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
The noise from a vacuum cleaner is about 75 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
In experiments, the device achieved an on-off switching ratio above 19 decibels.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
These door stops come in a pack of two and hit 120 ear-piercing decibels when triggered.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2025
Some professional-level in-ear monitors allow for the sound engineer to mix in feeds from the audience, which can lower the decibels while still maintaining the energy between the crowd and the performers.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
The maximum sound levels associated with the data center cannot exceed 55 decibels, according to the ordinance.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
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
In experiments, the device achieved an on-off switching ratio above 19 decibels.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
These door stops come in a pack of two and hit 120 ear-piercing decibels when triggered.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2025
Some professional-level in-ear monitors allow for the sound engineer to mix in feeds from the audience, which can lower the decibels while still maintaining the energy between the crowd and the performers.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
The maximum sound levels associated with the data center cannot exceed 55 decibels, according to the ordinance.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decibels
Noun
-
The final finished 14-14, but my abiding memory is the intoxicating swirl of noise and colour created by almost 93,000 fans, plus the sense of anticipation that accompanied the pre-match walk up Olympic Way.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
After hearing noises, the couple barrelled up into the living room, naked, with Rhys brandishing a poker from the fireplace.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
From the roar of the crowd to the quiet focus of a camera shutter, former Philadelphia Eagles HOFer Malcolm Jenkins has gracefully transitioned from NFL star to passionate photographer.—
John Armwood III,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
-
His voice was still raw from calling plays over the roar of Lincoln Financial Field.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decibels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decibels. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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