Tone/Attitude Words
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accusatory-charging of wrong doing
apathetic-indifferent due to lack of energy or concern
awe-solemn wonder
bitter-exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief
cynical-questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people
condescension; condescending-a feeling of superiority
callous-unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others
contemplative-studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue
critical-finding fault
choleric-hot-tempered, easily angered
contemptuous-showing or feeling that something is worthless or lacks respect
caustic-intense use of sarcasm; stinging, biting
conventional-lacking spontaneity, originality, and individuality
disdainful-scornful
didactic-author attempts to educate or instruct the reader
derisive-ridiculing, mocking
earnest-intense, a sincere state of mind
erudite-learned, polished, scholarly
fanciful-using the imagination
forthright-directly frank without hesitation
gloomy-darkness, sadness, rejection
haughty-proud and vain to the point of arrogance
indignant-marked by anger aroused by injustice
intimate-very familiar
judgmental-authoritative and often having critical opinions
jovial-happy
lyrical-expressing a poet’s inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like
matter-of-fact--accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional
mocking-treating with contempt or ridicule
morose-gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent
malicious-purposely hurtful
objective-an unbiased view-able to leave personal judgments aside
optimistic-hopeful, cheerful
obsequious-polite and obedient in order to gain something
patronizing-air of condescension
pessimistic-seeing the worst side of things; no hope
quizzical-odd, eccentric, amusing
ribald-offensive in speech or gesture
reverent-treating a subject with honor and respect
ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of
reflective-illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions
sarcastic-sneering, caustic
sardonic-scornfully and bitterly sarcastic
satiric-ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point, teach
sincere-without deceit or pretense; genuine
solemn-deeply earnest, tending toward sad reflection
sanguineous -optimistic, cheerful
whimsical-odd, strange, fantastic; fun
Words Used to Describe Tone
Tone
Meaning
Spanish Translation
accusatory
blaming other people
acusador
ambivalent
having conflicting feelings
ambivalente
amused
entertained; thinking it is
funny
gracioso; entretenido
angry
mad
enojado
anxious
worried or excited
inquieto; preocupado
apathetic
indifferent; doesn't care; not
interested
apático
apologetic
sorry
compungido
appreciative
grateful; thankful
agradecido
arrogant
too proud
arrogant; alternero
awe
solemn wonder; amazement
asombro; temor
beguiling
deceptive; cheating
engañoso, tramposo
bewilderment
confusion
perplejo; desconcierto
bitter
angry or hateful
amargado
bored, boring
not interested
aburrido
callous
insensitive
insensible; duro
calm
relaxed; not excited
tranquilo
candid
straightforward; blunt
franco; sincero
cheerful
happy
alegre; animado
concerned
worried or interested
afectado; preocupado
condescending
looking down on other people;
feeling superior
condescendiente; dando aires
de supioridad
contemplative
studying; thinking; reflective
contemplativo
contemptuous
disrespectful; scornful
despectivo; despreciativo
courteous
nice; respectful
cortés; educado
critical
finding fault
crítico
cruel
mean; hurtful
cruel
curious
wanting to find out more
curioso
cynical
questioning the truth or
sincerity; skeptical
cínico
defensive
defending
defensivo
defiant
going against authority
de desafío
depressed
unhappy, sad
deprimido
desperate
frantic; without many options
desperado; urgente
determination
not giving up
determinación; persistencia
determined
not giving up
decidido; persistente
didactic
trying to teach something
didáctico
diplomatic
trying not to offend people
diplomático
direct
straightforward; honest
franco; sincero
disappointed
discouraged; unhappy
because something went
wrong
decepcionado; desilusionado
disdainful
scornful
desdeñoso; despectivo
disgusting
yucky
asqueroso, repugnante
dissatisfied
unhappy; not satisfied
descontento; insatisfecho
dramatic
theatrical
impresionante, notable, teatral,
dramático
earnest
sincere; honest; intense
serio; formal
eccentric
odd; strange; different
excéntrico
egotistical
thinking only about himself;
self-centered
egocéntrico
eloquent
expressing ideas in a nice way;
elocuente
poetic; good with words
encouraging
optimistic; trying to convince
you to do something
alentador; prometedor
because of a belief that you
can do it
enthusiastic
excited; energetic
entusiasmado
envious
jealous
envidioso; celoso
excited
anxious
entusiasmado
expectant
waiting
ilusionado
fanciful
using the imagination;
imaginative
caprichosos
fearful
afraid
temeroso
formal
respectful, appropriate
behavior
formal
forthright
direct; honest without
hesitation
franco; directo
friendly
the way a person treats
friends
amistoso
frustrated
angry because of not being
able to do something
frustrado
funny
humorous; amusing
gracioso; divertido
gentle
not hurtful; careful
tierno
gloomy
dark; sad; depressed
pesimista; melancólico; triste
happy
cheerful; in a good mood
feliz
hateful
hating something or someone;
odioso
angry hate
haughty
proud; vain; arrogant
altanero; arrogante
honest
truthful
honesto; honrado
hopeful
looking forward to
something; optimistic
optimista
humorous
funny
gracioso; divertido
hysterical
very scared
histérico
idealistic
thinking of what is best;
optimistic; not realistic
idealista
imaginative
creative; using the imagination imaginativo; creativo
impersonal
not personal
indifferent
unconcerned; not interested indiferente
indignant
angry because something is
not fair
indignado
informal
not formal; relaxed
informal
impersonal
innocent
not guilty
inocente; no culpable
inspirational
encouraging; reassuring
inspirador
intimate
very familiar; the way one talks
íntimo; familiar
to close friends or family
ironic
different than what is
expected or the opposite of
what is meant
irónico
irritated
annoyed
irritado; molestado
jovial
happy
jovial; feliz
judgmental
judging others; critical
persona que juzga a otros;
crítico
lackadaisical
lazy
perezoso, vago
lethargic
sleepy
letárgico
lighthearted
happy, carefree
alegre, despreocupado
lofty
arrogant
altivo, arrogante
macabre
about death
macabro
malevolent
mean; angry; purposely hateful malévolo
malicious
purposely hurtful; very mean
malévolo
matter-of-fact
truthful; accepting of
conditions; straightforward
realista
melancholy
sad
melancólico
mischievous
playing tricks for fun
travieso
mocking
scornful; ridiculing; making fun
burlón
of someone
negative
unhappy; pessimistic
negativo
nervous
worried
nervioso
neutral
not good nor bad; not for nor
against
neutral
nostalgic
thinking about the past;
wishing for something from
the past
nostálgico
objective
without prejudice; without
discrimination; fair
objetivo
optimistic
hopeful; cheerful
optimista
patient
willing to wait; not in a hurry
paciente
patronizing
looking down on others; acting
condescendiente
superior
pensive
thinking, thoughtful
pensativo
perplexed
confused; puzzled
perplejo
persuasive
trying to convince
persuasivo
pessimistic
seeing the bad side of things pesimista
poetic
expressing beautiful thoughts
or words
poético
proud
full of pride in something;
thinking that something is
better than others
orgulloso
quizzical
questioning; eccentric; odd;
amusing
burlón; curioso
reflective
thoughtful; meditative;
thinking
pensativo
regret
feeling bad about the past
arrepentido
relaxation, relaxed
relaxed; not worried; not
busy
descanso, relajado
relieved
stop being worried
aliviado, tranquilizado
remorseful
very sad; sorrowful; regretful
lleno de remordimiento
reverent
respectful; treating something
with honor and respect
reverente
rude
not polite
maleducado, grosero
sad, sadness
unhappy
triste, tristeza
sarcastic
sneering; saying the
opposite of what you mean
as a way of being unfriendly
or making a point
sarcástico
sardonic
scornful; very sarcastic
sardónico
satirical
making fun of something to
show its weakness or to
teach a lesson
satírico
sentimental
thinking about feelings,
especially when remembering
the past
sentimental
serious
not funny; not joking
serio
sincere
honest; truthful; earnest
sincero; honrado; honesto
snobbish
acting as though one is better
esnob
than everyone else; egocentric
solemn
sad or quiet reflection
solemne; serio
solitude
loneliness
soledad
stiff
formal, serious
serio, formal
straightforward
direct; honest
honesto; sincero
stubborn
refusing to give in
testarudo; terco
surprised
startled; amazed
sorprendido
suspense, suspenseful
wondering what will happen
next
incertidumbre
sympathetic
compassionate; understanding
compasivo; comprensivo
of how someone feels
tearful
sad
lloroso, lacrimoso
tense
nervous
tenso
thankful
grateful; giving thanks
agradecido
threatening
menacing
amenazador
tolerant
accepting of others
tolerante
tragic
very sad
trágico
urgent
insistent; saying something
must be done soon
urgente
vindictive
revengeful; wanting to get back
vindicativo; vengativo
at someone
whimsical
playful; funny; odd
caprichoso
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This page was created on October 6, 2002 and modified on December 23, 2002.