diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
index 5ccf683c1..2a2e774ce 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
@@ -994,9 +994,12 @@
 	background: var(--words-bg);
 }
 
+/* Striped rows — bumped from a faint 70%-transparent overlay to a
+   solid toolbar-bg tint so the zebra is actually discernible against
+   the editor background. */
 [data-words-content] :where(table[data-words-table-striped] tr:nth-child(even) td),
 [data-words-content] :where(table[data-words-table-striped] tr:nth-child(even) th) {
-	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--words-toolbar-bg) 70%, transparent);
+	background: var(--words-toolbar-bg);
 }
 
 [data-words-content] :where(table[data-words-table-compact] td),
@@ -1011,6 +1014,13 @@
 	padding-inline: var(--words-command-px);
 	border: var(--words-border-width) solid var(--words-toolbar-border);
 	vertical-align: top;
+	transition: background-color 120ms ease;
+}
+
+/* Subtle hover for every body cell — lets the user know cells are
+   interactive (clickable to edit). Header rows opt out below. */
+[data-words-content] :where(table) tr:hover td:not([data-words-cell-header]) {
+	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--_words-accent-solid) 5%, transparent);
 }
 
 [data-words-content] :where(th),
@@ -1018,15 +1028,21 @@
 	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--_words-accent-solid) 12%, var(--words-bg));
 	color: var(--words-heading-color);
 	font-weight: var(--words-strong-font-weight);
+	/* Stronger bottom border under the header row so the divider with
+	   the body is unambiguous regardless of striping. */
+	border-block-end-width: calc(var(--words-border-width) * 2);
 }
 
 [data-words-content] [data-words-cell-tone='muted'] {
 	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--words-toolbar-bg) 82%, transparent);
 }
 
+/* Accent tone — was 14% solid with full accent-text recolor, which
+   read as "this cell is broken / special-cased random". Toned down to
+   8% background and kept the inherited text color so the cell still
+   draws the eye without shouting. */
 [data-words-content] [data-words-cell-tone='accent'] {
-	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--_words-accent-solid) 14%, var(--words-bg));
-	color: var(--_words-accent-text);
+	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--_words-accent-solid) 8%, var(--words-bg));
 }
 
 [data-words-content] [data-words-cell-vertical='middle'] {