TONE Words—Defined
For ANGER:
Accusatory—Containing or implying accusation.
Angry—1) Having menacing aspects. 2) Inflamed or painful; enraged or provoked. 3) A strong feeling of displeasure or hostility.
Belligerent—Inclined or eager to fight.
Bitter—1) Having or being a taste that is sharp, acrid, and unpleasant. 2) Causing a sharply unpleasant, painful, or stinging sensation; harsh. 3) Difficult or distasteful to accept, admit, or bear. 4) Proceeding from or exhibiting strong animosity. 5) Resulting from or expressive of severe grief, anguish, or disappointment.
Condemnatory—1) To express strong disapproval of; to pronounce judgment against, sentence. 2) To judge or declare to be unfit for use or consumption, usually by official order.
Contemptuous—manifesting or feeling contempt; scornful.
ALSO Contemptuous: The feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless.
Disappointed—1) Defeated of expectation or hope. 2) Unprepared; unequipped.
Disdainful—1) Full of disdain; expressing disdain; scornful. 2) Contemptuous; haughty; expressing extreme contempt.
Disgusted—1) To provoke disgust or strong distaste in. 2) To cause loathing, as of the stomach. 3) To excite aversion in; to offend the moral taste of.
Furious—1) Full of or characterized by extreme anger; raging. 2) Suggestive of extreme anger in action or appearance; fierce. 3) Full of activity; energetic or rapid.
Grouchy—Tending to complain or grumble; peevish or grumpy.
Incredulous—1) Skeptical; disbelieving.2) Expressive of disbelief.
Indignant—Filled with or marked by indignation (anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean); wrathful; irate.
Inflammatory—1) Tending to excite anger, disorder, or tumult:SEDITIOUS. 2) Tending to inflame or excite the senses. 3) Accompanied by or tending to cause inflammation.
Insulting—1) Offensive or damaging, arrogant. 2) Prideful. 3) Indignant; insolent; contemptuous.
Irritated—1) Disturbed, especially by repeated disagreeable acts. 2) Aggravated; annoyed; exasperated.
Outraged—Angry or resentful, usually due to some grave offense.
Petulant—1) Insolent or rude in speech or behavior. 2) Characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor: PEEVISH.
Querulous—1) Habitually complaining. 2)Fretful; whining.
Savage—1) a. Not domesticated or under human control: UNTAMED; b. Lacking the restraints normal to civilized human beings: FIERCE, FEROCIOUS.2) Wild; uncultivated.3) a Boorish; rude;b. Malicious.4) lacking complex or advanced culture: UNCIVILIZED.
Scornful—With open dislike/distaste and disrespect or derision (ridicule), often mixed with indignation.
Sullen—1) Gloomily or resentfully silent or repressed;b. Suggesting a sullen state: LOWERING.2) Dull or somber in sound or color. 3) Dismal; gloomy. 4) Moving sluggishly.
Threatening—1) Hanging over dangerously: MENACING. 2) Portentous.
Wrathful—Filled with wrath(strong vengeful anger or indignation): IRATE.
For HAPPINESS:
Amiable—1) Friendly and agreeable in disposition; good-natured and likable. 2) Cordial; sociable; congenial.
Amused—pleasantly occupied
Cheery—showing or suggesting good spirits; cheerful
Confident—1) Marked by assurance, as of success. 2) Marked by confidence in oneself; self-assured. 3) Very bold; presumptuous.
Contented—1) Desiring no more than what one has; satisfied. 2) Ready to accept or acquiesce; willing.
Ecstatic—1) Marked by or expressing ecstasy. 2) Being in a state of ecstasy; joyful or enraptured.
Elated—exultantly proud and joyful.
ALSO Elated (to elate): To exalt the spirit of; to fill with confidence or exultation;
to elevate or flush with success; to puff up; to make proud.
Enthusiastic—having or showing great excitement and interest.
Exuberant—1) Full of unrestrained enthusiasm or joy. 2) Lavish; extravagant. 3) Extreme in degree, size, or extent. 4) Growing, producing, or produced abundantly; plentiful.
Hopeful—1) Having or manifesting hope. 2) Inspiring hope; promising.
ALSO Hopeful: Full of hope, or agreeable expectation; inclined to hope; expectant.
Jovial—marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer; marked by good humor.
Joyful—feeling, experiencing, causing, or indicating joy.
Jubilant—1) Exultingly joyful. 2) Expressing joy.
ALSO Jubilant: Giving or feeling joy or great delight.
Lighthearted—not being burdened by trouble, worry, or care; happy and carefree.
ALSO Lighthearted: Conducive to good spirits; pleasant or bright.
Optimistic—1) One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2) A believer in philosophical optimism.
ALSO Optimistic: having the inclination that the best possible outcome will happen.
Positive—characterized by or displaying certainty, acceptance, or affirmation.
Proud—1) Feeling or showing pride, as a. having or displaying excessive self-esteem,b. much pleased: exultant, or c. having proper self-respect. 2) a. Marked by stateliness: MAGNIFICENT;b. Giving reason for pride: GLORIOUS.3) Vigorous, spirited.
Sanguine—Confident, optimistic.
Whimsical—1) Full of, actuated by, or exhibiting whims. 2) a. Resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice; especially: lightly fanciful;b. Subject to erratic behavior or unpredictable change.
For HUMOR or SARCASM (SATIRE):
Amused (to amuse)—1) To divert the attention of so as to deceive: distract, bewilder.2) a. To entertain or occupy in a light, playful, or pleasant manner; b. to appeal to the sense of humor of.
Bantering—1) Speaking to or addressing in a witty and teasing manner. 2)chiefly Southern & Midland: Challenging; intransitive senses:speaking or acting playfully or wittily.
Belittling—1) Speaking slightingly of or about: disparaging.2) Causing (a person or thing) to seem little or less;depreciating by indirect means.
Caustic—1) Capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action: corrosive. 2) Marked by incisive sarcasm. 3) Scathing; mordant.
Comical—Causing laughter especially because of a startlingly or unexpectedly humorous impact.
Condescending—to be gracious about doing a thing regarded as beneath one's dignity; to deal with others patronizingly
ALSO Condescending—showing or characterized by condescension: patronizing
Contemptuous—manifesting or feeling contempt; scornful.
ALSO Contemptuous: The feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless.
Critical—inclined to judge severely and find fault.
Cynical—believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; skeptical of the motives of others.
Facetious—playfully jocular; humorous: facetious remarks.
Flippant—marked by disrespectful levity or casualness; pert.
Haughty—blatantly and disdainfully proud.
Insolent—insultingly contemptuous in speech or conduct.
Insulting—SEE Anger (above).
Ironic—1)Characterized by or constituting irony; Given to the use of irony. 2)Poignantly contrary to what was expected or intended: madness, an ironic fate for such a clear thinker.
ALSO Ironic: relating to, containing, or constituting irony.
Irreverent—1)Lacking or exhibiting a lack of reverence; disrespectful. 2) Critical of what is generally accepted or respected; satirical: irreverent humor.
ALSO Irreverent: lacking proper respect or seriousness.
Malicious—Having the nature of or resulting from malice; deliberately harmful; spiteful: malicious gossip.
Mock-Heroic—A satirical imitation or burlesque of the heroic manner or style.
ALSO Mock-heroic: used to describe poetry that satirizes the heroic style by using it to describe something trivial.
Mocking (tomock)—1) To treat with ridicule or contempt, deride. 2) To mimic, as in sport or derision. 3) To imitate counterfeit.
ALSO Mocking—simulated; false; sham: a mock battle.
Mock-Serious—Could not find actual dictionary definition
"Applied to a polemic or treatise about an otherwise serious subject."
example: The latest casualty report from Iraq was great! We lost a whole platoon today. Congratulations goes to the 151st Battalion. Keep up the good work!
Obsequious—To be full of or to exhibit servile compliance.
ALSO Obsequious—Fawning.
Patronizing (patronize)—1) To act as a patron, support, or sponsor. 2) To go to as a customer, especially on a regular basis. 3) To treat in a condescending manner.
ALSO Patronizing—(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension.
Ribald—To be vulgar, or use lewd humor.
Ridiculing (ridicule)—Words or actions intended to evoke contemptuous laughter at or feelings toward a person or thing.
Sarcastic—Expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds.
Sardonic—Scornfully or cynically mocking.
Satiric—Of, relating to, or characterized by satire.
Scornful—Expressing extreme contempt.
Taunting—Abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule.
For ARROGANCE:
Authoritative—having authority; official, based on competent authority
ALSO Authoritative—showing evident authority
Boastful—to talk about oneself, with too much pride; brag; to brag about; glory in
ALSO Boastful—to show the act of bragging for the cause of pride
Bold—daring; fearless; too free in manner; impudent
ALSO Bold—showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit
Condescending—SEE Humor/Sarcasm (Satire) above.
Contemptuous—SEE Anger or Humor/Sarcasm (Satire) above.
Critical—inclined to judge severely and find fault, characterized by careful, exact evaluation and judgment
Disdainful—scornful and contemptuous; having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of these one views as unworthy
Haughty—scornfully and condescendingly proud; disdainfully proud, arrogant; overbearing
Insolent—presumptuous and insulting in manner or speech; arrogant. Audaciously rude or disrespectful; impertinent
ALSO Insolent—contemptuously rude
Judgmental—of, relating to, or dependent on judgment; inclined to make judgments, especially moral or personal ones.
ALSO Judgmental—depending on judgment
Mordant—bitingly sarcastic.
ALSO Mordant—incisive
Patronizing—to treat in a condescending manner.
Pompous—characterized by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity; pretentious.
ALSO Pompous—marked by assumed stateliness; overbearing
Pretentious—claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when unjustified.
ALSO Pretentious—making an ambitious outward show
Supercilious—feeling or showing haughty disdain.
ALSO Supercilious—exhibiting haughty contempt or indifference
For SADNESS, FEAR, or WORRY / CONCERN:
Anxious—Uneasy and apprehensive about an uncertain event or matter; worried.
Apprehensive—Anxious or fearful about the future.
Baffled—Perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment.
Cautionary—Giving or serving as a warning; admonitory: a cautionary tale; cautionary advice.
Concerned—Feeling or showing worry or solicitude.
Despairing—Characterized by or resulting from despair; hopeless.
Disbelieving—Not believing; doubting, distrusting; skeptical.
Disturbed—Showing signs or symptoms of mental or emotional illness.
Elegiac—Of, relating to, or involving elegy or mourning or expressing sorrow for that which is irrecoverably past.
Fearful—1) Causing or capable of causing fear; frightening. 2) Experiencing fear; frightened. 3) Feeling or inclined to feel anxiety or apprehension; timid; nervous. 4) Indicating anxiety, fear, or terror. 5) Feeling reverence, dread, or awe. 6) Extreme, as in degree or extent; dreadful.
Foreboding—marked by or indicative of foreboding; ominous.
ALSO Foreboding: Of ominous significance.
Gloomy—1) Partially or totally dark, especially dismal and dreary: a damp, gloomy day. 2) Showing or filled with gloom: gloomy faces. 3) a. Causing or producing gloom; depressing: gloomy news.b. Marked by hopelessness; very pessimistic: gloomy predictions.
ALSO Gloomy: Partially or totally dark, especially dismal and dreary.
Harried—1) To disturb or distress as if by repeated attacks. 2) Marked by harassment or raids/pillaging.
ALSO Harried: Troubled persistently, especially with petty annoyances.
Hopeless—1) Having no hope; despairing. 2) Offering no hope; bleak. 3) Incurable. 4) Having no possibility of solution; impossible.
Incredulous—Not disposed or willing to believe;unbelieving.
ALSO Incredulous: Skeptical; disbelieving.
Melancholic—Of, relating to, or subject tomelancholy; depressed.
Morose—Sullenly melancholy; gloomy.
ALSO Morose—Showing a brooding ill humor.
Mournful—Feeling or expressing sorrow or grief; sorrowful.
Pessimistic—Expecting the worst in this worst of all possible worlds.
Questioning—Marked by or given to doubt; "a skeptical attitude."
Regretful—Full of regret; sorrowful or sorry.
Resigned—To have a firm, yet cautious mind.
ALSO Resigned—Feeling or marked by resignation; acquiescent.
Sad—Affected or characterized by sorrow or unhappiness.
Serious—Grave in quality or manner: gave me a serious look.
Shocked—Struck with fear, dread, or consternation
Sober—Marked by seriousness, gravity, or solemnity of conduct or character.
Solemn—1) Gloomy. 2) Gravely impressive. 3) Sacred.
Somber—Dark, gloomy.
Staid—Fixed, permanent.
Tragic—Mournful, fatal, terrible.
Urgent—Important or requiring immediate reaction.
For NEUTRAL:
Admonitory—Expressing mild, kind, yet earnest reproof.
Apathetic—Feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern.
ALSO Apathetic—Indifferent.
Authoritative—Having or arising from authority; official.
ALSO Authoritative—Having due authority; peremptory.
Candid—Free from prejudice.
ALSO Candid—Sincere; ingenuous.
Cautionary—Giving or serving as a warning.
ALSO Cautionary—With caution, concern, or wariness.
Ceremonial—Formal or ritual.
ALSO Ceremonial—In outward observance; with formality.
Clinical—Of, relating to, or connected with a clinic*
Detached—Separated; disconnected.
Didactic—Intended to instruct.
Direct—Proceeding without interruption in a straightcourse or line.
Distant—Far removed; remote.
Erudite—Characterized by deep, extensive learning.
Factual—Of the nature of fact; real.
Formal—Following or being in accord with accepted forms.
Forthright—Direct and without evasion; straightforward.
Informative—Imparting knowledge.
Instructive—Carrying a lesson; enlightening.
Matter-of-fact—Adhering to the unembellished facts; also: being plain, straightforward, or unemotional.
Objective—Relating to or existing as an object of thought without consideration of independent existence.
Restrained—Marked by restraint; being without excessor extravagance.
For TRANQUILITY:
Calm—1) Nearly or completely motionless; undisturbed: the calm surface of the lake.2) Not excited or agitated; composed: The President was calm throughout the global crisis.
Hopeful—1) Having or manifesting hope. 2) Inspiring hope; promising.
Meditative—Characterized by or prone to meditation.
Nostalgic—1) Bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past.2) The condition of being homesick; homesickness.
ALSO Nostalgic: Unhappy at being away and longing for familiar things or persons.
Optimistic—1) In which a person is hopeful, sanguine as an optimistic view.2) In which a person is expecting the best of all possible worlds “an affirmative outlook.”
Peaceful—Being undisturbed by strife, turmoil, or disagreement, tranquil person/object/ or thing of whom is possessing or enjoying peace not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war, violence, or disorderly.
ALSO Peaceful: 1) Undisturbed by strife, turmoil, or disagreement; tranquil.2) Inclined or
disposed to peace; peaceable. 3) Of or characteristic of a condition of peace.
Reflective—1) Capable of or producing a reflection ( a reflective surface). 2) Characterized by or given to meditation or contemplation, thoughtful.
Relaxed—free/without strain or tension; an easy and informal in manner.
ALSO Relaxed: 1) Not rigorous or strict.2) Free from strain or tension.3) Easy and informal in manner.
Reminiscent—Having the quality of or containing reminiscence; tending to recall or suggest something in the past: an evening reminiscent of happier times.
Sentimental—1) Characterized or swayed by sentiment. 2) Affectedly or extravagantly emotional. 3) Resulting from or colored by emotion rather than reason or realism. 4) Appealing to the sentiments, especially to romantic feelings: sentimental music.
Serene—1)Unaffected by disturbance; calm and unruffled. 2) Unclouded; fair: serene skies and a bright blue sea.
ALSO Serene: clear and free of unpleasant change; utter calm.
Soothing—Tending to soothe; having a sedative effect.
ALSO Soothing: 1) Affording physical relief. 2) Freeing from fear and anxiety.
Spiritual—1) Of relating to, consisting of or affecting the spirit. 2) Of, relating to, consisting of, or having the nature of spirit; not tangible or material. 3) Of, concerned with, or affecting the soul. 4) Of or belonging to a church or religion; sacred. 5) Relating to or having the nature of spirits or a spirit; supernatural.
Staid—From past participle of stay; marked by settled sedateness and often prim self-restraint.
ALSO Staid: Characterized by sedate dignity and often a strait-laced sense of propriety; sober.
For ROMANCE:
Affectionate—1) Having or showing fond feelings or affection; loving and tender. 2) Kindly inclined; zealous.
ALSO Affectionate: Having or showing fond feelings of tenderness toward another.
Amorous—1) Strongly attracted or disposed to love, especially sexual love. 2) Indicative of love or sexual desire: an amorous glance.3) Of or associated with love. 4) Being in love; enamored.
Compassionate—1) Feeling or showing compassion; sympathetic. 2) Granted to an individual because of an emergency or other unusual circumstance.
ALSO Compassionate: Feeling or showing a deep awareness of the suffering
of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.
Erotic—1) Of or concerning sexual love and desire; amatory. 2) Tending to arouse sexual desire. 3) Dominated by sexual love or desire.
Fanciful—1) Created in the fancy; unreal: a fanciful story.2) Tending to indulge in fancy: a fanciful mind. 3) Showing invention or whimsy in design; imaginative.
ALSO Fanciful: indulging in or influenced by fancy
Ideal—1)a. Of, relating to, or embodying an ideal;b. Conforming to an ultimate form or standard of perfection or excellence. 2) Considered the best of its kind. 3) Completely or highly satisfactory: The location of the new house is ideal.4) a. Existing only in the mind; imaginary; b. Lacking practicality or the possibility of realization. 5) Of, relating to, or consisting of ideas or mental images. 6) Philosophy.a. Existing as an archetype or pattern, especially as a Platonic idea or perception; b. Of or relating to idealism.
Intimate—1)Marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity. 2) Relating to or indicative of one's deepest nature: intimate prayers.3) Essential; innermost: the intimate structure of matter. 4) Marked by informality and privacy: an intimate nightclub.5) Very personal; private: an intimate letter.6) Of or involved in a sexual relationship.
ALSO Intimate: Relating to or indicative of one's deepest nature
Loving—To hold dear and to cherish or to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for.
ALSO Loving: Feeling love; affectionate
Lustful—Excited or driven by lust. (Lust—to have an intense desire or need, also to crave or to have a sexual urge.)
Lyrical—Expressing direct usually intense personal emotion.
ALSO Lyrical: Expressing deep personal emotion
Reflective—Capable of reflecting light, images or sound waves. Also marked by reflection: Thoughtful and deliberative.
ALSO Reflective: Of, relating to, produced by, or resulting from reflection
Sensual—1) Relating to or affecting any of the senses; sensory. 2) a. Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites;b. Suggesting sexuality; voluptuous;c. Physical rather than spiritual or intellectual; d. Lacking in moral or spiritual interests; worldly.
ALSO Sensual: Pertaining to, inclined to, or preoccupied with the gratification of the senses or appetites
Tender—1) a. Easily crushed or bruised; fragile: a tender petal; b. Easily chewed or cut: tender beef.2) Young and vulnerable: of tender age.3) Frail; delicate.4) Sensitive to frost or severe cold; not hardy: tender green shoots.5) a. Easily hurt; sensitive: tender skin;b. Painful; sore: a tender tooth.6) a. Considerate and protective; solicitous: a tender mother; his tender concern; b. Characterized by or expressing gentle emotions; loving: a tender glance; a tender ballad; c. Given to sympathy or sentimentality; soft: a tender heart;7.Nautical. Likely to heel easily under sail; crank.
ALSO Tender: Delicate, soft, or gentle; easily crushed or bruised
Whimsical—1) Determined by, arising from, or marked by whim or caprice. 2) Erratic in behavior or degree of unpredictability: a whimsical personality.
For LOGIC:
Argumentative—Given to arguing; disputatious.
Didactic—Inclined to teach or moralize excessively.
Doubtful—Undecided or skeptical.
Explanatory—Serving to explain.