SOUND Synonyms: 326 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sound' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of sound are cogent , convincing , telling , and valid . While all these words mean "having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance," sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds. // a sound proposal for reviving the economy

Q: When might 'cogent' be a better fit than 'sound'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sound , cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation. // the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

Q: When is 'convincing' a more appropriate choice than 'sound'?

The meanings of convincing and sound largely overlap; however, convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept. // a convincing argument for welfare reform

Q: When could 'telling' be used to replace 'sound'?

While the synonyms telling and sound are close in meaning, telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter. // a telling example of bureaucratic waste

Q: When can 'valid' be used instead of 'sound'?

In some situations, the words valid and sound are roughly equivalent. However, valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority. // a valid reason for being absent // a valid marriage

sound 1 of 5

verb (1)

Definition of sound

as in to echo

to continue or be repeated in a series of reflected sound waves the stranded hiker's cries for help sounded throughout the canyon

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Relevance

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as in to seem

to give the impression of being the idea at least sounds plausible

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as in to voice

to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) a person who certainly isn't shy about sounding her opinions

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as in to announce

to make known openly or publicly the grand opening of the region's newest and largest mall has been loudly sounded for months

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sound

2 of 5

verb (2)

as in to scale

to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line the pilot sounded the river to make sure we weren't in any danger of running aground

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as in to plunge

to cast oneself head first into deep water a whale suddenly surfaced and then, just as suddenly, sounded

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surface

sound

3 of 5

noun (1)

ˈsau̇nd

as in hearing

range of hearing wandered off, out of her parents' sight and sound

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sound

4 of 5

noun (2)

as in strait

a narrow body of water between two land masses Long Island Sound is between Connecticut and Long Island, New York

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sound

5 of 5

adjective

as in logical

according to the rules of logic sound reasoning alone should tell you that the result is invalid

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as in healthy

enjoying health and vigor the horse is getting along in years, but still perfectly sound

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as in sturdy

marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion the shed looks flimsy, but it's actually surprisingly sound

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word sound different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of sound are cogent, convincing, telling, and valid. While all these words mean "having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance," sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds.

a sound proposal for reviving the economy

When might cogent be a better fit than sound?

While in some cases nearly identical to sound, cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation.

the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

When is convincing a more appropriate choice than sound?

The meanings of convincing and sound largely overlap; however, convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept.

a convincing argument for welfare reform

When could telling be used to replace sound?

While the synonyms telling and sound are close in meaning, telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter.

a telling example of bureaucratic waste

When can valid be used instead of sound?

In some situations, the words valid and sound are roughly equivalent. However, valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority.

a valid reason for being absent

a valid marriage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sound

Verb

The model was doing exactly what it was trained to do, which was to produce plausible-sounding continuations of the prompts Lemoine had chosen to feed it about consciousness. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 This may sound low but is substantial in the context of wages that range from 23 cents to 50 cents per hour. — Jaquelyn Jahn, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Noun

When Nene Kikutadze’s cochlear implant was activated, her mother, Natia, watched her daughter hear sound for the first time. — Lauryn Higgins, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 For example, whether a mortgage is financially sound depends on factors including the home price, loan terms, and the borrower's income stability and financial reserves. — Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Sleep headbands track real-time brainwave patterns and respond with sound or vibration cues. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 The QuietComfort Earbuds are an exception at their much friendlier price (especially with this sale), but still deliver spectacular sound quality and active noise cancellation. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sound

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sound

Verb

Journalist Christiane Amanpour, who stepped out for the occasion in a red jacquard pantsuit by Derek Lam, echoed Clooney’s focus on providing protection for those relentlessly working to hold corrupt systems accountable.

— Christie Grimm, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026
But despite the massive wealth surge, Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, has also echoed Musk in arguing that paper wealth and spendable money are two different things.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of echo

Verb

The shop claimed to have reached out to clear the air, however that air does not seem to be getting any clearer.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026
One of the other things that Claude noticed was that these array of associated reverse transcriptases seem to be isolated to jumbo phages, which have very large genomes for bacteriophage.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of seem

Verb

For Peyton Elizabeth Lee, who voices the lead character Prue, alongside actors like Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, and Jacob Tremblay, that experience was quite different.

— Bridget Arsenault, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
Saints principal owner Gayle Benson voiced her concerns Tuesday, less than two full days after the team dropped its third consecutive game.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of voice

Verb

Trump blindsided Zelenskyy last weekend by announcing that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
In recent weeks, legal trouble has brewed between her estate and nephew Brian Seaver, who was also her longtime head of security and the one who announced her passing to fans in a video on her social media.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of announce

Verb

DannijoPro has tapped Pat Geraghty, former president and chief executive officer of GuideWell and its subsidiary Florida Blue, as CEO as the company looks to scale its business.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
How Creator Relationships With Viewers Are Changing As creator content has become more professionally produced and even scaled via generative AI tools, the audience’s emotional relationship to creators has changed, as well.

— William Daddi, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of scale

Verb

Kardashian’s dress, form-fitted with cap sleeves and a plunging neckline, was ornately patterned.

— Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
By then, the plane had plunged fourteen thousand feet in just twenty-nine seconds, according to data from Flightradar24, an aviation-tracking firm.

— Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of plunge

Noun

Choudri told the board during the hearing that the agency had adopted measures to reduce consultant costs.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Bainbridge Township Patrolman Friedrich Kaufmann testified at Mathews’ May 5 preliminary hearing in Chardon Municipal Court that, after that initial argument, Mattai drove away, then returned to the park about five minutes later.

— Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of hearing

Noun

That movement has continued despite newly escalating fighting in Yemen, on the other side of the strait.

— JAMEY KEATEN, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
But Washington has said that the principle of free navigation in international waters is inviolable, a stance echoed by Gulf states that rely on the strait for much of their trade.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of strait

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“Sound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sound. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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