tone policing

[ tohn puh-lee-sing ]

noun

1. a conversational tactic that dismisses the ideas being communicated when they are perceived to be delivered in an angry, frustrated, sad, fearful, or otherwise emotionally charged manner: Tone policing can silence the narratives of oppressed populations.

   It’s condescending to shut down an argument through tone policing.

   Tone policing can silence the narratives of oppressed populations.

Other Words From

• tone-po·lice verb (used with object) tonepoliced tonepolicing
• tone po·lice plural noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tone policing¹

First recorded in 2015–20

Example Sentences

Hersey is a Black man, which makes this tone policing particularly egregious.

From Seattle Times

Or maybe I’m just tone policing, being thin-skinned, defensive and deflective.

From New York Times

Ms. Tlaib quickly responded with a tweet stating “House Democratic leadership should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color.”

From Washington Times

The episode, the latest dust-up between the House Democratic establishment and the progressive “Squad,” prompted Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Michigan Democrat, to tweet Thursday that “House Democratic leadership should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color.”

From Washington Times

“House Democratic leadership should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color.”

From Washington Post