high-toned

or high-tone

[ hahy-tohnd ]

adjective

1. having high principles; dignified.
2. having or aspiring to good taste, high standards, or refinement:

   He writes for a high-toned literary review.

3. affectedly stylish or genteel.

high-toned

adjective

1. having a superior social, moral, or intellectual quality
2. affectedly superior
3. high in tone

Word History and Origins

Origin of high-toned¹

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

His message resonated with wealthy industrialists, high-toned educators, and even presidents.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, high-toned infidels do not consider themselves as debased as the natives of India.

From Project Gutenberg

Is for a couple of copies of my medallion, as gilt-edged and high-toned as it is possible to make them.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter was a man of character, with lofty principles, while his living brother was far from being a high-toned person.

From Project Gutenberg

James Knowles so respected him that he allowed him to write anarchistic articles for his high-toned Nineteenth Century.

From Project Gutenberg

He no longer slept in the haymow but had a room of his own and other rooms to rent to the "high-toned traveling men."

From Project Gutenberg