1
a
b
: an agent (such as a drug) that increases body tone
c
: one that invigorates, restores, refreshes, or stimulates
a day in the country was a tonic for him
d
: a liquid preparation for the scalp or hair
e
chiefly New England
: a carbonated flavored beverage
2
: the first tone of a major or minor scale : keynote
3
: a voiced sound
1
a
: characterized by tonus
tonic contraction of muscle
also
: marked by prolonged muscular contraction
tonic convulsions
b
: producing or adapted to produce healthy muscular condition and reaction of organs (such as muscles)
2
a
: increasing or restoring physical or mental tone : refreshing
b
: yielding a tonic substance
3
: relating to or based on the first tone of a scale
tonic harmony
4
of a syllable
: bearing a principal stress or accent
5
: of or relating to speech tones or to languages using them to distinguish words otherwise identical
Synonyms
Examples of tonic in a Sentence
Adjective
breathe in clear tonic mountain air
never underestimate the tonic power of humor on a sick person
Recent Examples on the Web
Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 May 2024
Ambitions of that type already fell flat with the director’s last non-Max feature, the tedious djinn and tonic Three Thousand Years of Longing.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
The humans, who had a selection of beer and gin and tonics at several concession stands, had more varied results.
—Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 13 May 2024
On the drinks menu, there are shots of Fernet Branca and spicy mezcal; cocktails like the Sunset, made with vodka, grapefruit and tonic; Tennessee Tea, made with iced tea, Jack Daniels and honey; and a variety of beers.
—Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 10 May 2024
When the hands are frozen solid, remove the ice forms, drop into your punch bowl, and turn on a blacklight to watch the frozen tonic glow in the dark.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2024
It was founded by Rosa Li, who was raised in China by a grandmother who would brew healing tonics rooted in traditional Chinese medicine to soothe her stomach and uplift her spirits.
—Meimei Fox, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
While some evidence does indicate that baking soda has anti-inflammatory effects, those effects come from drinking a baking soda tonic, not topical use.4
Essential Oils
Some essential oils, when used topically, are believed to have properties that may help alleviate sunburn symptoms.
—Cathy Wong, Verywell Health, 12 Apr. 2024
Who else needs a gin and tonic to cool down from Scott's fiery words?
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2022
Across the courtyard from the tonic bar is an indoor/outdoor smoking space about the size of all three cabanas smooshed together and an eastern-facing glass wall that slides open.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2022
Then came the tonic-clonic seizures, which are full body seizures.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2022
Perhaps going back eight centuries had a tonic effect on Dunham.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Sep. 2022
Each of Erewhon’s seven locations has a tonic bar that serves a variety of smoothies.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2022
Expect an activation from The Emerald Cup paying homage to winners from the recent Emerald Cup Awards, a tonic bar from Space Gems, and a wellness and movement schedule by Lucky Box Club.
—Lindsey Bartlett, Forbes, 12 July 2022
His plays are a tonic reminder to artists across disciplines that lives are lived not in headlines but in passing moments.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2022
Guests would take the service elevator to the spa area, where Turkish-style shampoos and showers or a tonic bath cost $1.50 (roughly $25 today).
—Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2022
Noun
Think aloe, melon, resort towels, and a tray of gin and tonics.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 May 2024
Ambitions of that type already fell flat with the director’s last non-Max feature, the tedious djinn and tonic Three Thousand Years of Longing.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
The humans, who had a selection of beer and gin and tonics at several concession stands, had more varied results.
—Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 13 May 2024
On the drinks menu, there are shots of Fernet Branca and spicy mezcal; cocktails like the Sunset, made with vodka, grapefruit and tonic; Tennessee Tea, made with iced tea, Jack Daniels and honey; and a variety of beers.
—Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 10 May 2024
When the hands are frozen solid, remove the ice forms, drop into your punch bowl, and turn on a blacklight to watch the frozen tonic glow in the dark.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2024
It was founded by Rosa Li, who was raised in China by a grandmother who would brew healing tonics rooted in traditional Chinese medicine to soothe her stomach and uplift her spirits.
—Meimei Fox, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
While some evidence does indicate that baking soda has anti-inflammatory effects, those effects come from drinking a baking soda tonic, not topical use.4
Essential Oils
Some essential oils, when used topically, are believed to have properties that may help alleviate sunburn symptoms.
—Cathy Wong, Verywell Health, 12 Apr. 2024
Who else needs a gin and tonic to cool down from Scott's fiery words?
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Research has found that turmeric supplements may delay the onset of tonic-clonic seizures as well as myoclonic jerks.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2022
Across the courtyard from the tonic bar is an indoor/outdoor smoking space about the size of all three cabanas smooshed together and an eastern-facing glass wall that slides open.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2022
Then came the tonic-clonic seizures, which are full body seizures.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2022
Perhaps going back eight centuries had a tonic effect on Dunham.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Sep. 2022
Each of Erewhon’s seven locations has a tonic bar that serves a variety of smoothies.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2022
Expect an activation from The Emerald Cup paying homage to winners from the recent Emerald Cup Awards, a tonic bar from Space Gems, and a wellness and movement schedule by Lucky Box Club.
—Lindsey Bartlett, Forbes, 12 July 2022
His plays are a tonic reminder to artists across disciplines that lives are lived not in headlines but in passing moments.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2022
Guests would take the service elevator to the spa area, where Turkish-style shampoos and showers or a tonic bath cost $1.50 (roughly $25 today).
—Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tonic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tonic
Cite this Entry
“Tonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonic. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tonic
1 of 2 adjective
ton·ic
ˈtän-ik 
1
: making (as the mind or body) stronger or healthier
2
: relating to or based on the first tone of a scale
tonic chord
tonic harmony
tonic
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a medicine that increases body tone
b
: a liquid to be used on the hair or scalp
c
chiefly New England
: soda pop
d
2
: the first tone of a scale
Medical Definition
tonic
1 of 2 adjective
ton·ic
ˈtän-ik
1
a
: characterized by tonus
tonic contraction of muscle
also
: marked by or being prolonged muscular contraction
tonic convulsions
b
: producing or adapted to produce healthy muscular condition and reaction of organs (as muscles)
2
a
: increasing or restoring physical or mental tone
b
: yielding a tonic substance
tonic
2 of 2 noun
: an agent (as a drug) that increases body tone
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