1
as in highbrow
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2
as in sententious
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Recent Examples of high-toned
The gambit that Shelley somehow comes to possess her fictional creation is sustained, as Ida alternates between a very American dialect and a more high-toned British accent.
—
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
The coastal Mediterranean meets West Indies vibe feels right at home in South Florida, and the refined yet relaxed decor is similarly suited to the locale’s high-toned but low-key environment.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2025
That’s just the latest accolade for the Yorba Linda municipal course that continually scores above its weight in a high-toned category.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Many global rums are clean and light by design; Hampden’s are unabashedly expressive—ripe, high-toned, and unmistakable.
—Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Blake is accused of having drifted into high-toned seriousness; Albert, now writing for television, is branded a sellout.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2025
Bright high-toned notes of cherry and strawberry show on the palate with an intriguing texture that hints at a bit of tannin.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
The coastal Mediterranean meets West Indies vibe feels right at home in South Florida, and the refined yet relaxed decor is similarly suited to the locale’s high-toned but low-key environment.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2025
That’s just the latest accolade for the Yorba Linda municipal course that continually scores above its weight in a high-toned category.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Many global rums are clean and light by design; Hampden’s are unabashedly expressive—ripe, high-toned, and unmistakable.
—Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Blake is accused of having drifted into high-toned seriousness; Albert, now writing for television, is branded a sellout.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2025
Bright high-toned notes of cherry and strawberry show on the palate with an intriguing texture that hints at a bit of tannin.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-toned
Adjective
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Such politicians viewed literature as subversive, irritatingly highbrow, and—like socialism—suspiciously European.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The tension between highbrow and lowbrow comedy, and what is deemed acceptable by image-conscious Black middle-class audiences, continues to ignite fierce debate—nearly a century after Stepin Fetchit first appeared on-screen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This conclusion will shock anyone who knows Twain only through his writing, in which the author is wise and witty and, above all, devastating in his portrayal of frauds, cretins, and sententious bores.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
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Audiences have no choice but to exist in the theatrical moment, without recourse to linear logic, sententious language or psychological epiphanies.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Her cause of death was determined to be a cerebral hemorrhage, per CNN.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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For something a little more cerebral, try 2023's Daddio, which might have slipped under your radar.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Such an attempt to normalize petty crime makes Vicky Osterweil’s 2020 manifesto, In Defense of Looting, look high-minded.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
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But while Taylor Sheridan’s shows, product enhancements and even blockbuster movies were on the menu, the pitch from Ellison and his team was at times more high-minded.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But Lemisch’s comes with an intellectual pedigree forged in the history wars of the ’60s and ’70s.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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The games holds that exact intellectual tension at its core.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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There was Coppola’s over-the-top defense of his friend with a grandiloquent gesture (Tanen declined to sell).—
Michael O’Donnell,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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Reform—Within Reason Malthus aimed to puncture Godwin’s grandiloquent progressivism.—
Roy Scranton,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The 2026 draft footprint stretched across Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium (still Heinz Field in the hearts of civilized people) and by the end of the weekend, the city had hosted one of the biggest football parties in human history.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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That’s pretty reasonable, civilized even.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The durable cultured marble top holds two ceramic undermount sinks.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
28 Apr. 2026
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In short, for the first time Tavira will be in the sights of the cultured, high-end traveler who at last has somewhere to lay their (well coiffured) head.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“High-toned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-toned. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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