditative, musing ANT: unreflective The monks led a contemplative life at the monastery. 9. didactic Marked by or given to preaching moral values SYN: preachy, moralistic ANT: ----- The poet’s work became increasingly didactic after his religious conversion. 10. flippant Lacking proper respect or seriousness SYN: ----- ANT: sincere, earnest He made a flippant response to a serious question. 11. foreboding A feeling that something bad is going to happen; a presentiment of coming evil SYN: ----- ANT: ----- She was filled with a sense of foreboding as she drove into the massive storm. 12. histrionic Deliberately affected; too emotional or dramatic SYN: melodramatic, hammy ANT: undramatic The child had a penchant for dish throwing, door slamming, and other histrionic displays of temper. Unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true; feeling or showing a lack 13. incredulous of belief SYN: disbelieving, questioning ANT: trustful, uncritical Annabelle was incredulous at the news of the immense disaster. Tending to excite anger, disorder or tumult; tending to inflame or excite the 14. inflammatory senses SYN: incendiary, seditious ANT: ----- He incited the mob with an inflammatory speech. Feeling sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period; feeling 15. nostalgic pleasure and sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past and wishing that you could experience it again. SYN: ----- ANT: ----- Hearing my favorite songs from my ninth grade year always leaves me feeling a bit nostalgic. 16. pleading Asking for something in a serious, emotional way; making a sincere entreaty SYN: ----- ANT: ----- The students crowded around the teacher’s podium, pleading for study advice. Having or showing the unpleasant quality of people who want to be regarded 17. pretentious as more impressive, successful, or important than they really are SYN: affected, ostentatious ANT: modest, unpretentious That pretentious couple always serves caviar at their parties even though they hate it. 18. restrained Marked by restraint; showing careful self-control; not excessive or extravagant SYN: conservative, understated ANT: flaring, ostentatious She was admired for her calm, restrained behavior. 19. reverent Showing a great deal of respect; worshipful SYN: ----- ANT: ----- In the presence of the Pope, everyone spoke in a reverent tone of voice. 20. wry Humorous in a clever and often ironic way; grimly humorous SYN: ----- ANT: ----- When I asked her how she felt after winning the race, she gave me a wry smile and said, “Pretty tired.”