tonal

adjective

ton·​al ˈtō-nᵊl 

1

: of or relating to tone, tonality, or tonicity

2

: having tonality

tonally

ˈtō-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of tonal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The absence of an exchange leaves the reader fingering loose threads and, in the absence of plot, listening into tonal shifts and ruptures. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

Another brand, Gestuz, demonstrated that tonal looks don't have to be exclusively minimalist or understated. — Miriam Nehring, Glamour, 7 Aug. 2026

Last Week Tonight vet Juli Weiner, primarily) to transform the show into something with more jagged tonal edges and long-term potential, but little continuity with what came before. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026

The film’s tonal balance owes much to its bandit character, written to speak Singlish and cast, Yeo says, to give audiences an entry point among a story otherwise populated by immortals. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

tone entry 1 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tonal

• clonal
• sonal
• zonal
• atonal
• coronal
• hormonal
• umbonal
• veronal
• embryonal
• monoclonal
• polyclonal

Kids Definition

tonal

adjective

ton·​al ˈtōn-ᵊl 

: of or relating to a musical tone

tonally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb