Tone Words

Bantering

playful tone, lighthearted teasing, back and forth between people - good natured and silly

Audacious

Bold, daring, unapologetic - pushes social norms

Facetious

Treating a situation unseriously with light hearted humor/annoying (not tied to authority or sacredness!)

Self-deprecating

Describes humorous statements made at expense of speaker, downplaying one's abilities

Pompous

Showing an exaggerated sense of self important grandeur

Irreverent

Showing a lack of respect or seriousness towards people or rules (tied to authority or sacredness usually)

Grim

Describes something serious, gloomy, unpleasant, lacking hope

Elegiac

Expressing sorrow, sadness, or nostalgic longing - mournful

Exuberant

Being filled with lively energy, excitement, high spirits

Objective

Neutral, factual style of writing or speaking - free of bias or personal feeling

Colloquial

Language that is informal and casual - used in everyday speech

Cavalier

Casually dismissive or arrogant lack of concern for serious manners - careless / dismissive

Reflective

Focused on calm, deep, and careful thinking 

Laudatory

Expressing, containing, or giving praise (think applaud)

Clinical

Related to direct examination or observation of something - logical, purely neutral language, emotionless

Grave

Situation that is serious, important, and even dangerous - somber, like an elegy

Earnest

Intense and serious, but different from above bc emotion - marked by deep sincerity, genuine

Haughty

Arrogantly superior, proud, disdainful - similar to pompous but pompous has social dynamic 

Sardonic

Disdainfully or skeptically humorous

Cynical

Belief that people are generally selfish, dishonest, or motivated only by their own interests

Fervent

Having or showing very strong and sincere feelings, deep enthusiasm, steady emotional warmth

Condescending

Acting or speaking in a way that shows you believe you're more intelligent or better than others

Didactic

Intended to teach, instruct or impart a lesson (has a negative connotation)

Pensive

Engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep thoughts - more angsty and withdrawn

Effusive

Expressing a lot of emotion or enthusiasm in an open/unrestrained way

Erudite

Having or showing great knowledge gained through study and reading

Contemplative

Someone or something involving deep, quiet, or serious thought

Resigned

Having an acceptance, unresisting attitude towards something you cant change (is what it is)

Bitter

Feeling angry or hurt bc unfair treatment or PAST EVENT - resentful

Inflammatory

Provocative, inciting anger or violence

Insolent

Being rude, impolite, showing bold lack of respect for authority

Wistful

Feeling or showing sad longing for something in the past you cant have

Solemn

Formal serious and dignified - marked by lack of humor

Indignant

Feeling or showing anger and surprise bc of something unfair - righteous anger

Forthright

Being completely honest, direct, straightforward,

Matter of fact

Being direct, straightforward, w/o emotion especially when talking abt serious things

Urgent

Very important, needing attention right away 

Disdainful

Showing strong dislike towards someone you don't think is worth your respect

Apathetic

Showing little to no interest or concern towards something they should care about - opposite of empathy

Defiant

Someone who proudly refuses to obey or listen to authorities

Derisive

Describes speech expressing contempt, mockery, ridicule 

Patronizing

Acting or speaking to someone in a way that shows fake kindness (same as condescending)

Callous

Way of speaking or writing that sounds cold and uncaring and lacks sympathy - indifferent to emotions

Caustic

Bitter, harshly sarcastic, and biting manner of speaking

Zealous

Showing intense enthusiasm and eagerness/passion

Sincere

Being honest and genuine