| WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE TONE IN POETRY |
| |
WORD |
MEANING |
| 1. |
Apathetic |
Feeling/ showing little emotion |
| 2. |
Arrogant |
Bumptious/ self-important |
| 3. |
Audacious |
Fearless and daring |
| 4. |
Bilious |
Bad tempered; cross |
| 5. |
Blithe |
Joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought |
| 6 |
Bombastic |
Pompous/ arrogant in speech and manner |
| 7. |
Brash |
Prone to act in a hasty manner; impudent |
| 8. |
Breezy |
Lively, cheerful and relaxed |
| 9. |
Cantankerous |
Bad-tempered; quarrelsome |
| 10. |
Caustic/ sarcastic |
Biting/ bitter and humorous |
| 11. |
Coarse |
Conspicuously and tastelessly indecent/ offensive |
| 12. |
Complacent |
Self-satisfied; smug |
| 13. |
Confiding |
With trust or faith |
| 14. |
Consoling |
Affording comfort or solace |
| 15. |
Contemptuous |
Feeling of hatred; scornful |
| 16. |
Contentious |
Argumentative; causing controversy/ quarrel/ disagreement |
| 17. |
Contented |
Satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are |
| 18. |
Contradictory |
Expressing the opposite; inconsistent |
| 19. |
Cynical |
Questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people. |
| 20. |
Dejected |
Downcast or sad; depressed |
| 21. |
Dismissive |
Show little regard; scornful |
| 22. |
Doleful |
Mournful or full of sorrow |
| 23. |
Dutiful |
Obedient |
| 24. |
Elegiac |
Expressing sorrow or lamentation |
| 25. |
Euphoric |
Exaggerated feeling of well-being or elation/ joy/delight |
| 26. |
Fanciful |
Whimsical; freely imaginative based on fantasy not reality |
| 27. |
Fervent |
Very emotional/ earnest, passionate; extremely hot |
| 28. |
Frenetic |
Frantic; frenzied/ overexcited/ hysterical |
| 29. |
Flippant |
Humorous in a disrespectful, casual; rudely amusing/witty. |
| 30. |
Frivolous |
Of little importance, not worthy of serious attention; not serious |
| 31. |
Pessimistic |
Gloomy/ negative/ doubtful/ cynical/ distrustful/ suspicious |
| 32. |
Haughty |
Arrogant, excessively proud and vain |
| 33. |
Illusory |
Misleading, deceptive; unrealistic |
| 34. |
Laconic |
Brief, using few words |
| 35. |
Macabre |
Grisly, horrible, distressing; having death as a subject |
| 36. |
Melancholy |
Depressed/ downhearted |
| 37. |
Nihilistic |
Belief that traditional values are useless/ senseless |
| 38. |
Panegyric |
Elaborate praise |
| 39. |
Opprobrious |
(For conduct or character) bringing or deserving disgrace/shame |
| 40. |
Nostalgic |
Longing for the past |
| 41. |
Admiring |
Appreciative |
| 42. |
Aggressive |
Violent |
| 43. |
Aggravated |
Irritated/ provoked |
| 44. |
Contemptuous/ derisive |
Scornful/ condescending/ mocking |
| 45. |
Pitiful |
Miserable |
| 46. |
Resigned |
Leave out/ surrendered/ prepared to accept |
| 47. |
Threatening |
Intimidating |
| 48. |
Uncertain |
Unclear/ unsure |
| 49. |
Subdued |
Submissive/ gentle |
| 50. |
Sympathetic |
Compassionate/ considerate |
| POSITIVE TONE WORDS |
NEUTRAL |
NEGATIVE TONE WORDS |
| Admiring |
Hilarious |
Commanding |
Abhorring |
Hostile |
| Adoring |
Hopeful |
Direct |
Acerbic |
Impatient |
| Affectionate |
Humorous |
Impartial |
Ambiguous |
Incredulous |
| Appreciative |
Interested |
Indirect |
Ambivalent |
Indifferent |
| Approving |
Introspective |
Meditative |
Angry |
Indignant |
| Bemused |
Jovial |
Objective |
Annoyed |
Inflammatory |
| Benevolent |
Joyful |
Questioning |
Antagonistic |
Insecure |
| Blithe |
Laudatory |
Speculative |
Anxious |
Insolent |
| Calm |
Light |
Unambiguous |
Apathetic |
Irreverent |
| Casual |
Lively |
Unconcerned |
Apprehensive |
Lethargic |
| Celebratory |
Mirthful |
Understated |
Belligerent |
Melancholy |
| Cheerful |
Modest |
|
Bewildered |
Mischievous |
| Comforting |
Nostalgic |
|
Biting |
Miserable |
| Comic |
Optimistic |
|
Bitter |
Mocking |
| Compassionate |
Passionate |
|
Blunt |
Mournful |
| Complimentary |
Placid |
|
Bossy |
Nervous |
| Conciliatory |
Playful |
|
Cold |
Ominous |
| Confident |
Poignant |
|
Conceited |
Outraged |
| Contented |
Proud |
|
Condescending |
Paranoid |
| Delightful |
Reassuring |
|
Curt |
Pathetic |
| Earnest |
Reflective |
|
Cynical |
Patronizing |
| Ebullient |
Relaxed |
|
Demanding |
Pedantic |
| Effusive |
Respectful |
|
Depressed |
Pensive |
| Elated |
Reverent |
|
Derisive |
Pessimistic |
| Empathetic |
Romantic |
|
Derogatory |
Pretentious |
| Excited |
Sanguine |
|
Desolate |
Psychotic |
| Exhilarated |
Scholarly |
|
Despairing |
Resigned |
| Expectant |
Self-assured |
|
Desperate |
Reticent |
| Facetious |
Sentimental |
|
Detached |
Sarcastic |
| Fervent |
Serene |
|
Diabolic |
Sardonic |
| Flippant |
Silly |
|
Disappointed |
Scornful |
| Forthright |
Sprightly |
|
Disliking |
Self-deprecating |
| Friendly |
Straightforward |
|
Disrespectful |
Selfish |
| Funny |
Sympathetic |
|
Doubtful |
Serious |
| Gleeful |
Tender |
|
Embarrassed |
Severe |
| Gushy |
Tranquil |
|
Enraged |
Sinister |
| Happy |
Whimsical |
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Evasive |
Skeptical |
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Wistful |
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Fatalistic |
Sly |
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Worshipful |
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Forceful |
Solemn |
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Zealous |
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Foreboding |
Stern |
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Frantic |
Stolid |
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Frightened |
Stressful |
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Frustrated |
Strident |
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Furious |
Suspicious |
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Gloomy |
Tense |
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Grave |
Threatening |
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Greedy |
Tragic |
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Grim |
Uncertain |
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Harsh |
Uneasy |
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Haughty |
Unfriendly |
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Hopeless |
Unsympathetic |
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Upset |
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Violent |
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Wry |
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