tonal

adjective

ton·​al ˈtō-nᵊl How to pronounce tonal (audio)
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.
Find Balance The key to this rich dining room is keeping colors in the same tonal range, with the dining set and wall color (Paint & Paper Library Paris Rooftops) equally full-bodied. Lacey Howard, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Nov. 2025 The actor paired Manolo Blahnik’s Truro loafers with a tonal wool look, emphasizing his playful style choices while grounding them in a more traditional men’s footwear silhouette. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025 The result often feels like tonal whiplash as the production attempts to scratch several itches without truly satisfying any. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025 The comedy is a tonal mess, veering between underdeveloped jokes and unearned sentiment. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025 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 20 Nov. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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