The tone and mood words listed below are also available as a Word document.
Tone and mood both deal with the emotions centered around a piece of writing. Though they seem similar and can in fact be related causally, they are in fact quite different.
Tone
Tone is the author’s attitude toward a subject. While journalistic writing theoretically has a tone of distance and objectivity, all other writing can have various tones.
If we were to read a description of a first date that included words and phrases like “dreaded” and “my buddies forced me to go on the date”, we could assume that the individual didn’t really enjoy the date.
Some tone words include:
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POSITIVE TONE WORDS |
NEUTRAL (+, -, or neutral) |
NEGATIVE TONE WORDS |
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admiring adoring affectionate appreciative approving bemused benevolent blithe calm casual celebratory cheerful comforting comic compassionate complimentary conciliatory confident contented delightful earnest ebullient ecstatic effusive elated empathetic encouraging euphoric excited exhilarated expectant facetious fervent flippant forthright friendly funny gleeful gushy happy
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hilarious hopeful humorous interested introspective jovial joyful laudatory light lively mirthful modest nostalgic optimistic passionate placid playful poignant proud reassuring reflective relaxed respectful reverent romantic sanguine scholarly self-assured sentimental serene silly sprightly straightforward sympathetic tender tranquil whimsical wistful worshipful zealous
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commanding direct impartial indirect meditative objective questioning speculative unambiguous unconcerned understated
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abhorring acerbic ambiguous ambivalent angry annoyed antagonistic anxious apathetic apprehensive belligerent bewildered biting bitter blunt bossy cold conceited condescending confused contemptuous curt cynical demanding depressed derisive derogatory desolate despairing desperate detached diabolic disappointed disliking disrespectful doubtful embarrassed enraged evasive fatalistic fearful forceful foreboding frantic frightened frustrated furious gloomy grave greedy grim harsh haughty holier-than-thou hopeless |
hostile impatient incredulous indifferent indignant inflammatory insecure insolent irreverent lethargic melancholy mischievous miserable mocking mournful nervous ominous outraged paranoid pathetic patronizing pedantic pensive pessimistic pretentious psychotic resigned reticent sarcastic sardonic scornful self-deprecating selfish serious severe sinister skeptical sly solemn somber stern stolid stressful strident suspicious tense threatening tragic uncertain uneasy unfriendly unsympathetic upset violent wry |
Mood
Mood is the atmosphere of a piece of writing; it’s the emotions a selection arouses in a reader.
Some common mood descriptors are:
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POSITIVE MOOD WORDS |
NEGATIVE MOOD WORDS |
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amused awed bouncy calm cheerful chipper confident contemplative content determined dignified dreamy ecstatic empowered energetic enlightened enthralled excited exhilarated flirty giddy grateful harmonious hopeful hyper idyllic joyous
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jubilant liberating light-hearted loving mellow nostalgic optimistic passionate peaceful playful pleased refreshed rejuvenated relaxed relieved satiated satisfied sentimental silly surprised sympathetic thankful thoughtful touched trustful vivacious warm welcoming |
aggravated annoyed anxious apathetic apprehensive barren brooding cold confining confused cranky crushed cynical depressed desolate disappointed discontented distressed drained dreary embarrassed enraged envious exhausted fatalistic foreboding frustrated futile gloomy grumpy haunting heartbroken hopeless hostile indifferent infuriated
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insidious intimidated irate irritated jealous lethargic lonely melancholic merciless moody morose nauseated nervous nightmarish numb overwhelmed painful pensive pessimistic predatory rejected restless scared serious sick somber stressed suspenseful tense terrifying threatening uncomfortable vengeful violent worried
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One good way to see mood (and, to a degree, tone) in action is through genre-crossing movie trailers. In film editing classes throughout the States, a common assignment is to take an existing film (say, a comedy) and create a film preview that presents the film as a different genre (for example, a horror film). This is accomplished through editing and splicing scenes, adding new, anxiety-producing music and sound effects, and adding a new voice-over introduction.
Some of the best examples of this are below.
- Mary Poppins as a horror film: Scary Mary
- Dumb and Dumber was turned into a horror film, Lurk and Lurker: Dumb and Dumber (Horror)
- The Shining was transformed from horror film into a feel-good romantic comedy: The Shining (Feel-Good/Romantic Comedy)
thank you so much for listing the adjectives of tone and mood,the difference is easier to understand and is improving my grades I feel enlightened,empowered, and refreshed,it’s a job well done.BRAVO,BRAVO,……………LITERATURE FOREVER
I love the movie trailers! Thanks so much for sharing.
umm, yes; all of this helped a little with the adjectives with the tone & mood, but its just blank..its not entertaining. try to make it more visual appealing! thanks(:
You create something; if I like it, I’ll post it.
u need to be able to click on the word for definition.
Perhaps. But if that were the case, whence would you gain the satisfaction of the search in your quest for knowledge? (In other words, wouldn’t that make it too easy?)
Me likey!!
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thanks for the help my seventh grade year is going to rock now that i finally know what mood and tone
Glad I could be of help.
Thank you needed to understand for my english essay and my mom didnt have a clue. Thank you!
Not a problem.
I teach Sophomore english at Milford High School in Cincinnati,OH and I just wanted to thank your for this list, I’ll be passing it out to my class on Monday as we start our poetry unit.
Thanks!
-Harry Smith
I’m glad it was helpful.
Thank you very much for your post. Great list of adjectives and a good teacher can get their students to act out the different emotions created by specific adjectives, make it into a contest even teenagers would love that. I also liked the film snippets, Mary Poppins was by far the best…a children’s story made creepy!!! wow.
Thank you once again.
It helped SOOOO much! Thank you! I had to make a poster on mood & teach it to the class (weird pick, right?) and the examples heped a TON and your descriptions were PERECT for a class of oblivious, lazy and dumb 6th graders!
Thanks, again!!!!
Great film clips! Thanks.
However, I’d be inclined to delete posts that suggests any student(s) to be ‘oblivious, lazy and dumb’ and, perhaps, advise that teacher to reassess her opinions, and seek up to date training on student-centered pedagogic techniques and effective communication/behavioral approaches.
I think the previous comment came from a student in said class. The fact that she said “I had to make a poster on mood & teach it to the class” makes me think it’s something that doesn’t happen often, which makes it unlike this is a teacher. Additionally, the parenthetical remark, “weird pick, right?” implies that students had to choose topics from a list, which the teacher presumably provided. If it were a teacher, I probably wouldn’t have approved it. As it is, it sounds like one sixth grader referring to her peers (perhaps with tongue in cheek) as “oblivious, lazy and dumb.” I would, however, suggest that this student look into the use of the Oxford comma!
thanks for the website
GOOD