Words to Capture Tone: Words to Capture Tone - Week 2

On the SAT, all of the Reading Test questions are multiple choice and are based on reading passages that may be taken from literature, science, the social sciences, or a U.S. founding document (or a text inspired by such a document). Many of the reading comprehension questions meant to assess a student’s understanding of those passages will require students to choose words that best describe the writer’s tone or point of view, words like the 25 words you see on this list. Learn them here so when you see them in an SAT answer choice, you’ll know what they mean!

Following our Roadmap to the SAT? Head back to see what else you should be learning this week.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. dubious
    fraught with uncertainty or doubt
    Some of the claims are dubious, though startling if true. Forbes (May 20, 2015)
  2. foreboding
    a feeling of evil to come
    But something else bothered him - a cold sense of foreboding, as if he hadn’t heard the worst news yet. Blood of Olympus
  3. malicious
    having the nature of threatening evil
    China’s Internet police issued warnings against those who sought to point fingers or spread malicious rumors online. Washington Post (Jun 3, 2015)
  4. callous
    emotionally hardened
    Like death, his father’s presence was cold and often callous, but it was real- brutally honest, inescapably dependable. Blood of Olympus
  5. dismay
    the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
    “I can’t help but cry … because I thought people would defend me and say something. Some people just shook their heads in dismay.” Washington Times (Jun 1, 2015)
  6. rejection
    the state of being turned down
    When he talked of the pain of rejection, the heartbreak of grief, he knew exactly what he was talking about, both personally and politically. The Guardian (Aug 17, 2015)
  7. superior
    of high quality or performance
    Rugby league people insist, in all seriousness, that rugby league is the greatest game of all, that it’s superior to all other games. The Guardian (Sep 6, 2015)
  8. patronizing
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    The term "tolerance" itself is problematic for its patronizing implications, for the "tolerant" one is always the one in the dominant position. New York Times (Jan 24, 2015)
  9. candor
    the quality of being honest and straightforward
    Her candor and exquisite simplicity framed the rest of my trip and helped me better understand the land I was living in. The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates
  10. contradictory
    not able to be true at the same time
    It seems contradictory to say Watson played the match of her life in defeat, but she did. The Guardian (Jul 4, 2015)
  11. averse
    strongly opposed
    So averse was she to weapons when her children were young that she wouldn’t let them play with water pistols. Economist (Jul 30, 2015)
  12. disgust
    strong feelings of dislike
    He rolled his eyes and walked away in disgust. US News (Aug 28, 2015)
  13. genuine
    not fake or counterfeit
    A finance ministry official said both genuine and forged passports were in the packets intercepted in the post. BBC (Sep 4, 2015)
  14. sincere
    open and genuine; not deceitful
    It is real and sincere, a reflection of the authentic desires and feelings of the People. Salon (Jun 14, 2015)
  15. enthusiastic
    having or showing great excitement and interest
    As enthusiastic as he was to climb in the Himalaya, Chin didn't know the first thing about launching an international expedition. National Geographic (Aug 10, 2015)
  16. puerile
    displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
    Such puerile charges remind me rather of the tricks of children than actions of men. Charles H. Fowler
  17. idealistic
    motivated by noble or moral beliefs rather than practicality
    Today’s foreign-policy thinkers must also test their idealistic notions of American possibility on a geo­political landscape littered with the wreckage of ideals past. New York Times (Sep 1, 2015)
  18. conciliatory
    making or willing to make concessions
    In theory a more conciliatory leader might offer some hope for compromise and peace. Economist (Sep 3, 2015)
  19. jovial
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
    "We're not pushing a hardcore agenda. The events tend to be very friendly and jovial, but safety is our No. 1 concern." Los Angeles Times (Aug 20, 2015)
  20. witty
    demonstrating striking cleverness and humor
    The whole evening was a strange yet fluid mix of witty comments and funny anecdotes with thoughtful reflection about literature and poignant personal disclosures. Newsweek (Feb 28, 2015)
  21. derisive
    expressing contempt or ridicule
    In the darkness, the players spent Saturday morning as punching bags for the coaches’ derisive comments. Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream
  22. morose
    showing a brooding ill humor
    Eeyore, the morose donkey in Winnie-the-Pooh, at one point complains: ‘A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.’ Salon (May 23, 2015)
  23. bellicose
    having or showing a ready disposition to fight
    Lewis is a magnetic and intimidating Henry VIII, accomplishing more with a harsh whisper than he does with a bellicose tantrum. Washington Post (Apr 3, 2015)
  24. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
    Humor must lie beneath the surface, ready to materialize in the form of a sardonic quip, or a quick dose of withering wit. Los Angeles Times (May 28, 2015)
  25. dire
    fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
    The library’s executive team testified before Congress in the spring about the dire need for more storage space for its ­ever-increasing collections. Washington Post (Sep 3, 2015)
Created on Fri Dec 11 17:27:11 EST 2015 (updated Thu Jun 24 14:13:50 EDT 2021)

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