TONE WORD LIST
Directions: Read each of the tone words below. With a green highlighter, highlight any words that have a
positive connotation. With an orange highlighter, highlight any words that have a negative
connotation. With a yellow highlighter, highlight any words that have a neutral connotation.
REMEMBER: GREEN=POSITIVE
ORANGE=NEGATIVE
YELLOW=NEUTRAL
Tone
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accusatory
Meaning
blaming other people
agitated
emotionally disturbed; perturbed
allusive
a reference to something that is implied or inferred
ambivalent
amused
angry
having conflicting feelings
entertained; thinking it is funny
mad
anxious
worried or excited; uneasy and eager
apathetic
indifferent; doesn't care; not interested
apologetic
sorry
appreciative
apprehensive
arrogant
audacious
awe
beguiling
bewilderment
bitter
bored, boring
callous
calm
grateful; thankful
uneasy or fearful about something that might happem
too proud
extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave
solemn wonder; amazement
deceptive; cheating
confusion
angry or hateful
not interested
insensitive
relaxed; not excited
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candid
straightforward; blunt
carefree
without worry; lighthearted; joyous
cheerful
happy
childish
befitting a child; the undesirable and unpleasant characteristics of a
child
cold
lacking in passion, emotion; not affectionate or friendly
complimentary
politely flattering
composed
calm and serene
concerned
worried or interested
condescending
looking down on other people; feeling superior
contemplative
studying; thinking; reflective
contemptuous
feeling disgrace; disrespectful; scornful
courteous
critical
cruel
nice; respectful
finding fault
mean; hurtful
curious
wanting to find out more
cynical
questioning the truth or sincerity; skeptical
defensive
defiant
depressed
defending; protective
going against authority
unhappy, sad
desolate
solitary; lonely; dreary; dismal
desperate
frantic; without many options
despondent
profound hopelessness, discouragement, or gloom
detached
disinterested; unbiased; not involved or concerned
determination
not giving up
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determined
not giving up
didactic
trying to teach something
diplomatic
trying not to offend people
direct
disappointed
straightforward; honest
discouraged; unhappy because something went wrong
disdainful
scornful; insulting
disgusting
yucky; to sicken
dissatisfied
unhappy; not satisfied
dramatic
theatrical
dreamy
soothing; restful; quieting
earnest
sincere; honest; intense
eccentric
ecstatic
egotistical
eloquent
odd; strange; different
great enthusiasm; a trancelike state of delight or ecstacy
thinking only about himself; self-centered
expressing ideas in a nice way; poetic; good with words
encouraging
optimistic; trying to convince you to do something because of a belief
that you can do it
enthusiastic
excited; energetic
envious
jealous
excited
anxious
expectant
waiting
exultant
highly elated; jubilant; triumphant
fanciful
using the imagination; imaginative
fearful
afraid
formal
respectful, appropriate behavior
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forthright
direct; honest without hesitation
frank
direct and unreserved in speech; straightforward; without inhibition
fretful
worried, annoyed or discontent
friendly
the way a person treats friends
frivolous
self-indulgently carefree; lacking any serious purpose
frustrated
angry because of not being able to do something
funny
humorous; amusing
gentle
not hurtful; careful
giddy
frivolous and lighthearted; impulsive; flighty
gloomy
dark; sad; depressed
happy
cheerful; in a good mood
hateful
hating something or someone; angry hate
haughty
proud; vain; arrogant
hesitant
lacking readiness; undecided
honest
truthful
hopeful
looking forward to something; optimistic
hopeless
without hope; despairing
horrific
provoking horror; horrible
humorous
funny
hysterical
very scared
idealistic
thinking of what is best; optimistic; not realistic
imaginative
creative; using the imagination
impersonal
not personal; lacking emotion or warmth
incensed
to inflame with wrath; make angry; enrage
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indifferent
indignant, indignation
unconcerned; not interested
angry because something is not fair or is considered offensive
informal
not formal; relaxed
innocent
not guilty
inspirational
intimate
ironic
irreverent
irritated
encouraging; reassuring
very familiar; the way one talks to close friends or family
different than what is expected or the opposite of what is meant
disrespectful
annoyed
jittery
extremely tense and nervous; jumpy
jovial
happy
judgmental
lackadaisical
lethargic
lighthearted
lofty
lugubrious
macabre
malevolent
malicious
matter-of-fact
melancholy
mirthful
mischievous
judging others; critical
lazy
sleepy
happy, carefree
arrogant
mournful or gloomy in an exaggerated manner
about death
mean; angry; purposely hateful
purposely hurtful; very mean
truthful; accepting of conditions; straightforward
sad
joyful, jolly
playing tricks for fun
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mocking
scornful; ridiculing; making fun of someone
morose
gloomily or sullenly ill-humored; moody; sour; glum
negative
unhappy; pessimistic
nervous
worried; uneasy; anxious
neutral
not good nor bad; not for nor against
nostalgic
thinking about the past; wishing for something from the past
objective
without prejudice; without discrimination; fair
oppressed
burdened with cruel restraints; subject to a harsh exercise of power
optimistic
hopeful; cheerful
outspoken
expressed with frankness; free speech
patient
patronizing
willing to wait; not in a hurry
looking down on others; acting superior
pensive
thinking, thoughtful
perplexed
confused; puzzled
persuasive
trying to convince
pessimistic
seeing the bad side of things
pitiful
pathetic; exhibiting suffering and misery
placid
pleasantly calm or peaceful; tranquil
poetic
expressing beautiful thoughts or words
poignant
proud
affecting or moving the emotions; sincere; heartfelt
full of pride in something; thinking that something is better than
others
quizzical
questioning; eccentric; odd; amusing
redolent
suggestive or reminiscent of something
reflective
thoughtful; meditative; thinking
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regret
relaxation, relaxed
relieved
remorseful
feeling bad about the past
relaxed; not worried; not busy
stop being worried
very sad; sorrowful; regretful
resentful
feeling displeasure or anger at some act, remark or person
restrained
to hold back; restricted; limited
reverent
rude
respectful; treating something with honor and respect
not polite
sarcastic
sneering; saying the opposite of what you mean as a way of being
unfriendly or making a point
sardonic
scornful; very sarcastic
satirical
making fun of something to show its weakness or to teach a lesson
scornful
open contempt or disdain for something
sharp
sly; clever in an underhand way; harsh
sentimental
thinking about feelings, especially when remembering the past
serious
not funny; not joking
sincere
honest; truthful; earnest
snobbish
acting as though one is better than everyone else; egocentric
solemn
sad or quiet reflection
solitude
loneliness
somber
gloomy; depressing; dismal
stiff
formal, serious
straightforward
direct; honest
stubborn
refusing to give in
surprised
startled; amazed
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suspense, suspenseful
sympathetic
wondering what will happen next
compassionate; understanding of how someone feels
tearful
sad; causing tears
tense
nervous; emotionally or mentally straining
thankful
threatening
tolerant
grateful; giving thanks
menacing
accepting of others
tragic
very sad
upset
distressed; agitated; disturb mentally or emotionally
urgent
insistent; saying something must be done soon
vexed
annoyed; confused
vibrant
energetic; vivid; full of life
vindictive
revengeful; wanting to get back at someone
whimsical
playful; funny; odd
woeful
dreadful; sorrowful; miserable
zealous
devoted; enthusiatic; eager; passionate
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