Words to Describe Tone and Mood Name

Date Class Period

Match the following words with their definitions on the right. You may use a dictionary to help you.

Exercise AWords with positive connotation

Words to Describe Tone and Mood Name

Date Class Period

  1. Serene
  2. Nostalgic
  3. Optimistic
  4. Witty
  5. Compassionate
  6. Giddy
  7. Reverent
  8. Festive
  9. Celebratory
  10. Blithe
  1. Having an air of holiday and celebration
  2. Happy to the point of dizziness
  3. Sympathetic, tender, and pitying
  4. Peaceful, calm, and tranquil
  5. Showing respect for; deeply respectful
  6. Blissfully happy; joyous, carefree
  7. Sentimentally yearning for a former/previous time, place, or situation; wistful
  8. Rejoicing in; observing with ceremony and triumph
  9. Taking a favorable view of something; “positive” thinking
  10. Cleverly funny, original, amusingly clever

Words to Describe Tone and Mood Name

Date Class Period

Exercise BWords with negative connotation

Words to Describe Tone and Mood Name

Date Class Period

  1. Didactic
  2. Pompous
  3. Pessimistic
  4. Whiny
  5. Condescending
  6. Frivolous
  7. Irreverent
  8. Moralistic
  9. Reprimanding
  10. Sarcastic
  1. Arrogant; full of oneself; exaggerated self-importance
  2. Overly concerned with right and wrong, to the point of regulating and imposing a sense of “right” on others
  3. Disrespectful to the point of making fun of something; disrespect without regard for offense
  4. A lack of seriousness or importance
  5. “negative” thinking; having a negative outlook or view of something
  6. Criticizing, condemning, or severely warning; usually done by a superior or someone in authority
  7. Overly inclined to lecturing and teaching; “preachy”
  8. Excessively complaining
  9. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite; mocking; insincere
  10. Showing superiority; “talking down” to someone

Words to Describe Tone and Mood Name

Date Class Period

Exercise CHow else can you say, “Scary” or “Depressing”?

Words to Describe Tone and Mood Name

Date Class Period

  1. Melancholy
  2. Despair
  3. Oppressive
  4. Desolate
  5. Tenebrous
  6. Somber
  7. Foreboding
  8. Bleak
  9. Funereal
  10. Solemn
  1. Marked by seriousness; dignified and formal; grave
  2. A sense of impending doom; a strong inner feeling of misfortune or evil
  3. Empty, barren; having the feeling of being abandoned by hope
  4. Full of darkness; shadowy; excessively gloomy
  5. Mournful; soberly and sadly thoughtful
  6. Lacking all hope; hopeless
  7. Gloomy, mournful; suggestive of a funeral
  8. Causing discomfort by being excessive, intense; distressingly intense
  9. Bare, desolated, without hope; cold
  10. Gloomy, depressing, or dismal

Words to Describe Tone and Mood Name

Date Class Period

Exercise DPositive, negative, or neutral?

Words to Describe Tone and Mood Name

Date Class Period

  1. Indifference
  2. Remorse
  3. Resigned
  4. Ironic
  5. Gloomy
  6. Matter-of-fact
  7. Revulsion
  8. Jubilant
  9. Carnivalesque
  10. Lighthearted
  11. Detached
  12. Indignant
  13. Objective
  14. Biting
  15. Lively
  1. Submissive; giving in without resistance
  2. Showing great joy; rejoiceful
  3. Impartial or objective, not involved or concerned
  4. Dark, depressing, dim
  5. Extreme disgust
  6. Full of life; energetic
  7. Not influenced by personal feelings; impartial, unbiased
  8. Insensitive lack of feeling;intentional lack of interest or concern
  9. Extravagant and immoral merrymaking;characteristic of a carnival
  10. Unemotional, straightforward; directly honest
  11. Unexpected; gentle sarcasm
  12. Feeling of guilt; painful regret for wrongdoing
  13. Cheery, glad; carefree
  14. Cutting, scathing, sarcastic; stinging and sharp
  15. Strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, or insulting; resentful; angry

Words to Describe Tone and Mood Name

Date Class Period

Exercise EWith a partner, categorize the words in exercise D as positive, negative, or neutral. Be prepared to justify your categorization.

positive / neutral / negative