OPTIONAL: Expanded List of 235 Tone Words and Definitions

Mr. DeCubellis (United States of America)
TONE is more than merely an author’s attitude; it includes the stylistic means by which an author conveys his/her attitude.

Tone is an integral part of a work’s meaning because it controls the reader’s response which is essential to fully understanding the text. To misinterpret tone is to misinterpret meaning.

In order to recognize tonal shift and to interpret complexities of tone, the reader must be able to make inferences based on an active reading of the work. The writer's tone is revealed by organization, choice of detail, established mood, and sentence structure, but word choice is probably the strongest indicator of tone.

DIRECTIONS: Learn the denotations and connotations of the following words related to tone. Practice utilizing adjective and adverb forms of each word. For example:

> adjective: Leo uses a mocking tone when he describes Mrs. Bilse as a literary genius.
> adverb: Leo mockingly describes Mrs. Bilse as a literary genius
235 words 3 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abashed
    feeling or caused to feel uneasy and self-conscious
  2. abstruse
    difficult to understand
  3. absurd
    inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
  4. accusing
    containing or expressing accusation
  5. acerbic
    sour or bitter in taste
  6. admonishing
    expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective
  7. adoring
    extravagantly or foolishly loving and indulgent
  8. affectionate
    having or displaying warmth or fondness
  9. fearful
    experiencing or showing fear
  10. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  11. ambivalent
    uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
  12. antagonistic
    arousing animosity or hostility
  13. anxious
    causing or fraught with or showing nervousness
  14. apathetic
    showing little or no emotion or animation
  15. apologetic
    offering or expressing regret
  16. appreciative
    having or showing a favorable critical judgment or opinion
  17. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
  18. approving
    expressing or manifesting praise or approval
  19. ardent
    characterized by intense emotion
  20. arrogant
    having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance
  21. audacious
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
  22. authoritarian
    characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
  23. baffled
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
  24. bantering
    cleverly amusing in tone
  25. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
  26. bemused
    deeply absorbed in thought
  27. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
  28. bewildered
    extremely confused and uncertain what to do
  29. biting
    capable of hurting
  30. bitter
    the property of having a harsh unpleasant taste
  31. blithe
    carefree and happy and lighthearted
  32. blunt
    characterized by directness in manner or speech
  33. bold
    fearless and daring
  34. brisk
    quick and energetic
  35. brusque
    rudely abrupt or blunt in speech or manner
  36. burlesque
    make a parody of
  37. candid
    openly straightforward and direct without secretiveness
  38. capricious
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  39. casual
    without or seeming to be without plan or method; offhand
  40. caustic
    harsh or corrosive in tone
  41. censorious
    harshly critical or expressing censure
  42. ceremonial
    marked by pomp or formality
  43. choleric
    quickly aroused to anger
  44. clinical
    detached or unemotional
  45. colloquial
    characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
  46. complimentary
    expressing praise and admiration
  47. conceited
    having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
  48. conciliatory
    intended to placate
  49. condemnatory
    containing or imposing condemnation or censure
  50. condescending
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
  51. contemptuous
    expressing extreme scorn
  52. contented
    satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
  53. contentious
    showing an inclination to disagree
  54. conversational
    characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
  55. critical
    of a serious examination and judgment of something
  56. curt
    brief and to the point
  57. cynical
    believing the worst of human nature and motives
  58. derisive
    expressing contempt or ridicule
  59. derogatory
    expressive of low opinion
  60. despairing
    arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
  61. desperate
    showing extreme urgency or intensity because of great need
  62. detached
    being or feeling set or kept apart from others
  63. disinterested
    unaffected by concern for one's own welfare
    A judge and jury must, by law, be disinterested. That is, unbiased. Neutral.
  64. diabolical
    showing cunning or ingenuity or wickedness
  65. didactic
    instructive, especially excessively
  66. diffident
    lacking self-confidence
  67. disdainful
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  68. dogmatic
    pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
  69. dramatic
    of a voice that is marked by power and expressiveness
  70. dreary
    lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
  71. dubious
    fraught with uncertainty or doubt
  72. earnest
    devout or heartfelt
  73. ebullient
    joyously unrestrained
  74. ecstatic
    feeling great rapture or delight
  75. effusive
    uttered with unrestrained enthusiasm
  76. egotistical
    having an inflated idea of one's own importance
  77. elated
    exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits
  78. elegiac
    expressing sorrow often for something past
  79. elevated
    increased in amount or degree
    Formal
  80. eloquent
    expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
  81. empathetic
    showing ready comprehension of others' states
  82. erudite
    having or showing profound knowledge
  83. eulogistic
    formally expressing praise
  84. euphoric
    characterized by a feeling of well-being or elation
  85. evasive
    deliberately vague or ambiguous
  86. exhilarated
    filled with joy or excitement
  87. exhortatory
    giving strong encouragement
  88. expectant
    marked by eager anticipation
  89. exuberant
    joyously unrestrained
  90. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
    Not meant to be taken seriously.
  91. fanciful
    indulging in or influenced by the imagination
    Capricious
  92. farcical
    broadly or extravagantly humorous
    Ludicrous, mocking, highly improbable
  93. fatalistic
    accepting that everything that happens is inevitable
  94. fearful
    causing fear or dread or terror
  95. fervent
    characterized by intense emotion
    Specifically great warmth, enthusiasm
  96. flippant
    showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
    Disrespectful, frivilously shallow
  97. foreboding
    ominously prophetic
  98. forthright
    directly and without evasion; not roundabout
  99. frantic
    excessively agitated; distraught with violent emotion
    Frenzied, wild with excitement
  100. frivolous
    not serious in content, attitude, or behavior
    Self-indulgently carefree
  101. ghoulish
    suggesting the horror of death and decay
    Delighting in the revolting or loathsome
  102. giddy
    lacking seriousness; given to frivolity
    Lighthearted
  103. gleeful
    full of high-spirited delight
  104. gloomy
    depressingly dark
  105. grand
    large and impressive in physical size or extent
    Majestic, dignified, stately
  106. grave
    requiring serious thought
  107. grim
    harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
    Stern, surly
  108. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  109. histrionic
    overly dramatic or emotional
    Over-the-top, out of control, emotional
  110. holier-than-thou
    excessively or hypocritically pious
  111. hollow
    devoid of significance or point
    insincere
  112. impartial
    free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
  113. impassioned
    characterized by intense emotion
    Ardent
  114. impassive
    deliberately unexpressive
  115. impertinent
    improperly forward or bold
  116. impudent
    improperly forward or bold
  117. incisive
    demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
    Trenchant, keen, penetrating
  118. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
  119. indifferent
    marked by a lack of interest
    (Not to be confused with disinterested)
  120. indignant
    angered at something unjust or wrong
  121. indirect
    not straight in manner or language or behavior
    Devious, deceitful
  122. inflammatory
    inciting action or rebellion
  123. informal
    not in accord with established conventions and requirements
  124. informative
    serving to instruct or enlighten
  125. insecure
    not firm or firmly fixed; likely to fail or give way
    Not self-confident, not self-assured
  126. insipid
    lacking interest or significance or impact
    Vapid, unstimulating
  127. insistent
    repetitive and persistent
    Earnestly demanding
  128. insolent
    marked by casual disrespect
  129. intimate
    marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
  130. introspective
    given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences
    Self-exploratory
  131. ironic
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
  132. irascible
    quickly aroused to anger
  133. irreverent
    showing lack of due respect or veneration
  134. jocund
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
  135. jovial
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
  136. laudatory
    full of or giving praise
  137. learned
    having or showing profound knowledge
    Scholarly, erudite
  138. lofty
    of high moral or intellectual value
  139. ludicrous
    broadly or extravagantly humorous
    Causing laughter due to absurdity
  140. lugubrious
    excessively mournful
    Exaggeratedly dismal
  141. lyrical
    expressing deep emotion
    Highly rhapsodic, expressing deep personal emotion
  142. malicious
    having the nature of threatening evil
    Desiring to do harm
    Spiteful
  143. matter-of-fact
    not fanciful or imaginative
    Direct or unemotional
  144. meditative
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
  145. melancholic
    characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
  146. melodramatic
    having excitement and emotional appeal
    Exaggeratedly sentimental
  147. mischievous
    naughtily or annoyingly playful
  148. mockingly
    in a disrespectful jeering manner
  149. modest
    marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
  150. moralistic
    narrowly and conventionally moral
  151. mournful
    expressing sorrow
  152. nervous
    causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
  153. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
    Coolly unconcerned, indifferent
  154. nonplussed
    filled with bewilderment
    Puzzled
  155. nostalgic
    unhappy about being away and longing for familiar things
  156. obdurate
    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
  157. objective
    undistorted by emotion or personal bias
  158. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  159. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
  160. optimistic
    emphasizing or displaying the positive
  161. oratorical
    related to the practice of public speaking
    Given to making speeches
  162. outraged
    angered at something unjust or wrong
    Resentful, furious
  163. outspoken
    given to expressing yourself freely or insistently
    Frank and unreserved
  164. overbearing
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  165. patronizing
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    Condescending
  166. ponderous
    labored and dull
  167. pedantic
    marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
    Overly concerned with minute details
  168. penitent
    feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds
  169. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
  170. pessimistic
    expecting the worst possible outcome
  171. petty
    small and of little importance
  172. poignant
    keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
    Emotionally moving
  173. pompous
    puffed up with vanity
  174. pretentious
    intended to attract notice and impress others
  175. psychotic
    characteristic of or suffering from a severe mental disorder
    Characterized by a loss of contact with reality and an inability to think rationally.
  176. questioning
    marked by or given to doubt
  177. reassuring
    restoring confidence and relieving anxiety
  178. recalcitrant
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
  179. reflective
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
  180. resignedly
    with resignation and acceptance; in a resigned manner
  181. restrained
    not showy or obtrusive
  182. reticent
    reluctant to draw attention to yourself
  183. reverent
    feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
  184. ridiculous
    incongruous or absurd
  185. righteous
    morally justified
  186. risible
    arousing or provoking laughter
  187. sanguine
    confidently optimistic and cheerful
  188. sarcastic
    expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds
  189. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
    Mocking, sneering
  190. satiric
    exposing human folly to ridicule
  191. scholarly
    characteristic of a learned person
  192. scornful
    expressing extreme contempt
  193. seductive
    tending to entice into a desired action or state
  194. self-assured
    showing poise and confidence in your own worth
  195. self-deprecating
    conscious of your own shortcomings
  196. sentimental
    marked by tender, romantic, or nostalgic emotion
  197. serene
    not agitated
    Unruffled
  198. severe
    very harsh or strict, especially when dealing with others
    Harsh
  199. sinister
    wicked, evil, or dishonorable
  200. skeptical
    marked by or given to doubt
  201. sly
    marked by skill in deception
  202. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
  203. somber
    serious and gloomy in character
  204. speculative
    showing curiosity
  205. sprightly
    full of spirit and vitality
    Animated, lively
  206. stately
    impressive in appearance
    Majestic, imposing
  207. stern
    serious and harsh in manner or behavior
    Uncompromisingly severe
  208. stolid
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
  209. straightforward
    without concealment or deception; honest
  210. strident
    being sharply insistent on being heard
  211. subdued
    restrained in style or quality
  212. supercilious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  213. suspicious
    openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
  214. sympathetic
    expressing compassion or friendly fellow feelings
  215. taunting
    abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
  216. tender
    given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
  217. terse
    brief and to the point
  218. thoughtful
    giving close attention
  219. timorous
    shy and fearful by nature
  220. tragic
    very sad, especially involving grief or death or destruction
  221. tranquil
    not agitated
  222. unconcerned
    lacking in interest or care or feeling
  223. understated
    exhibiting restraint, especially in regards to taste
    Low-key
  224. uneasy
    causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
  225. urgent
    compelling immediate action
  226. vexed
    troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
  227. vindictive
    disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
  228. vitriolic
    harsh, bitter, or malicious in tone
    Caustic
  229. whimsical
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
    Given to fanciful notions
    Capricious
  230. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
  231. worshipful
    showing adoration
  232. wrathful
    filled with or characterized by extreme anger
  233. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    Warped
  234. zealous
    marked by active interest and enthusiasm
  235. droll
    comical in an odd or whimsical manner
Created on Sat May 14 12:33:56 EDT 2016 (updated Sat Aug 06 20:00:35 EDT 2016)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.