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, esp. mutually/ hostile; unfriendly

Apathetic - having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent or unresponsive

Apologetic - containing an apology or excuse for a faulty

Apprehensive - fearful or uneasiness about something that might happen

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

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/ free from reservation, disguise, or subterfuge; straightforward

Caustic - making harsh, corrosive comments

Clinical - extremely objective and realistic; dispassionately analytic; unemotionally critical

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

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; brief; concise; terse; laconic

Cynical - bitterly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic; sneering

Desperate having an urgent need, desire

Didactic - intended for instruction; instructive

Disbelieving - to have no belief in; refuse or reject belief in

Disgusted - to excite nausea or loathing in. To offend the taste or moral sense of

Dubious - questionable motives, inclined to doubt

Earnest - serious in intention or 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 the form of a eulogy

Evasive - deliberately vague or ambiguous

Exhortatory - advising, urging, or earnestly

Facetious - not meant to be taken seriously or literally; sarcastic

Farcical - ludicrous; absurd; humorous and highly improbable

Fatalistic - an acceptance of events as inevitable

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

Forthright - going straight to the point; frank; direct; outspoken

Grave - serious or solemn; feeling of threatening a seriously bad outcome or involving serious issues; critical

Grim - harsh, surly, forbidding, or morbid air

Histrionic - over the top dramatic

Hostile - opposed in feeling, action, or character

Impartial - not partial or biased; fair

Impatient - not accepting delay, opposition, pain, etc., with calm or patience

Impertinent - insolent, rude; uncivil

Incredulous - not credulous; 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

Ironic - containing or exemplifying irony; coincidental; unexpected

Irreverent - showing lack of respect or veneration

Jovial - endowed with or characterized by a hearty, joyous humor

Laudatory - containing or expressing praise

Lofty - exalted in rank, dignity, or character; elevated in style, tone, or sentiment

Ludicrous - provoking or deserving derision; ridiculous; laughable