tonal

adjective

ton·​al ˈtō-nᵊl How to pronounce tonal (audio)
Synonyms of tonalnext
1
: of or relating to tone, tonality, or tonicity
2
: having tonality
tonally adverb

Examples of tonal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Paula’s fact-checking colleagues give Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed a broader tonal brush to play with. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 May 2026 The stripes themselves were textured with a ribbed effect, where thinner tonal lines sat inside the larger bands, adding dimension and movement to what could have otherwise been a simple pattern. Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 This mystery forms the crux of the film’s middle, even as surrealist scenes bring welcome tonal upheaval to the film’s last third. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 2026 The final touch is adding tonal furnishings consistent with the immersive effect of all the other design elements. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tonal

Word History

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tonal was in 1776

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonal. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

tonal

adjective
ton·​al ˈtōn-ᵊl How to pronounce tonal (audio)
: of or relating to a musical tone
tonally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tonal

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster