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Adjectives for Tone, Feelings and Emotions

Many times the same adjectives are used to express tone, feelings and emotions are the same for a couple of the categories. A tone is an overall sense that you get from some sort of event, work, situation etc. Feelings and emotions are very similar; however, emotions tend to refer to that which is not tangible, while you could have feelings of cold, warm, tired which are very tangible.
Adjectives to Describe Tone

Sarcastic Dull Dreary Happy Sad

Narcissistic Devoted Bitter Angry Resentful Guilty Light Heavy Dark humor Sardonic Quizzical Intelligent Foolish Sympathetic Irritated Annoyed Disbelieving Believing Outraged

Alarmed Startled Horrified Supportive Not supportive Enlightened Cautious Clever Calculated Purposeful Intently Hurtful Loving Hating Mysterious Fresh Secretive Bold Religious

Political Social Involved Democratic Republican Liberal Conservative


Adjectives to Describe Feelings

Happy Angry Sad Hungry Cold Hot Warm Chilly Thirsty Sick

Tired Weak Strong Terrible Dreadful Well OK Very well Clean Dirty Excited Attracted Ugly Beautiful Handsome Gorgeous Attractive Defeated Embarrassed

Empowered Intelligent Smart Stupid Dumb Foolish Silly Better Hurt Nervous Scared Agreeable Brave Calm Delightful Eager Gentle Jolly Joyful

Kind Nice Sweet Evil Proud Relieved Hope Faith Optimistic Pessimistic Loving Hating Open Understanding Reliable Amazed Great Lucky Fortunate

Festive Cheerful Moody Playful Animated Wonderful Thrilled Supportive Serene Free Taken aback Engrossed Involved
Adjectives to Describe Emotions

Happy Sad Angry Mad

Grumpy Joyful Tearful Devastated Horrified Disgruntled Hurt Annoyed Aggravated Loving Hating Liking Lusting Despise Sweet Sour Depressed Sick Fear

Guilt Pride Jealousy Self pity Anxiety Frustration Envy Longing Shame Appreciative Selfish Hope Faith Thrilled Overcome Overjoyed Respectful Supportive Serene

Overwhelmed You have probably noticed that many of these words do overlap. While the terms do have separate and distinct meanings, at other times, you simply cannot pick them apart from one another, because they all seem to blend into one.

Using Adjectives for Tone, Feelings, and Emotions


These three items can be so hard to describe at times. Do you not have moments yourself where you do not know what you are feeling or how to even describe it? Here are some helpful tips writers and for teaching adjectives to describe types of feelings which are often rather abstract:

Pick a few, strong adjectives to use. Even if it might be difficult, you still want to get your point across as best as possible. On the same note, do not pick a ton of different adjectives to use. The number really depends upon what you are describing. However, if you start to use too many words, not only are you going to confuse your reader or student, but your writing style is going to become very choppy very quickly. Do not be afraid to take some time to figure out a situation. For example, you might have to analyze the tone of a short composition. Sit back for awhile and let the words really absorb in. Hopefully, these tips and the lists of adjectives will help you to become a better writer or teacher.

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