ACT: Words to Capture Tone: Words to Capture Tone, List 4

On the ACT Reading Test, you will almost certainly encounter questions that ask about an author's tone — that is, the author's attitude toward their subject matter. Master our comprehensive collection of common words used to describe an author's tone, and you'll be well prepared to tackle these questions.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. jovial
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
    Instead of loud, lively chatter and jovial laughter, their conversation was all hushed whispers. Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
  2. appreciative
    having or showing a favorable critical judgment or opinion
    He remembered a tall man with a ginger beard, and the cheering and whooping of an appreciative audience. American Gods
  3. dispassionate
    unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
    She isn’t the cool dispassionate narrator we are used to seeing. New York Times (Jun 23, 2020)
  4. dubious
    not convinced
    There’s no nod for this part, just a knit brow and a dubious frown. The Running Dream
  5. earnest
    devout or heartfelt
    She looks so earnest, so sincere, smiling her sweet smile. Al Capone Does My Shirts
  6. aggravated
    provoked to anger, especially deliberately
    The more he fooled around, the more aggravated I became. Three Little Words: A Memoir
  7. agitated
    troubled emotionally and usually deeply
    “I” statements, she added, keeps the focus on your own behavior, and clarifies your own swirling feelings if you’re agitated. New York Times (Oct 19, 2020)
  8. elated
    exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits
    He was so elated that his celebratory dance drew a yellow card. Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference
  9. apathetic
    marked by a lack of interest
    It’s not that they’re apathetic or even dispassionate—it’s that they think of yelling as something done by disgruntled dads in family movies from the nineteen-eighties. The New Yorker (Jul 31, 2019)
  10. empathetic
    showing ready comprehension of others' states
    Habitually putting himself in other people’s shoes, he was in his private life charming and engaging, generous and genuinely empathetic. Seabiscuit: An American Legend
  11. befuddled
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    The befuddled reply was disheartening: “I just saw your message about a wire transfer today. What is this about?” Washington Times (Dec 26, 2018)
  12. inspirational
    serving to uplift the mind, spirit, or creative powers
    The one-hour show will share inspirational stories of generosity from individuals and organizations. Seattle Times (Nov 19, 2020)
Created on Mon Jun 09 15:00:00 EDT 2025

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