Tone Words for Poetry

P = positive N = negative

Comic (P)

causing or meant to cause laughter

Joyous (P)

full of happiness and joy

Euphoric (P)

characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness

Passionate (P)

showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief.

Light (P)

of little weight; not heavy

Breezy (P)

appearing relaxed, informal, and cheerily brisk

Hopeful (P)

feeling or inspiring optimism about a future event

Whimsical (P)

playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way

Fanciful (P)

overly imaginative and unrealistic

Jaunty (P)

having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner

Amused (P)

finding something funny or entertaining

Playful (P)

fond of games and amusement; lighthearted

Wry (P)

1. using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor 

2. (of a person's face or features) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance.

Celebratory (P)

1. used or intended to publicly acknowledge a significant or happy day or event.

2. feeling or expressing happiness and pride.

Pensive (P)

engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought

Serene (P)

1. calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil.

2. (in a title) used as a term of respect for members of some European royal families.

Contented (P)

happy and at ease

Tranquil (P)

free from disturbance; calm

Vivacious (P)

attractively lively and animated (typically used of a woman) 

Bubbly (P)

(of a person) full og cheerful high spirits

Amorous (P)

showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire

Reflective (P)

1. providing a reflection; capable of reflecting light or other radiation 

2. relating to or characterized by deep thought; thoughtful 

Appreciative (P)

feeling or showing gratitude or pleasure

Exuberant (P)

1. filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement

2. growing luxuriantly or profusely 

Affectionate (P)

1. readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness 

2. expressing fondness 

Bantering (P)

characterized by good-humored teasing

Effusive (P)

expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner

Cheerful (P)

1. noticeably happy and optimistic 

2. causing happiness by its nature or appearance 

Earnest (P)

resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction

Sincere (P)

1. free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings 

2. (of a person) saying what they genuinely feel or believe; not dishonest or hypocritical 

Matter-of-fact (P)

to the point; unemotional and practical

Blithe (P)

1. showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper

2. happy or joyous 

Reverent (P)

feeling or showing deep and solemn respect

Conversational (P)

1. appropriate to an informal conversation 

2. consisting of or relati ng to conversation

Understated (P)

presented or expressed in a subtle and effective way

Facetious (N)

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant

Ironic (N)

1. using or characterized by irony

2. happening in the opposite way to what is expected, and tyopically causing wry amusement because of this 

Arch (N)

deliberately or affectedly playful and teasing

Sardonic (N)

grimly mocking or cynical

Cynical (N)

1. believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity 

2. concerned only with one’s own interest and typically disregarding accepted or appropriate standards in order to achieve them 

Melancholy (N)

having a feeling of melancholy; sad and pensive

Mocking (N)

making fun of someone or something in a cruel way; derisive

Nostalgic (N)

characterized by or exhibiting feelings of nostalgia

Accusatory (N)

indicating or suggesting that one believes a person has done something wrong

Self-deprecatory (N)

modest about or critical of oneself, especially humorously so

Lugubrious (N)

looking or sounding sad and dismal

Abrasive (N)

1. (of a substance or material) capable of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding.

2. (of a person or manner) showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh.

Bitter (N)

1. having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet

2. (of people or their feelings or behavior) angry, hurt, or resentful because of one's bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment.

Disillusioned (N)

disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed

Skeptical (N)

1. not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations

2. relating to the theory that certain knowledge is impossible 

Cold (N)

1. of or at a low or relatively low temperature, especially when compared with the human body

2. lacking affection or warmth of feeling; unemotional

Vengeful (N)

seeking to harm someone in return for perceived injury

Self-pitying (N)

characterized by self-pity

Didactic (N)

1. intended to teach something, particularly in having moral instruction as a motive

2. in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way

Anguished (N)

experiencing or expressing severe mental or physical pain or suffering.

Flippant (N)

not showing a serious or respectful attiitude

Remorseful (N)

filled with remorse; sorry

Lachrymose (N)

1. tearful or given to weeping

2. inducing tears; sad

Plaintive (N)

sounding sad or mournful

Wistful (N)

having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing 

World-weary (N)

feeling or indicating feelings of weariness, boredom, or cynicism as a result of long experience of life.

Vituperative (N)

bitter and abusive

Dark (N)

(of a period of time or situation) characterized by tragedy, unhappiness, or unpleasantness

Spiteful (N)

showing or caused by malice

Morose (N)

gloomy, bad-tempered, and uncommunicative

Sardonic (N)

grimly mocking or cynical

Despondent (N)

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage

Irreverent (N)

showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously 

Reproachful (N)

expressing disapproval or disappointment

Guarded (N)

1. cautious and having possible reservations

2. (of a person's medical condition) serious and of uncertain outcome

Contemptuous (N)

showing contempt; scornful