Tone Words A-L

Abhorring

To regard with extreme aversion; to loathe, or detest.

Accusatory

Tone of accusation; to accuse of a crime or offense.

Acerbic

Tone of harshness or severity.

Adoring

To regard with esteem, love, and respect; honor.

Affectation

Speech or writing that is artificial.

Ambiguous

Open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations.

Amused

Pleasurably entertained, occupied, or diverted.

Antagonistic

Acting in opposition; opposing, especially mutually or hostile; unfriendly.

Apathetic

Having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent or unresponsive.

Apologetic

Containing an apology or excuse for a fault.

Apprehensive

Fearful or uneasy about something that might happen.

Ardent

Characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent.

Authoritarian

Accustomed to exercising authority; peremptory; dictatorial.

Baffled

To confuse, bewilder, or perplex.

Belligerent

Warlike; given to waging war.

Benevolent

Characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings.

Biting

Sarcastic, having a biting or sarcastic tone.

Blunt

Abrupt in manner; obtuse.

Candid

Frank; outspoken; open and sincere.

Caustic

Making harsh, corrosive comments.

Clinical

Extremely objective and realistic; unemotionally critical.

Colloquial

Characteristic of conversation rather than formal speech or writing.

Comforting

Soothing in time of distress or conflict.

Complimentary

Conveying or expressing a compliment.

Conciliatory

To overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease.

Condemnatory

To express strong disapproval.

Condescending

Showing or implying a sense of superiority; talking down to others.

Contented

Satisfied, ready to accept; willing.

Contentious

Argumentative, quarrelsome.

Conversational

Spoken exchange of ideas, opinions, and feelings.

Curt

Rudely brief in speech or abrupt; concise.

Cynical

Bitterly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic.

Desperate

Having an urgent need or desire.

Didactic

Intended for instruction; instructive.

Disbelieving

To have no belief in; refuse or reject belief in.

Disgusted

To excite nausea or loathing in.

Dubious

Questionable motives; inclined to doubt.

Earnest

Serious in intention; sincerely zealous.

Elevated

Exalted or noble; lofty.

Eloquent

Having or exercising the power of fluency.

Empathetic

Showing empathy; identifying with the emotions of others.

Erudite

Characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly.

Eulogistic

To praise in speech or writing, especially in a eulogy.

Evasive

Deliberately vague or ambiguous.

Exhortatory

Advising or urging earnestly.

Facetious

Not meant to be taken seriously; sarcastic.

Farcical

Ludicrous; absurd; humorous and highly improbable.

Fatalistic

An acceptance of events as inevitable.

Foreboding

A strong inner feeling of a future misfortune.

Forthright

Going straight to the point; frank.

Grave

Serious or solemn; involving serious issues.

Grim

Harsh, surly, forbidding, or morbid.

Histrionic

Overly dramatic.

Hostile

Opposed in feeling, action, or character.

Impartial

Not partial or biased; fair.

Impatient

Not accepting delay or opposition with calm.

Impertinent

Insolent; rude.

Incredulous

Not credulous; skeptical.

Indignant

Expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust.

Insipid

Without distinctive or interesting qualities; vapid.

Introspective

Examining one’s own sensory and perceptual experiences.

Ironic

Containing or exemplifying irony; unexpected.

Irreverent

Showing lack of respect or veneration.

Jovial

Characterized by a hearty, joyous humor.

Laudatory

Containing or expressing praise.

Lofty

Exalted in rank or dignity; elevated in tone.

Ludicrous

Provoking or deserving derision; ridiculous.