as in noise
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound
the crowd decibels increased dramatically as the horses neared the finish line
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Recent Examples of decibels
Alysa Guffey Commission President John Dillon asked if staying at or under 55 decibels is possible for a data center.
—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2026
Sleep in peace with this tower fan, which is whisper-quiet at 25 decibels.
—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
One of the artists Olivier interviewed, Xang, rapped at blistering decibels to the delight and confusion of a couple hundred stylish black and brown kids.
—
Mano Sundaresan,
Pitchfork,
1 July 2026
Fan noise generally stayed below roughly 55 decibels measured several feet away, remaining dramatically quieter than a conventional gas generator.
—
Michael Lydick,
PC Magazine,
29 June 2026
At full throttle, interior sound levels sit at just 65 decibels—about the same as a normal conversation.
—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
24 June 2026
The study shows that this area would experience noise exceeding 70 decibels; the legal limit is 80 decibels.
—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
However, moving the microphone just 2 inches (51 mm) away from the center of the sound spot reduced the volume by up to 50 decibels, making the audio nearly inaudible.
—
New Atlas,
14 June 2026
Measurements at the data centers that were the subject of complaints found noise levels were between 40 and 59 decibels on residential property.
—
Ed Maibach,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2026
Sleep in peace with this tower fan, which is whisper-quiet at 25 decibels.
—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
One of the artists Olivier interviewed, Xang, rapped at blistering decibels to the delight and confusion of a couple hundred stylish black and brown kids.
—
Mano Sundaresan,
Pitchfork,
1 July 2026
Fan noise generally stayed below roughly 55 decibels measured several feet away, remaining dramatically quieter than a conventional gas generator.
—
Michael Lydick,
PC Magazine,
29 June 2026
At full throttle, interior sound levels sit at just 65 decibels—about the same as a normal conversation.
—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
24 June 2026
The study shows that this area would experience noise exceeding 70 decibels; the legal limit is 80 decibels.
—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
However, moving the microphone just 2 inches (51 mm) away from the center of the sound spot reduced the volume by up to 50 decibels, making the audio nearly inaudible.
—
New Atlas,
14 June 2026
Measurements at the data centers that were the subject of complaints found noise levels were between 40 and 59 decibels on residential property.
—
Ed Maibach,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decibels
Noun
-
Rescue workers heard noises that raised the possibility that someone underneath was still alive, Espy told The Times.
-
Ration food and water, listen for rescue calls and search for something near you to make noise.
Noun
-
In the early afternoon, a roar ripped through the stifling Mississippi heat, as dozens of motorcycles leading the funeral procession rumbled into the church parking lot.
-
Johnson’s first budget made the CARE pilot permanent and doubled staff positions in 2024, to roars of approval from his progressive base.
Cite this Entry
“Decibels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decibels. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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