1
as in highbrow
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2
as in sententious
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Recent Examples of high-toned
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
The notes of high-toned bright fruit—think sour cherry, balsamic and black tea flavors—lend it a lovely sweet-savory profile.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
This one is savory and delicate with bright high-toned berry fruit, warm spices and a thread of richer, dark plum notes.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
This version from Pala winery hits the high-toned cherry fruit notes, while wild herbs resonate on the finish.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Syrah lends depth and body to the region’s signature malbec’s high-toned blueberry fruit and supple tannins.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2023
The last decade surely produced some of the finest television ever, spanning high-toned dramas and offbeat comedies, several of them masterpieces unlikely to have been made under any other circumstances.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 6 June 2023
Blending syrah into the region’s signature malbec lends depth and body to malbec’s high-toned blueberry fruit and supple tannins.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2023
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
The notes of high-toned bright fruit—think sour cherry, balsamic and black tea flavors—lend it a lovely sweet-savory profile.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
This one is savory and delicate with bright high-toned berry fruit, warm spices and a thread of richer, dark plum notes.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
This version from Pala winery hits the high-toned cherry fruit notes, while wild herbs resonate on the finish.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Syrah lends depth and body to the region’s signature malbec’s high-toned blueberry fruit and supple tannins.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2023
The last decade surely produced some of the finest television ever, spanning high-toned dramas and offbeat comedies, several of them masterpieces unlikely to have been made under any other circumstances.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 6 June 2023
Blending syrah into the region’s signature malbec lends depth and body to malbec’s high-toned blueberry fruit and supple tannins.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-toned
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
-
This work bridges two worlds that have long existed apart: the tribal passion of soccer and the cerebral, curated realm of fine art.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
-
But that was a fun element, to play both Spencer and Caleb as cerebral together.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Certainly, there was a gap between high-minded intentions and the actual application of the law.—
Carolina A. Miranda,
The Atlantic,
30 June 2025
-
Ghost Note Fairfield Theatre Co., 70 Sanford St., Fairfield An all-star funk outfit anchored by the Snarky Puppy rhythm section and featuring talents who’ve backed up Prince, Herbie Hancock and Kendrick Lamar, Ghost Notes is a high-minded party band ideal for the heat of early July.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Much of intellectual history is a recombination of prior thought in new contexts.—
Chris Reed,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
-
Raimondi hauls in some sociology professors at the end of his book, for intellectual heft, but his case is already made: The ones least caught out by the rise of Donald Trump were the real wrestling fans.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
This is far, far beneath the dignity of a civilized society.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
-
Honoring and showing gratitude to those who step up to help others regardless of their origins is one sign of a civilized society that recognizes the worth of all human beings.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
New money families fought for their place at the table with old money institutions by throwing undeniably elegant balls (with the proper soup) and funding irresistibly cultured opera houses (with the proper spectators).—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 June 2025
-
Goldwyn continued to crave the skills of savvy, street-smart writers like Hellman, the kind of intellect who might elevate an industry many cultured people still looked down their nose at.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
And so while polished OS betas that are clearly for public use are one thing, don’t stretch the point too far.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Her main forte has always been advertising, and an ability to leverage a large network built over 30 years at NBCU and Turner with a tenacious but polished business approach.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Sitting in a room full of pretentious ex-friends and mentally eviscerating them all is a universal human experience.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
-
And a slightly surreal, fantastical closing scene is puzzling and pretentious rather than provocative.—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“High-toned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-toned. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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