Tonal Words

Authoritative

Able to be trusted as accurate or true; reliable

Belligerent

Hostile and aggressive

Cynical

Believing people are motivated by self-interest

Ominous

Impression of something bad or threatening

Didactic

Intended to teach with moral instruction

Facetious

Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor

Foreboding

Fearful apprehension

Zealous

Showing fervent zeal

Satirical

Using humor, irony, exaggeration to criticize

Ironic

Presence of hyperbole, exaggeration for satire

Whimsical

Fanciful, imaginative, capricious

Sardonic

Disdainfully or skeptically humorous

Apathetic

Showing little or no emotion; spiritless

Mock-Heroic

Parodies mocking classical hero stereotypes

Exhortatory

Advising, encouraging, urging, cautioning

Poignant

Arousing deep emotion, especially pity or sorrow

Reverent

Awe and great respect, worthy of worship

Ribald

Vulgar, coarse, crude, offensive

Admonitory

Correcting or scolding, conveying a warning

Superficial

Concerned only with what is apparent or obvious

Vexed

Irritated, distressed, annoyed

Ambivalent

Uncertainty, fluctuation, conflicting actions

Allusive

Using indirect references or subtle suggestions

Audacious

Bold, daring, recklessly brave

Burlesque

Vulgarizing lofty material for comedic effect

Haughty

Arrogant, full of pride, obnoxious

Brash

Harsh, loud, tactless, hasty

Melancholy

Overcome with sorrow

Frivolous

Self-indulgently carefree, lacking serious purpose