as in noise
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound
the crowd decibels increased dramatically as the horses neared the finish line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decibels
Dogs can hear sounds that are both much higher in pitch (up to 65,000 Hertz) and much quieter (as low as -15 decibels) than humans can, giving them extraordinary sensitivity to noises completely beyond our range.
—
Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025
Music, instrumental or lyrical, should hover just around normal conversational levels (around 60 to 70 decibels, according to the Hearing Health Foundation).
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Deep sleepers will appreciate the gradual wakeup call from a large catalog of alarm sounds, and an alarm volume that reaches decibels capable of reviving a bear from its hibernation.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025
For Miami, a loss here would accelerate and raise decibels on talk of tanking and/or firing everybody.
—Greg Cote
october 9, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
According to a Yale University study, city traffic produces about 85 decibels.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Loop’s Experience line is specially made for concerts by dampening the decibels without sacrificing the performer’s sound quality.
—Jessica Comstock, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
Users could improve their hearing up to 30 decibels, equivalent to a soft conversation heard a few feet away in a quiet room.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Will those decibels be matched in the next three home games before USC visits?
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025
Music, instrumental or lyrical, should hover just around normal conversational levels (around 60 to 70 decibels, according to the Hearing Health Foundation).
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Deep sleepers will appreciate the gradual wakeup call from a large catalog of alarm sounds, and an alarm volume that reaches decibels capable of reviving a bear from its hibernation.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025
For Miami, a loss here would accelerate and raise decibels on talk of tanking and/or firing everybody.
—Greg Cote
october 9, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
According to a Yale University study, city traffic produces about 85 decibels.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Loop’s Experience line is specially made for concerts by dampening the decibels without sacrificing the performer’s sound quality.
—Jessica Comstock, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
Users could improve their hearing up to 30 decibels, equivalent to a soft conversation heard a few feet away in a quiet room.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Will those decibels be matched in the next three home games before USC visits?
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decibels
Noun
-
Should the Tigers end up missing a bowl game, the noise will grow much louder.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Their noise got loudest at night when the city became quiet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The other funnymen of the time—Milton Berle with his lewd suggestiveness, Jackie Gleason with his baleful roar—did the same shtick over and over.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Finally, with the boom of a cannon and the roar of the crowd, each team member and coach rubs Howard’s Rock for luck before hurtling down the hill toward the home sideline.—
Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decibels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decibels. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share