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
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
-
Flooding the valley with noise and velocity, making an impressive mess – smash-up of trees, shrubbery, and unballasted creatures.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The era of noise is fading, and a quieter, more serious phase has begun.—
Gus Bartholomew,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The 17-year-old’s entrance drew the loudest roar, a fleeting spark of hope from a crowd otherwise watching a season fade.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Then a deep, unmistakable roar of a lion rolled across the flatness.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decibels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decibels. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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