240 Words to Describe Someone’s Tone/Voice

smut-101:

  1. Abrasive – showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh
  2. Absurd – wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate
  3. Accusatory – suggesting someone has done something wrong, complaining
  4. Acerbic – sharp and forthright
  5. Acidic – harsh or critical
  6. Admiring – approving; think highly of; respectful; praising
  7. Aggressive – hostile; determined; forceful; argumentative
  8. Aggrieved –  angry and sad because you think you have been unfairly treated
  9. Airy –  giving an impression of being unconcerned or not serious
  10. Ambivalent – having mixed feelings; uncertain; in a dilemma; undecided
  11. Amused – pleasantly; entertain or divert in an enjoyable or cheerful manner
  12. Angry – incensed or enraged; threatening or menacing
  13. Animated – full of life or excitement; lively; spirited; impassioned; vibrant
  14. Anxious –  typically with a feeling of unease
  15. Apathetic – showing little interest; lacking concern; indifferent; unemotional
  16. Apologetic – full of regret; repentant; remorseful; acknowledging failure
  17. Appreciative – grateful; thankful; showing pleasure; enthusiastic
  18. Ardent – enthusiastic; passionate
  19. Arrogant – pompous; disdainful; overbearing; condescending; vain; scoffing
  20. Assertive – self-confident; strong-willed; authoritative; insistent
  21. Authoritative – commanding and self-confident
  22. Awestruck – amazed, filled with wonder/awe; reverential
  23. Barbed – deliberately hurtful
  24. Barking – utter a command or question abruptly or aggressively
  25. Belligerent – hostile; aggressive; combatant
  26. Benevolent – sympathetic; tolerant; generous; caring; well meaning
  27. Bitter – angry; acrimonious; antagonistic; spiteful; nasty
  28. Blasé – unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before
  29. Bleak – without hope or encouragement; depressing; dreary
  30. Bombastic – high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated
  31. Booming – loud, deep, and resonant
  32. Bored – to tire or make weary by being dull, repetitious, or uninteresting
  33. Brash – self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way
  34. Braying – speak or laugh loudly and harshly
  35. Breathy – producing or causing an audible sound of breathing, often related to physical exertion or strong feelings
  36. Breezy – appearing relaxed, informal, and cheerily brisk
  37. Brittle – lacking warmth, sensitivity, or compassion; aloof
  38. Bubbly – full of cheerful high spirits
  39. Burbling – speak in an unintelligible or silly way, typically at unnecessary length
  40. Callous – cruel disregard; unfeeling; uncaring; indifferent; ruthless
  41. Candid – truthful, straightforward; honest; unreserved
  42. Caustic – making biting, corrosive comments; critical
  43. Cautionary – gives warning; raises awareness; reminding
  44. Celebratory – praising; pay tribute to; glorify; honour
  45. Chatty – informal; lively; conversational; familiar
  46. Cheery – happy and optimistic
  47. Childish – silly and immature
  48. Chirping – say something in a lively and cheerful way
  49. Clipped – speech that is fast, that uses short sounds and few words, and that is often unfriendly or rude
  50. Cloying – disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment
  51. Coarse – rude, crude, or vulgar
  52. Colloquial – familiar; everyday language; informal; colloquial; casual
  53. Comic – humorous; witty; entertaining; diverting
  54. Compassionate – sympathetic; empathetic; warm-hearted; tolerant; kind
  55. Complex – having many varying characteristics; complicated
  56. Compliant – agree or obey rules; acquiescent; flexible; submissive
  57. Concerned – worried; anxious; apprehensive
  58. Conciliatory – intended to placate or pacify; appeasing
  59. Condescending – stooping to the level of one’s inferiors; patronising
  60. Confused – unable to think clearly; bewildered; vague
  61. Contemptuous – showing contempt; scornful; insolent; mocking
  62. Crisp – briskly decisive and matter-of-fact, without hesitation or unnecessary detail
  63. Critical – finding fault; disapproving; scathing; criticizing
  64. Croaking – a characteristic deep hoarse sound
  65. Cruel – causing pain and suffering; unkind; spiteful; severe
  66. Curious – wanting to find out more; inquisitive; questioning
  67. Curt – rudely brief
  68. Cynical – scornful of motives/virtues of others; mocking; sneering
  69. Defensive – defending a position; shielding; guarding; watchful
  70. Defiant – obstinate; argumentative; defiant; contentious
  71. Demeaning – disrespectful; undignified
  72. Depressing – sad, melancholic; discouraging; pessimistic
  73. Derisive – snide; sarcastic; mocking; dismissive; scornful
  74. Detached – aloof; objective; unfeeling; distant
  75. Dignified – serious; respectful; formal; proper
  76. Diplomatic – tactful; subtle; sensitive; thoughtful
  77. Disapproving – displeased; critical; condemnatory
  78. Disheartening – discouraging; demoralising; undermining; depressing
  79. Disparaging – dismissive; critical; scornful
  80. Direct – straightforward; honest
  81. Disappointed – discouraged; unhappy because something has gone wrong
  82. Discordant – harsh and jarring because of a lack of harmony
  83. Dispassionate – impartial; indifferent; unsentimental; cold; unsympathetic
  84. Dispirited – having lost enthusiasm and hope; disheartened
  85. Distressing – heart-breaking; sad; troubling
  86. Docile – compliant; submissive; deferential; accommodating
  87. Drawling – speak in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds
  88. Dulcet – sweet and soothing
  89. Dull – lacking interest or excitement
  90. Earnest – showing deep sincerity or feeling; serious
  91. Egotistical – self-absorbed; selfish; conceited; boastful
  92. Empathetic – understanding; kind; sensitive
  93. Encouraging – optimistic; supportive
  94. Enthusiastic – excited; energetic
  95. Evasive – ambiguous; cryptic; unclear
  96. Excited – emotionally aroused; stirred
  97. Facetious – inappropriate; flippant
  98. Farcical – ludicrous; absurd; mocking; humorous and highly improbable
  99. Feathery – extremely light and soft or delicate
  100. Flippant – superficial; glib; shallow; thoughtless; frivolous
  101. Forceful – powerful; energetic; confident; assertive
  102. Formal – respectful; stilted; factual; following accepted styles/rules
  103. Frank – honest; direct; plain; matter-of-fact
  104. Fretful – expressing distress or irritation
  105. Frustrated – annoyed; discouraged
  106. Gentle – kind; considerate; mild; soft
  107. Ghoulish – delighting in the revolting or the loathsome
  108. Glum – dejected; morose
  109. Goofy – foolish; harmlessly eccentric
  110. Grating – harsh and unpleasant
  111. Gravelly – deep and rough-sounding
  112. Grim – serious; gloomy; depressing; lacking humour;macabre
  113. Growling – low grating voice, typically in a threatening manner
  114. Gruff – rough and low in pitch
  115. Gullible – naive; innocent; ignorant
  116. Guttural – produced in the throat; harsh-sounding
  117. Hard – unfeeling; hard-hearted; unyielding
  118. Harsh – cruel or severe
  119. Hearty – loudly vigorous and cheerful
  120. Hoarse – sounding rough and harsh, typically as the result of a sore throat or of shouting
  121. Honeyed – soothing, soft, and intended to please or flatter
  122. Humble – deferential; modest
  123. Humorous – amusing; entertaining; playful
  124. Husky – sounding low-pitched and slightly hoarse
  125. Hypercritical – unreasonably critical; hair splitting; nitpicking
  126. Impartial – unbiased; neutral; objective
  127. Impassioned – filled with emotion; ardent
  128. Imploring – pleading; begging
  129. Impressionable – trusting; child-like
  130. Inane – silly; foolish; stupid; nonsensical
  131. Incensed – enraged
  132. Incredulous – disbelieving; unconvinced; questioning; suspicious
  133. Indifferent – having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned
  134. Indignant – annoyed; angry; dissatisfied
  135. Informative – instructive; factual; educational
  136. Insinuating – suggest or hint in an indirect and unpleasant way
  137. Inspirational – encouraging; reassuring
  138. Intense – earnest; passionate; concentrated; deeply felt
  139. Intimate – familiar; informal; confidential; confessional
  140. Ironic – the opposite of what is meant
  141. Irreverent – lacking respect for things that are generally taken seriously
  142. Jaded – bored; having had too much of the same thing; lack enthusiasm
  143. Joyful – positive; optimistic; cheerful; elated
  144. Jubilant – expressing great happiness and triumph
  145. Judgmental – critical; finding fault; disparaging
  146. Laudatory – praising; recommending
  147. Lifeless – lacking vigor, vitality, or excitement
  148. Light-Hearted – carefree; relaxed; chatty; humorous
  149. Lively – full of life and energy; active and outgoing
  150. Loving – affectionate; showing intense, deep concern
  151. Macabre – gruesome; horrifying; frightening
  152. Malicious – desiring to harm others or to see others suffer; ill-willed; spiteful
  153. Matter-of-fact – unemotional and practical
  154. Mean-Spirited – inconsiderate; unsympathetic
  155. Mellifluous – sweet or musical; pleasant to hear
  156. Melodious – pleasant-sounding
  157. Mocking – scornful; ridiculing; making fun of someone
  158. Monotonous – lacking in variation in tone or pitch
  159. Mourning – grieving; lamenting; woeful
  160. Muffled – not loud because of being obstructed in some way; muted
  161. Naive – innocent; unsophisticated; immature
  162. Narcissistic – self-admiring; selfish; boastful; self-pitying
  163. Nasty – unpleasant; unkind; disagreeable; abusive
  164. Negative – unhappy, pessimistic
  165. Nonchalant – casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm
  166. Nostalgic – thinking about the past; wishing for something from the past
  167. Objective – without prejudice; without discrimination; fair; based on fact
  168. Obsequious – overly obedient and/or submissive; fawning; grovelling
  169. Oily – unpleasantly smooth and ingratiating
  170. Optimistic – hopeful; cheerful
  171. Outraged – angered and resentful; furious; extremely angered
  172. Outspoken – frank; candid; spoken without reserv
  173. Pathetic – expressing pity, sympathy, tenderness
  174. Patronizing – condescending; scornful; pompous
  175. Pensive – reflective; introspective; philosophical; contemplative
  176. Persuasive – convincing; eloquent; influential; plausible
  177. Pessimistic – seeing the negative side of things
  178. Philosophical – theoretical; analytical; rational; logical
  179. Piping – high-pitched.
  180. Playful – full of fun and good spirits; humorous; jesting
  181. Pragmatic – realistic; sensible
  182. Pretentious – affected; artificial; grandiose; rhetorical; flashy
  183. Quavering – shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion
  184. Querulous – complaining in a petulant or whining manner
  185. Rasping – harsh-sounding and unpleasant; grating
  186. Reedy – high and thin in tone
  187. Refined –  elegant; cultured
  188. Regretful – apologetic; remorseful
  189. Resentful – aggrieved; offended; displeased; bitter
  190. Resigned – accepting; unhappy
  191. Restrained – controlled; quiet; unemotional
  192. Reverent – showing deep respect and esteem
  193. Righteous – morally right and just; guiltless; pious; god-fearing
  194. Robust – strong and healthy; vigorous
  195. Saccharine –

    excessively sweet or sentimental

  196. Satirical – making fun to show a weakness; ridiculing; derisive
  197. Sarcastic – scornful; mocking; ridiculing
  198. Scathing – critical; stinging; unsparing; harsh
  199. Scornful – expressing contempt or derision; scathing; dismissive
  200. Scratchy –

    rough; grating

  201. Sensationalist – provocative; inaccurate; distasteful
  202. Sentimental – thinking about feelings, especially when remembering the past
  203. Shrill –

    high-pitched and piercing

  204. Silvery –

    gentle, clear, and melodious

  205. Sincere – honest; truthful; earnest
  206. Skeptical – disbelieving; unconvinced; doubting
  207. Smarmy – 

    excessively or unctuously flattering; ingratiating; servile

  208. Smoky –

    a raspy, coarse and tone of quality that is deeper than usual
  209. Snide –

    derogatory or mocking in an indirect way

  210. Solemn – not funny; in earnest; serious
  211. Somber –

    oppressively solemn or sober in mood; grave

  212. Sonorous –

    imposingly deep and full

  213. Sour – resentment, disappointment, or anger
  214. Steely – coldly determined; hard

  215. Strident –

    loud and harsh; grating

  216. Stony –

    not having or showing feeling or sympathy

  217. Suave –

    charming, confident, and elegant
  218. Subjective – prejudiced; biased
  219. Submissive – compliant; passive; accommodating; obedient
  220. Sulking – bad-tempered; grumpy; resentful; sullen
  221. Surly –

    bad-tempered and unfriendly

  222. Sympathetic – compassionate; understanding of how someone feels
  223. Thoughtful – reflective; serious; absorbed
  224. Throaty –

    deep and rasping

  225. Tolerant – open-minded; charitable; patient; sympathetic; lenient
  226. Tragic – disastrous; calamitous
  227. Tremulous –

    shaking or quivering slightly

  228. Unassuming – modest; self-effacing; restrained
  229. Unctuous –

    excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, especially in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug

  230. Uneasy – worried; uncomfortable; edgy; nervous
  231. Urgent – insistent; saying something must be done soon
  232. Velvety – soft; smooth
  233. Vindictive – vengeful; spiteful; bitter; unforgiving
  234. Virtuous – lawful; righteous; moral; upstanding
  235. Whimsical – quaint; playful; mischievous; offbeat
  236. Witty – clever; quick-witted; entertaining
  237. Wonder – awe-struck; admiring; fascinating
  238. World-Weary – bored; cynical; tired
  239. Worried – anxious; stressed; fearful
  240. Wretched – miserable; despairing; sorrowful; distressed

About C.A. Jacobs

Just another crazy person, masquerading as a writer.
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