Language Methods - Describing a Writer's Tone

Absurd

illogical; ridiculous; silly; implausible; foolish

Accusatory

suggesting someone has done something wrong, complaining

Acerbic

sharp; forthright; biting; hurtful; abrasive; severe

Admiring

approving; think highly of; respectful; praising

Aggressive

hostile; determined; forceful; argumentative

Aggrieved

indignant; annoyed; offended; disgruntled

Ambivalent

having mixed feelings; uncertain; in a dilemma; undecided

Amused

entertained; diverted; pleased

Angry

incensed or enraged; threatening or menacing

Animated

full of life or excitement; lively; spirited; impassioned; vibrant

Apathetic

showing little interest; lacking concern; indifferent; unemotional

Apologetic

full of regret; repentant; remorseful; acknowledging failure

Appreciative

grateful; thankful; showing pleasure; enthusiastic

Ardent

enthusiastic; passionate

Arrogant

pompous; disdainful; overbearing; condescending; vain; scoffing

Assertive

self-confident; strong-willed; authoritative; insistent

Awestruck

amazed, filled with wonder/awe; reverential

Belligerent

hostile; aggressive; combatant

Benevolent

sympathetic; tolerant; generous; caring; well meaning

Bitter

angry; acrimonious; antagonistic; spiteful; nasty

Callous

cruel disregard; unfeeling; uncaring; indifferent; ruthless

Candid

truthful, straightforward; honest; unreserved

Caustic

making biting, corrosive comments; critical

Cautionary

gives warning; raises awareness; reminding

Celebratory

praising; pay tribute to; glorify; honour

Conversational

informal; lively; chatty; familiar

Colloquial

familiar; everyday language; informal; colloquial; casual

Comic

humorous; witty; entertaining; diverting

Compassionate

sympathetic; empathetic; warm-hearted; tolerant; kind

Complex

having many varying characteristics; complicated

Concerned

worried; anxious; apprehensive

Conciliatory

intended to placate or pacify; appeasing

Condescending

stooping to the level of one's inferiors; patronising

Confused

unable to think clearly; bewildered; vague

Contemptuous

showing contempt; scornful; insolent; mocking

Critical

finding fault; disapproving; scathing; criticising

Cruel

causing pain and suffering; unkind; spiteful; severe

Curious

wanting to find out more; inquisitive; questioning

Cynical

scornful of motives/virtues of others; mocking; sneering

Defensive

defending a position; shielding; guarding; watchful

Defiant

obstinate; argumentative; defiant; contentious

Demeaning

disrespectful; undignified

Depressing

sad, melancholic; discouraging; pessimistic

Derisive

snide; sarcastic; mocking; dismissive; scornful

Detached

aloof; objective; unfeeling; distant

Dignified

serious; respectful; formal; proper

Diplomatic

tactful; subtle; sensitive; thoughtful

Disapproving

displeased; critical; condemnatory

Disheartening

discouraging; demoralising; undermining; depressing

Disparaging

dismissive; critical; scornful

Direct

straightforward; honest

Disappointed

discouraged; unhappy because something has gone wrong

Dispassionate

impartial; indifferent; unsentimental; cold; unsympathetic

Distressing

heart-breaking; sad; troubling

Docile

compliant; submissive; deferential; accommodating

Earnest

showing deep sincerity or feeling; serious

Egotistical

self-absorbed; selfish; conceited; boastful

Empathetic

understanding; kind; sensitive

Encouraging

optimistic; supportive

Enthusiastic

excited; energetic

Evasive

ambiguous; cryptic; unclear

Excited

emotionally aroused; stirred

Farcical

ludicrous; absurd; mocking; humorous and highly improbable

Flippant

superficial; glib; shallow; thoughtless; frivolous

Forceful

powerful; energetic; confident; assertive

Formal

respectful; stilted; factual; following accepted styles/rules

Frank

honest; direct; plain; matter-of-fact

Frustrated

annoyed; discouraged

Gentle

kind; considerate; mild; soft

Ghoulish

delighting in the revolting or the loathsome

Grim

serious; gloomy; depressing; lacking humour;macabre

Humble

deferential; modest

Humorous

amusing; entertaining; playful

Hypercritical

unreasonably critical; hair splitting; nitpicking

Impartial

unbiased; neutral; objective

Impassioned

filled with emotion; ardent

Imploring

pleading; begging

Impressionable

trusting; child-like

Inane

silly; foolish; stupid; nonsensical

Incensed

enraged

Incredulous

disbelieving; unconvinced; questioning; suspicious

Indignant

annoyed; angry; dissatisfied

Informative

instructive; factual; educational

Inspirational

encouraging; reassuring

Intense

earnest; passionate; concentrated; deeply felt

Intimate

familiar; informal; confidential; confessional

Ironic

the opposite of what is meant

Irreverent

lacking respect for things that are generally taken seriously

Jaded

bored; having had too much of the same thing; lack enthusiasm

Joyful

positive; optimistic; cheerful; elated

Judgmental

critical; finding fault; disparaging

Laudatory

praising; recommending

Light-Hearted

carefree; relaxed; chatty; humorous

Loving

affectionate; showing intense, deep concern

Macabre

gruesome; horrifying; frightening

Malicious

desiring to harm others or to see others suffer; ill-willed; spiteful

Mean-Spirited

inconsiderate; unsympathetic

Mocking

scornful; ridiculing; making fun of someone

Mourning

grieving; lamenting; woeful

Naïve

innocent; unsophisticated; immature