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Tone The following words with explanations can describe an author’s tone or attitude: As an author think of how you want your writing to come across to a reader. Tone is defined as the writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the subject |
Absurd, farcical, ridiculous: laughable or a joke Apathetic, detached: not caring Ambivalent: having contradictory attitudes or feelings Angry, bitter, hateful: feeling bad and upset about the topic Arrogant, condescending: acting conceited or above others Awestruck, wondering: filled with wonder Cheerful, joyous, happy: feeling good about the topic Compassionate, sympathetic: feeling sorrow at the distress of others Complex: intricate, complicated, and possibly confusing Congratulatory, celebratory: honoring an achievement or festive occasion Cruel, malicious: mean-spirited Cynical: expecting the worst from people Depressed, melancholy: sad, dejected, or having low spirits Disapproving: judging unfavorably Distressed: suffering strain, misery, or agony Evasive, abstruse: avoiding or confusing the issue Formal: using an official style; of a high social class, genteel Frustrated: blocked from a goal Gentle: thoughtful, not pushy, kind Ghoulish, grim: robbing graves or feeding on corpses; stern and forbidding Hard: unfeeling, strict, and unrelenting Humorous, jovial, comic, playful, amused: being funny Incredulous: unbelieving Indignant: outraged Intense, impassioned: extremely involved, zealous, or agitated Ironic: stating the opposite of what is expected; having a twist at the end Irreverent: lacking respect for authority Mocking, scornful, caustic, condemning: ridiculing the topic Objective, factual, straightforward, critical: using facts without emotions Obsequious: fawning for attention Optimistic: looking on the bright side Outspoken: speaking one’s mind on issues Pathetic: moving one to compassion or pity Pessimistic: looking on the negative side Prayerful: religiously thankful Reticent: shy and not speaking out Reverent: showing respect Righteous: morally correct Romantic, intimate, loving: expressing love or affection Sarcastic: saying one thing and meaning another Satiric: using irony, wit, and sarcasm to discredit or ridicule Sensational: over-dramatized or over-hyped Sentimental, nostalgic: remembering the good old days Serious, sincere, earnest, solemn: being honest and concerned Straightforward: forthright, direct Subjective, opinionated: expressing opinions and feelings Tragic: regrettable or deplorable Uneasy: restless or uncertain Vindictive: seeking revenge
Positive Tone/Attitude Words Amused Content Happy Pleasant Appreciative Dreamy Hopeful Proud Authoritative Ecstatic Impassioned Relaxed Benevolent Elated Jovial Reverent Brave Elevated Joyful Romantic Calm Encouraging Jubilant Soothing Cheerful Energetic Lighthearted Surprised Cheery Enthusiastic Loving Sweet Compassionate Excited Optimistic Sympathetic Complimentary Exuberant Passionate Vibrant Confident Fanciful Peaceful Whimsical Negative Tone/Attitude Words Accusing Choleric Furious Quarrelsome Aggravated Coarse Harsh Shameful Agitated Cold Haughty Smooth Angry Condemnatory Hateful Snooty Apathetic Condescending Hurtful Superficial Arrogant Contradictory Indignant Surly Artificial Critical Inflammatory Testy Audacious Desperate Insulting Threatening Belligerent Disappointed Irritated Tired Bitter Disgruntled Manipulative Uninterested Boring Disgusted Obnoxious Wrathful Brash Disinterested Outraged Childish Facetious Passive Humor-Irony-Sarcasm Tone/Attitude Words Amused Droll Mock-heroic Sardonic Bantering Facetious Mocking Satiric Bitter Flippant Mock-serious Scornful Caustic Giddy Patronizing Sharp Comical Humorous Pompous Silly Condescending Insolent Quizzical Taunting Contemptuous Ironic Ribald Teasing Critical Irreverent Ridiculing Whimsical Cynical Joking Sad Wry Disdainful Malicious Sarcastic Sorrow-Fear-Worry Tone/Attitude Words Aggravated Embarrassed Morose Resigned Agitated Fearful Mournful Sad Anxious Foreboding Nervous Serious Apologetic Gloomy Numb Sober Apprehensive Grave Ominous Solemn Concerned Hollow Paranoid Somber Confused Hopeless Pessimistic Staid Dejected Horrific Pitiful Upset Depressed Horror Poignant Despairing Melancholy Regretful Disturbed Miserable Remorseful Neutral Tone/Attitude Words Admonitory Dramatic Intimae Questioning Allusive Earnest Judgmental Reflective Apathetic Expectant Learned Reminiscent Authoritative Factual Loud Resigned Baffled Fervent Lyrical Restrained Callous Formal Matter-of-fact Seductive Candid Forthright Meditative Sentimental Ceremonial Frivolous Nostalgic Serious Clinical Haughty Objective Shocking Consoling Histrionic Obsequious Sincere Contemplative Humble Patriotic Unemotional Conventional Incredulous Persuasive Urgent Detached Informative Pleading Vexed Didactic Inquisitive Pretentious Wistful Disbelieving Instructive Provocative Zealous |