9 th Lit Vocabulary Tone Words Week 2

Effusive “He’s the most charming man…I only had one moment with him in that film and it’s a great source of regret. I love spending time with him. He’s always very open and effusive.” – Russel Crowe (about Kevin Spacey)

Effusive Definition: adj. – gushy, unrestrained in emotional expression

Objective “A purely objective viewpoint does not exist in the cosmos or in politics.” – Howard Fineman

Objective Definition: adj. – without bias

Colloquial “He confronts problems very directly and in colloquial language. He has a great capacity for communication with the ordinary citizen.” – Alfredo Rangel

Colloquial Definition: adj. – informal speech

Disparaging “People disparage knowing and the intellectual life, and urge doing. I am content with knowing, if only I could know.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Disparaging Definition: adj. – insulting, derogative

Astonished “I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for religion – I have shuddered at it. I shudder no more – I could be martyred for my religion – Love is my religion – I could die for that.” – John Keats

Astonished Definition: adj. – amazed, surprised

Hostile “The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent.” – Carl Sagan

Hostile Definition: adj. – antagonistic, showing hostility, not warm or friendly

Bombastic “I thought it would be good for me to do something bigger, more bombastic, more physical. I had a blast making the film.” – Jason Schwartzman

Bombastic Definition: adj. – arrogant, pompous

Cynical “I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business.” – Richard M. Nixon

Cynical Definition: adj. – distrust of human nature, pessimistic

Sarcastic “Why do we laugh at such terrible things? Because comedy is often the sarcastic realization of inescapable tragedy.” – Bryant H. McGill

Sarcastic Definition: adj. – mocking humor

Romantic “As I gaze upon the sea! All the romantic legends, all my dreams, come back to me.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Romantic Definition: adj. – fanciful, impractical, unrealistic