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
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The bags—each featuring tonal shades of brown and beige and a bold Coach logo—retail for $350-$395. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025 The near-tonal looks have been a successful recipe for the 204L thus far, although this particular pair switches things up slightly with its two-tone pink look. Riley Jones, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025 Editor Agnès Bruckert’s patient cutting allows the film’s fairly audacious tonal shifts (from tentative rom-com to psychological excavation) to unfold with poise, reinforcing the sense that catastrophe and self-redefinition can coexist within the same breath. Catherine Bray, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025 The abrupt tonal shift left some MLB viewers confused, sparking an online conversation. Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Tonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonal. Accessed 6 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
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