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
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The actress wore a yellow satin gown with a wide train in pleated soleil tulle, embellished with tonal crystals and white dégradé pearls. Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026 Stars Tease a Darker Tone One of the most significant details about Season 3 involves a tonal shift manga readers will recognize immediately. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026 To recreate the look, swap your standard black suit for a chocolate or espresso tone and pair it with a crisp shirt or tonal layers. Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026 From uploaded photos, Billy reads contrasts, shadows, textures and subtle tonal variations that indicate natural wear patterns such as whiskers, fades and abrasion areas. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 Mar. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Tonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonal. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

tonal

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

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