Vocabulary: Descriptive Adjectives for Character and Tone

acerbic

sour, harsh, severe

ambiguous

unclear meaning

ambivalent

having mixed or contradictory feelings

apathetic

little emotion or interest

apprehensive

uneasy or fearful

arrogant

revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities

belittling

make someone/something seem unimportant

bemused

bewildered or confused

benign

expressive gentleness or kindness

blithe

joyous, merry

candid

frank; informal; honest

caustic

severely critical or sarcastic

colloquial

appropriate to familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal

compassionate

showing sympathy or concern

condescending

showing patronizing superiority

contemptuous

showing scorn and distant

contentious

quarrelsome

cynical

distrusting; pessimistic

defiant

showing open resistance or bold disobedience

detached

impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased

didactic

intended for instruction

dispassionate

free from or unaffected by passion

earnest

serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous

effusive

unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve

enigmatic

perplexing; mysterious

euphemistic

to soften a harsh expression

flippant

frivolously disrespectful

grandiloquent

lofty style

impartial

fair and just; treating all sides equally

indifferent

without interest or concern

indignant

expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base

inflammatory

intended to arouse angry or violent feelings

ironic

language meant to convey the opposite of what was said or point to the result being the opposite of what was expected

irreverent

showing lack of respect (for something typically taken seriously)

melancholic

gloomy; soberly thoughtful

moralistic

expressing a strong opinion about right and wrong

nonchalant

showing a lack of concern; indifference

nostalgic

wistful desire to return to the (better) past

ominous

giving the impression something bad is about to happen

patronizing

condescending manner

pedantic

ostentatious in one's learning

poignant

keen or strong in mental or emotional appeal

pretentious

exaggerated show of importance

prosaic

commonplace or dull; characteristic of prose rather than poetry

reflective

deeply thoughtful

remorseful

a feeling of deep regret or guilt

restrained

characterized by reserve or moderation; unemotional or dispassionate

reverent

showing deep and solemn respect

sardonic

bitter or scornful derision; cynical; sneering

satiric

critical, and mocking another's weaknesses to provoke reform

scornful

expressing contempt or derision

sentimental

feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia

sincere

free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings

solemn

formal and dignified

somber

oppressively sober or grave in mood

straightforward

uncomplicated and easy to understand

sympathetic

showing pity, sorrow, or understanding

understated

restrained or moderate in design, presentation

urbane

reflecting elegance, sophistication

whimsical

fanciful; excessively playful

wistful

characterized by melancholy; longing; yearning

witty

characterized by quick and inventive verbal humor

wry

twisted; crooked; disdainfully ironic or amusing