Tone Words

affectation

speech or writing that is artificial

Apologetic

containing an apology or excuse for a faulty

Benevolent

characterized by or expressing goodwill or kind feelings

Biting

sarcastic, having a biting or sarcastic tone

Abhorring

to regard with extreme aversion; to loathe, or detest

Acerbic

tone of harshness or severity

Ardent

characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent; intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic; zealous; vehement; fierce

Authoritarian

accustomed to exercising authority; peremptory; dictatorial

Baffled

to confuse, bewilder, or perplex

Candid

frank; outspoken; open and sincere/ free from reservation, disguise, or subterfuge; straightforward

Caustic

making harsh, corrosive comments

Colloquial

characteristic of conversation rather than formal speech or writing; also informal

Conciliatory

to overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease

Condescending

showing or implying a sense of superiority; talking down to others

Cynical

bitterly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic; sneering

Didactic

intended for instruction; instructive

Dubious

questionable motives, inclined to doubt

Earnest

serious in intention or sincerely zealous

Eloquent

having or exercising the power of fluency

Erudite

characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly

Evasive

deliberately vague or ambiguous

Exhortatory

advising, urging, or earnestly

Facetious

not meant to be taken seriously or literally; sarcastic

Foreboding

a strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune, evil

Forthright

going straight to the point; frank; direct; outspoken

Histrionic

over the top dramatic

Impertinent

insolent, rude; uncivil

Incredulous

not credulous; not believing; skeptical

Indignant

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

Insipid

without distinctive or interesting qualities; vapid

Introspective

given to examining one's own sensory and perceptual experiences

Irreverent

showing lack of respect or veneration

Jovial

endowed with or characterized by a hearty, joyous humor

Laudatory

containing or expressing praise

Mock

pretending to be serious or disingenuous

Moralistic

characterized by or displaying a concern with morality

Nonchalant

coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual

Obdurate

stubborn; unyielding; stubbornly resistant to moral influence

Objective

not influenced by personal feelings or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased

Obsequiou

overly obedient or submissive

Oratorical

given to making speeches; pertaining to speech-like quality

Patronizing

displaying or indicative of a condescending manner or tone

Pedantic

ostentatious in one's learning; overly concerned with minute details, esp. in teaching

Penitent

feeling or expressing sorrow wrongdoing or sin; repentant; contrite

Pensive

expressing or revealing thoughtfulness, usually marked by some sadness

Poignant

keen or strong in mental appeal

Pretentious

characterized by assumption of importance or dignity

Provocative

tending to excite, or stimulate; inciting, stimulating, irritating, or vexing

Recalcitrant

resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory

Resigned

submissive or acquiescent; accepting of circumstances

Reticent

disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved; restrained

Reverent

deeply respectful; showing great esteem

Righteous

believing one's self to be morally right and just; guiltless

Sanguine

cheerfully hopeful, or confident

Sardonic

characterized by scorn; mocking; cynical; sneering

Satiric

exposing ridicule or derision

Self-deprecating

belittling or undervaluing oneself; excessively modest

Sentimental

overly emotional; mawkishly susceptible or tender

Skeptical

marked by or given to doubt; questioning

Speculative

theoretical, rather than practical

Stolid

not easily stirred or moved mentally; unemotional

Strident

making or having a harsh sound; grating

Terse

neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy, as language

Vexed

irritated; annoyed

Vitriolic

very caustic; scathing

Wistful

characterized by melancholy; longing; yearning; pensive

Zealous

ardently active, devoted, or diligent