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 film navigates an unusually delicate tonal terrain between black comedy, suspense and the fantastic. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Made from a lightweight silk chiffon, silk mousseline and intricate tonal lace trim, the dress is from Chloé’s spring 2027 collection, which was designed under Kamali’s romantic, vintage-revival aesthetic. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

These varied shades work beautifully together, whether layered within the same color family for tonal harmony or paired across families for striking contrast. — Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2026

The later tonal shifts from one mood to the other detract from the film’s more naturalistic vibe, and the first half is much more satisfying. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Sep. 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