REFERENCE LIST OF TONE ADJECTIVES (p.30)
One way to review words on this list is to fold the list so that the word is on one side
and the definition is on the other. Then you can test yourself by looking at either side.
Another helpful way to learn the words is to evaluate them as “positive” or
“negative”. Think about degrees of feeling and put the words in categories.
Finally, at the end of this list there is also a crossword puzzle for extra practice. The
puzzle is hard, so you need to study the words first, and a first letter is provided to
help you.
abstruse
hard to understand, esoteric
absurd
ridiculous or completely unreasonable
ambivalent
having two opposing feelings at the same time, or being uncertain
about how you feel
amused
entertained
angry
feeling fierce annoyance because of something unfair or hurtful
that has happened
apathetic
feeling lack of interest, or not caring
approving
to have a good opinion of someone or something
arrogant
unpleasantly proud and behaving as if you are better or more
important than other people
artificial
made by people, often as a copy of something natural
authoritative
having the power of special knowledge, or (of a person) showing
the confidence of having special knowledge
bitter
showing or causing deep anger and pain
casual
not formal; relaxed in style or manner
caustic
strongly critical
cautious
acting slowly in order to avoid risks; careful
cheerful
happy and positive in feeling or attitude
comic
making you want to laugh; amusing
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compassionate
complex
a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for other people's
suffering or bad luck and a desire to help
having many parts related to each other in ways that may be
difficult to understand
concerned
feelings of anxiety; worry
conciliatory
intended to show someone who is angry or upset with you that you
care about their feelings or understand their opinions
condescending
showing that you consider yourself better or more intelligent
critical
expressing disagreement with or disapproval of
cruel
extremely unkind and intentionally causing pain
cynical
not trusting or respecting the goodness of other people and their
actions, but believing that people are interested only in themselves
defiant
refusing to obey or to do (something) in the usual or expected way
depressed
feeling unhappy and without hope
detached
separated or removed from something else
disappointed
unhappy or discouraged because your hopes or expectations about
something or someone were not satisfied
disapproving
thinking that something is wrong, or having a bad opinion about
someone
disbelieving
thinking that something is not true or correct
disillusioned
feeling disappointed at realizing an unpleasant truth about
something or someone they had thought was good
distressed
feeling great mental or physical suffering, such as extreme anxiety,
sadness, or pain, or the state of being in danger or urgent need
dry
not interesting or exciting;
amusing in a way that is not obvious and can be missed
earnest
sincere and serious
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encouraging
helping (someone) to feel confident and able to do something, or
strongly advising (someone) to do something
enthusiastic
evasive
very interested in and involved with a particular subject or activity
avoiding something unpleasant or unwanted
excited
having strong feelings, esp. of happiness and enthusiasm
farcical
exaggerated for humorous effect
flippant
marked by disrespect in a careless or lightly humorous way
formal
proper and structured
gentle
considerate or kind
ghoulish
scary
grim
serious, dark and cheerless
hard
resistant
impassioned
filled with intense feeling
incredulous
not believing, skeptical
indifferent
showing no interest
indignant
showing strong anger aroused by something unfair or mean
informal
casual or conversational
insecure
doubtful, uncertain or hesitant
intense
with deep feeling
intimate
very personal
intolerant
unwilling to accept differences
ironic
using words to express something different and often opposite
from literal meaning
irreverent
disrespectful
joyous
showing a feeling of great happiness
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kind
friendly, generous, or warm-hearted
loving
lyrical
demonstrating strong affection
poetic expression of deep personal feelings and thoughts
malicious
motivated by a desire to harm others
mocking
making fun of, often by imitating
nostalgic
expressing desire for the past, homesickness
objective
not influenced by emotion or personal feelings
obsequious
overly willing to serve or obey
optimistic
taking a hopeful view
outraged
deeply offended, angry and resentful
outspoken
frank and bold in speech
pathetic
showing scorn or low regard
persuasive
convincing, causing to believe or agree
pessimistic
stressing the negative or expecting the worst
playful
full of fun and high spirits
positive
showing certainty or affirmation
prayerful
speaking with God
prophetic
predicting the future
remorseful
filled with regret or guilt
repressed
held back, forced down
reticent
tending not to speak out, quiet
reverent
showing deep respect
righteous
with strong morals, virtuous
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sarcastic
sharp words that ridicule and hurt, making fun in a strongly
negative way
satirical
sentimental
exposing a weakness through humor
strongly influenced by emotion
serious
earnest, deeply interested or involved
sincere
genuine and true
skeptical
questioning, doubtful
solemn
deeply serious, ceremonial
somber
dark, gloomy, melancholic
straightforward
direct, honest, frank and open
subjective
personal opinion based on reflective thought rather than scientific
study.
supportive
providing strength or assistance
suspenseful
undecided, uncertain, anticipating
sympathetic
friendly and compassionate toward someone in need
taciturn
noncommunicative and very reserved
tense
nervous and stressed
terse
very brief and direct, sometimes rude
tolerant
open to the beliefs, practices, or habits of others
tragic
very sad, especially involving grief or death or destruction
uneasy
unsure, anxious
urgent
immediately important
vindictive
seeking revenge, a desire to hurt
whimsical
unpredictable and impulsive
wistful
full of longing and desire
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Across
3. showing strong anger at unfairness
i
5. very interested in and involved
e
6. serious, dark and cheerless
g
8. disappointed by a sad truth
d
10. resistant
h
11. helping (someone)to feel confident
e
12. refusing to obey or act as expected
d
13. not believing, skeptical
i
14. filled with intense feeling
i
16. proper and structured
f
17. exaggerated for humorous effect
f
18. avoiding something unpleasant
e
19. casual or conversational
i
20. showing no interest
i
24. considerate or kind
g
25. not exciting; amusing in an unobvious way
d
Down
1. thinking something is not true
d
2. marked by disrespect with light humor
f
4. feeling great suffering
d
7. separated or removed from
d
9. scary
g
12. thinking something is wrong
d
15. unhappy or discouraged, let down
d
21. sincere and serious
e
22. having strong feelings of enthusiasm
e
23. feeling unhappy and without hope
d
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