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
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
Paddy Boyland was there for a raucous atmosphere at the Hill Dickinson’s debut, where the noise topped 100 decibels (and Everton beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0).
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 25 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
Traffic noise dropped by as much as 4 decibels.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025
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
Paddy Boyland was there for a raucous atmosphere at the Hill Dickinson’s debut, where the noise topped 100 decibels (and Everton beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0).
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 25 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
Traffic noise dropped by as much as 4 decibels.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decibels
Noun
-
Additionally, pollution accumulation and vessel noise disrupt their echolocation abilities, making hunting increasingly difficult.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
This helps to break through the noise and build credibility.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Not with a whimper but with a siren wail that long ago converted to white noise in our collective hearing; a global tinnitus like the hum of a fridge; the quiet roar of the Greenland ice sheet slipping into the Musk Ocean.—
Reuven Perlman,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
There are more and more people on the other side of the glass, the sound like a sea’s roar outside.—
Sara Stridsberg
September 15,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decibels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decibels. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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