Vocabulary Tone Words
allusive suggest – think allusions
bantering good natured teasing, joking, ridicule
benevolent magnanimous, generous, noble
burlesque mockery, sham, spoof, parody
candid clear, frank, genuine, sincere
clinical (think medical clinic) direct, detached, scientific, impersonal (think medical clinic)
contemptuous pompous, arrogant, superior, haughty
diffident retiring, timid, hesitant, bashful
disdainful haughty, arrogant, supercilious
effusive talkative, verbose, profuse
elegiac sad, mournful, plaintive
factious dissident, rebellious, insubordinate
Facetious amusing; humorous
insipid flat, bland, tedious, banal (commonplace)
insolent insulting, brazen, rude, contemptuous
lugubrious gloomy, dismal, melancholy, somber
Maudlin sentimental, mushy, gushing, insipid
Patronizing condescending, scornful, disdainful
Sardonic cutting, biting, satirical
terse concise, succinct, pithy, pointed
turgid pompous, bloated, swollen, distended