tone-setter
noun
: a person or thing that determines or establishes a quality, feeling, or attitude
I like to use the joke as a tone-setter for my speeches.
Examples of tone-setter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trotter is a downhill, heavy-handed tone-setter with real pedigree.
—
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Greenlaw, a 2019 fifth-round pick, spent his first six seasons with the 49ers and was a defensive tone-setter.
—Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2026
That was exactly the kind of tone-setter Arlington Catholic aimed for, understanding the urgency at hand.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
But the tone-setter is senior guard Elizabeth Amoroso who was just named Daily News Athlete of the Week for her recent performances this postseason, which included a playoff game with nine assists and another with 15 points.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
The games are underway, and even if the Detroit Tigers’ 20-3 loss to the New York Yankees in the Grapefruit League opener wasn’t the riveting tone-setter fans might have dreamed of, spring training is a long process.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Center Aaron Brewer, who established himself as a true team leader in his second season with the Dolphins, was the tone-setter.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Guerrero is a tone-setter for this offense, and his struggles at the plate have been a key reason for the slide.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Lynch said Jones is the perfect tone-setter for this Mount Carmel edition.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
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Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Greenlaw, a 2019 fifth-round pick, spent his first six seasons with the 49ers and was a defensive tone-setter.
—Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2026
That was exactly the kind of tone-setter Arlington Catholic aimed for, understanding the urgency at hand.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
But the tone-setter is senior guard Elizabeth Amoroso who was just named Daily News Athlete of the Week for her recent performances this postseason, which included a playoff game with nine assists and another with 15 points.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
The games are underway, and even if the Detroit Tigers’ 20-3 loss to the New York Yankees in the Grapefruit League opener wasn’t the riveting tone-setter fans might have dreamed of, spring training is a long process.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Center Aaron Brewer, who established himself as a true team leader in his second season with the Dolphins, was the tone-setter.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Guerrero is a tone-setter for this offense, and his struggles at the plate have been a key reason for the slide.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Lynch said Jones is the perfect tone-setter for this Mount Carmel edition.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tone-setter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tone-setter. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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