sounding board

noun

Definition of sounding boardnext
as in expert
a person or group with whom you discuss ideas to see if the ideas are good My friend is my sounding board for new ideas.

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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 sounding board Huff will play Peter Allen, Jason’s (Strong) pragmatic colleague at the law firm who is a sounding board and early on questions the viability of the case. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026 As an upperclassman, Frederique has learned the value of being more vocal and serving as a sounding board his teammates can rely upon. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 As kids get older, parents can be a sounding board and offer advice on how to navigate the tricky situations that inevitably come up instead of ghosting people. — Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 Tortorella became a sounding board during the past eight years in Bickel’s coaching quest. — Joe Smith, New York Times, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sounding board
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sounding board
  1. expert
  2. adviser
  3. counselor
  4. specialist
Noun
  • Several outside experts agreed with him, calling the methods state-of-the-art.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Legal experts have echoed those concerns, noting that relying on the NVRA’s general preamble language to halt state election certification lacks precedent.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of expert
Noun
  • After leading the San Francisco Giants to three World Series titles as their general manager, Sabean returned to the Yankees from 2023-26 as an executive advisor to GM Brian Cashman.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • That’s after appointing former Obama and Biden campaign staffer John Bivona as head of government relations in January and onboarding former Obama campaign manager Stephanie Cutter as an advisor in April.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of adviser
Noun
  • Justice Samuel Alito raised Colorado's recent record of losses at the Supreme Court in religious liberty cases, in which the high court sided with a Christian baker, website designer and counselor.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • That batch was quickly administered and another 70 doses sent in June were used up within 10 days, said Tarsisio Biryeija, a nursing officer working as a counselor at Mbarara Health Centre IV.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of counselor
Noun
  • Advanced care specialists at the zoo are able to capture data about kangaroo development through voluntary pouch checks, the zoo said.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But even the most sophisticated diagnostic tools cannot improve outcomes if patients cannot access the specialists and health care systems equipped to use them.
    — Bruce Bebo, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of specialist

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Cite this Entry

“Sounding board.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sounding%20board. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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