sonorous

adjective so·no·rous \ ˈsä-nə-rəs , sə-ˈnȯr-əs \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of sonorous

1 : producing sound (as when struck)

2 : full or loud in sound

a sonorous voice

3 : imposing or impressive in effect or style

4 : having a high or an indicated degree of sonority

sonorous sounds such as \ä\ and \ȯ\

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sonorously

adverb

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sonorousness

noun

See sonorous defined for English-language learners

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Examples of sonorous in a Sentence

He has a deep, sonorous voice.
a sonorous waterfall that can be heard from a considerable distance

Recent Examples of sonorous from the Web

Smith said, lowering his sonorous vocals for effect.

— nick powell, Houston Chronicle, "Moody Gardens egg hunt a hit with children and parents," 1 Apr. 2018
Three monks in pleated white linen robes chanted in sonorous baritones while rhythmically striking a large drum or clapping a wooden instrument between hand and wrist.

— alex postman, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Mother and Son Search for Zen in Kyoto," 29 Mar. 2018
My sense of his piece was of low notes and midrange sonorous chords opening up, spilling their insides like buds releasing seeds dancing into the wind, with a harmonically (in some way) filigrees in Hodges' dancing right hand.

— mark swed, latimes.com, "The voices of Angela Davis and Lech Walesa, via piano," 28 Mar. 2018
James Faulkner brings sonorous authority and deep sensitivity to Paul, whose insistence on following Christ’s most essential commandments — to love God and to love one’s neighbor as oneself — is both gentle and uncompromisingly courageous.

— ann hornaday, kansascity, "‘Paul, Apostle of Christ’ is a moving examination of faith and courage | The Kansas City Star," 22 Mar. 2018
Tyler spoke after his father’s coffin rested in front of a Lanham, Md. mosque, draped with a green cloth as a sonorous devotional song sounded at the Friday funeral for Prince George’s County police Cpl.

— justin jouvenal, Washington Post, "With salutes and covered hearts, officer killed helping abuse victim is honored at funeral," 23 Feb. 2018
Today, their voices are noticeably deeper, more sonorous.

— e. alex jung, Billboard, "BTS Speaks Out In Seoul: The K-Pop Megastars Get Candid About Representing a New Generation," 15 Feb. 2018
Hinds’s steely, sonorous monologue traced her character’s journey from being a slave girl, who once rebelled by stealing a sugar cube, to becoming an abolitionist general, unwilling to sacrifice equality for peace.

— james poniewozik, New York Times, "The Memorable TV Episodes of 2017," 21 Dec. 2017
No small part of the charm of exploring Idaho place names and their stories is the sheer music of saying those names — whether staccato and amusing or long and sonorous.

— arthur hart, idahostatesman, "What’s in a name? In Gem State places, a whole lot of history and mystery | Idaho Statesman," 16 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sonorous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.