Tone Words

Tone Words

apathetic indifferent due to lack of energy or concern

awe solemn wonder

bantering witty teasing, good-natured, playful, joking

bitter exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief

cynical questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people

condescending a feeling of superiority

callous unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others

contemplative studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue

confident full of conviction, certain, self-assured

critical finding fault

choleric Hot-tempered, easily angered

contemptuous showing or feeling that something is worthless or lacks respect

caustic intense use of sarcasm; stinging, biting

conventional lacking spontaneity, originality, and individuality

disdainful scornful

diffident hesitant, unwilling to assert, lacking self confidence

didactic author attempts to educate or instruct the reader

derisive ridiculing, mocking

dramatic striking in appearance and effect, provoking emotions

earnest intense, a sincere state of mind

elegiac ode, expressing sorrow from past

erudite learned, polished, scholarly

fanciful using the imagination

flippant to lack proper respect or seriousness

forthright directly frank without hesitation

gloomy darkness, sadness, rejection

haughty proud and vain to the point of arrogance

indignant marked by anger; aroused by justice

informative instructive, to impart knowledge

intimate very familiar

judgmental authoritative and often having critical opinions

jovial happy

learned knowledgeable, wise, educated

lugubrious exaggeratedly mournful, dark, brooding

lyrical expressing a poet’s inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like

matter of fact accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional

mocking treating with contempt or ridicule

mock-heroic ridicule idea of being noble

morose gloomy, sullen, sourly, despondent

malicious purposely hurtful

objective an unbiased view, able to leave personal judgments aside

optimistic hopeful, cheerful

obsequious polite and obedient in order to gain something

patronizing air of condescension

pessimistic seeing the worst side of things

pedantic condescending, stodgy, ostentatiously learned

petty small minded, doesn’t like to look at the big picture

quizzical odd, eccentric, amusing

ribald offensive in speech or gesture

restrained held back, controlling emotion

reverent treating a subject with honor or respect

ridiculing slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of

reflective illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions

sarcastic sneering, caustic

sardonic scornfully and bitterly sarcastic

satiric ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point. teach

sincere without deceit or pretense, genuine

solemn deeply earnest, tending toward sad reflection

somber depressing, melancholy, serious, grave

sanguine optimistic, cheerful

whimsical odd, strange, fantastic, fun

urgent requiring immediate action, pressingly important

veneration admiration, wonder