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 Hearing Health Foundation warned that sounds that exceed 70 decibels can damage hearing without protection.
—
Hali Smith
april 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026
Noises louder than 85 decibels are considered harmful to humans.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026
The buzz surrounding Tustin’s boys tennis team raised a few decibels with the seeding for the Ojai tournament this week.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
Then, one by one, the three Huntr/x talents stepped into the spotlight, the cheers hitting higher decibels.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
The bill also establishes a solar photovoltaic noise barrier pilot program, which would attach solar panels onto highway sound walls, generating renewable energy while reducing noise pollution by 10-15 decibels, according to lawmakers.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
Cabin noise during a typical flight can exceed 85 decibels, roughly equivalent to a lawnmower’s loudness.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Noise levels above 85 decibels are considered hazardous to the human ear.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
According to a comparison chart by Yale, 75 decibels is roughly equivalent to the sound of a vacuum cleaner.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026
Hali Smith
april 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026
Noises louder than 85 decibels are considered harmful to humans.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026
The buzz surrounding Tustin’s boys tennis team raised a few decibels with the seeding for the Ojai tournament this week.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
Then, one by one, the three Huntr/x talents stepped into the spotlight, the cheers hitting higher decibels.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
The bill also establishes a solar photovoltaic noise barrier pilot program, which would attach solar panels onto highway sound walls, generating renewable energy while reducing noise pollution by 10-15 decibels, according to lawmakers.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
Cabin noise during a typical flight can exceed 85 decibels, roughly equivalent to a lawnmower’s loudness.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Noise levels above 85 decibels are considered hazardous to the human ear.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
According to a comparison chart by Yale, 75 decibels is roughly equivalent to the sound of a vacuum cleaner.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decibels
Noun
-
Unions have aggressively answered complaints about data centers in ways that executives at tech giants and the development firms rarely do, unafraid to bluntly confront concerns about energy and water shortages, rising electric and water bills, or noise and quality-of-life objections.—
Marc Levy,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
The developer doesn’t expect the facility to create noise, odor or light pollution that would bother neighbors.—
Sofi Zeman
May 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2015, breaking a then 37-year-old hex that created a near cathartic roar at Belmont Park.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
-
Favorites by Diana Ross and Beyoncé are held up to the roar of the crowd before pixie dust is released from the musical’s original Broadway cast album.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decibels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decibels. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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