Tone words

idiosyncratic

Definition: Unusual, quirky, or highly individual in behavior or traits

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👉 "His idiosyncratic handwriting made the note hard to read."

scattershot

Definition: Random, unfocused, or lacking clear direction

👉 "The essay had a scattershot organization—ideas were all over the place."

waggish

Definition: Playfully humorous or mischievous

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👉 "His waggish remarks kept the conversation light and fun."

enthralled

Definition: Completely fascinated or captivated

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👉 "The audience was enthralled by the magician’s performance."

incredulous

Definition: Unwilling or unable to believe something; skeptical

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👉 "She gave him an incredulous look after hearing the wild story."

meekly

Definition: In a quiet, gentle, or submissive way

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👉 "He meekly accepted the criticism without arguing back."

serenely

Definition: Calmly and peacefully, without stress or disturbance

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👉 "She looked out at the ocean, serenely enjoying the sunset."

revulsion

Definition: A strong feeling of disgust or horror

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👉 "He felt revulsion at the sight of the rotten food."

elation

Definition: A feeling of great joy or happiness

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👉 "She was filled with elation after winning the championship."

nifty

Definition: Clever, useful, or appealing in a fun or impressive way

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👉 "That’s a nifty little trick for solving math problems faster."

scandalized

Definition: Shocked or offended by something considered morally wrong or improper

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👉 "She was scandalized by the vulgar joke he told at dinner."

alluring

Definition: Powerfully attractive or tempting; charming in a seductive or fascinating way

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👉 "The mysterious smile she gave him was quietly alluring."

hysterical

Definition: Extremely emotional, often to the point of being irrational—can be from laughter, fear, or panic

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👉 "She became hysterical when she couldn’t find her little brother at the store."

wit

Definition: Mental sharpness, clever humor, or quick-thinking intelligence

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👉 "Her wit made every conversation feel electric and unpredictable."

dismay

Definition: A feeling of shock, disappointment, or sadness caused by something unexpected

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👉 "She looked at the broken project with dismay, realizing she had to start over."

Solemnly

Definition: In a serious, respectful, or formal manner

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👉 “He solemnly swore to tell the truth before the court.”

Exhortations

Definition: Strong urgings or encouragements to take action

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👉 “The coach’s exhortations fired up the team before the final match.”

Harrowing

Definition: Extremely distressing, painful, or traumatic

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👉 "She told a harrowing story of survival during the storm."
👉 "The documentary gave a harrowing look into life during the war."

distraught

Definition: Deeply upset, agitated, or distressed, especially from worry or grief

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👉 "She was distraught after hearing the news of her friend’s accident."
👉 "He wandered the streets, looking distraught and confused."

bedraggled

Definition: Dirty, messy, and untidy—usually from being wet or exhausted

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👉 "The dog came in from the rain, soaked and bedraggled."
👉 "She looked bedraggled after the long, stormy hike."

spiteful

Definition: Showing or caused by a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone

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👉 "She made a spiteful comment just to ruin his mood."
👉 "His spiteful glare said more than words ever could."

carousing

Definition: Engaging in noisy, lively drinking and partying, often in a carefree or rowdy manner

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👉 The college students spent the night carousing in the streets after finals.
👉 His carousing lifestyle eventually caught up with him.

bridled

Definition: Showing resentment or anger, often in a restrained or controlled way; also refers to pulling back or reining in (like a horse with a bridle)

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👉 She bridled at the insult, lifting her chin and narrowing her eyes.
👉 He bridled his temper, choosing to stay calm instead of lashing out.

wayward

Definition: Difficult to control or predict due to willful or disobedient behavior; straying from what is proper or expected

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👉 His wayward son refused to follow in the family business.
👉 The wayward wind scattered the papers across the field.

weary

Definition: Feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or strain; can also mean mentally or emotionally exhausted

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👉 After hours of hiking, they were weary and ready to rest.
👉 He grew weary of the constant arguments and wanted peace.

ominous

Definition: Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening

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👉 The ominous rumble of thunder made everyone look up in fear.
👉 His ominous silence filled the room with tension.

quarrelsome

Definition: Inclined to argue or pick fights; often combative or confrontational in behavior or speech

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👉 The quarrelsome neighbor always found something to complain about.
👉 His quarrelsome tone made it hard to have a peaceful conversation.

bleak

Definition: Cold, empty, or hopeless in atmosphere or outlook; lacking warmth, comfort, or cheer

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👉 The landscape was bleak, covered in snow and devoid of life.
👉 After hearing the news, his future seemed bleak and uncertain.

indignant

Definition: Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

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👉 She gave an indignant reply when accused of cheating.
👉 He felt indignant about being blamed for something he didn’t do.

portray

Definition: To depict or represent someone or something through words, images, or performance

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👉 The actor portrayed the historical figure with great accuracy.
👉 The novel portrays the struggles of immigrants in a new land.

placidly

Definition (Adverb): In a calm, peaceful, and untroubled manner

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👉 The lake reflected the sky placidly, untouched by wind or waves.
👉 She placidly accepted the news, showing no sign of alarm or distress.

tranquility

Definition (Noun): The state of being calm, peaceful, and free from disturbance

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👉 The tranquility of the mountain village made it the perfect getaway.
👉 He sought tranquility in meditation after a long day.

stubbornly

Definition (Adverb): In a way that shows determination not to change one’s attitude or position, even in the face of reason or persuasion

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👉 He stubbornly refused to apologize, despite being clearly in the wrong.
👉 The weeds stubbornly grew back no matter how often they were pulled.

jilted

Definition (Verb ): To suddenly reject or abandon a lover or romantic partner, often without warning or explanation

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👉 She felt jilted after he broke off the engagement with no explanation.
👉 In the story, the jilted woman seeks closure but finds only more pain.

gaudy

Definition (Adjective): Excessively showy or flashy, often in a tasteless or overly elaborate way
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👉 The mansion was decorated with gaudy gold trim and neon lights.
👉 Her gaudy outfit clashed with the elegant tone of the event.

stark

Definition (Adjective):

1. Severe or bare in appearance; sharply clear or obvious

2. Complete or absolute (often used for contrast or intensity)
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👉 The stark landscape was nothing but ice and rock.
👉 There was a stark contrast between the rich and the poor in the city.

overcast

Definition (Adjective):

1. (Of the sky or weather) Cloudy and dull; covered with clouds

2. (Figuratively) Gloomy or somber in mood
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👉 The sky was overcast, casting a gray shadow over the entire city.
👉 His mood was as overcast as the weather that morning.

tittering

Definition (Verb):

• To laugh in a restrained, nervous, or half-suppressed way

• Often used to describe a group of people laughing in an awkward or giggly manner
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👉 The audience was tittering nervously during the awkward silence.
👉 She couldn’t help but titter at his funny remark, though she tried to remain serious.

chortle

Definition (Verb):

• To laugh in a breathy, gleeful way, often with a mix of amusement and pleasure

• A joyful, sometimes muffled laugh
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👉 He couldn’t help but chortle at the comedian’s clever punchline.
👉 Her chortle echoed through the room, lightening the mood immediately.

decorous

Definition (Adjective):

• Conforming to accepted standards of proper behavior or manners

• Polite, respectful, and in good taste
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👉 Her decorous behavior at the formal event impressed everyone in attendance.
👉 The decorous way he handled the situation showed his professionalism and tact.

inept

Definition (Adjective):

• Lacking skill, ability, or competence in a particular area

• Awkward, clumsy, or unskilled, especially in handling situations
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👉 His inept handling of the situation only made matters worse.
👉 The new employee was inept at organizing the files and needed additional training.

ardor

Definition (Noun):

• Intense passion, enthusiasm, or devotion toward something or someone

• A strong feeling of love or eagerness
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👉 His ardor for the project was evident in the countless hours he dedicated to it.
👉 She spoke with such ardor about her favorite book that it piqued everyone's interest.

depravity

Definition (Noun):

• Moral corruption, wickedness, or perversion; a state of being depraved

• Extreme immorality or evil conduct
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👉 The novel depicted the depravity of the dictator’s regime.
👉 His actions revealed a depravity that shocked even those who knew him well.

prurience

Definition (Noun):

• Excessive or inappropriate interest in sexual matters

• The quality of being lewd, lascivious, or overly concerned with sexual desire
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👉 The novel was criticized for its prurience, appealing more to base curiosity than meaningful storytelling.
👉 His prurience made conversations uncomfortable, as he frequently brought up sexual topics inappropriately.

prudish

Definition (Adjective):

• Excessively proper, modest, or easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity

• Overly concerned with decorum or morality, especially in a sexual context
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👉 She was so prudish that even casual jokes about romance made her uncomfortable.
👉 His prudish attitude clashed with the more relaxed culture of his friends.