tenor

Definition of tenornext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tenor different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of tenor are current, drift, tendency, and trend. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

When is current a more appropriate choice than tenor?

While the synonyms current and tenor are close in meaning, current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

In what contexts can drift take the place of tenor?

The words drift and tenor can be used in similar contexts, but drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

the drift of the population away from large cities
got the drift of her argument

When might tendency be a better fit than tenor?

Although the words tendency and tenor have much in common, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

When would trend be a good substitute for tenor?

The meanings of trend and tenor largely overlap; however, trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

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 tenor Rousouli is equally essential to Titanique's success, delivering a Jack Dawson who balances matinee-idol charm and a smooth tenor with a fearless willingness to lean into the absurd. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026 And Weinstein's recent change in attorneys could shift the trial's tenor and tactics. ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 Jin is the eldest at 33, sardonically charming, with a rich, pure tenor and a commanding stage presence. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2026 The tenor of Iranian media’s reporting is similar. Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tenor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenor
Noun
  • These kinds of citizen groups are easy targets, of course.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The franchise still, of course, has an NFL Draft to take part in later this week — and the Carolina brass has left the door wide open for taking another wide receiver in the first round.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Tolle returned for the sixth and finished his outing in style, sending the Yankees down 1-2-3 while striking out Judge and Stanton.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Photograph by Rachel Neville / Courtesy Parsons Dance Parsons Dance has long been known for its high-energy, high-spirited style.
    Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Previously unproven players like Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza and rookie Hugo Gonzalez all enjoyed career years under Mazzulla’s direction.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
  • People are different; their experiences might have little overlap; their values pull in competing directions.
    Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Fortunately, Sanctions balances its downer tendencies with moments of levity and peculiar arrangements that only Souled American could have concocted.
    Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The tendency to dig your own hole is ironic, and history is a great teacher.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Audiences needn’t know the specifics of the film’s story — or the onslaught of cultural throwaway jokes — to get the narrative gist within the madness.
    Frank Rizzo, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The show’s gist isn’t unlike the shows that have come before it: After a rotation of dates in a sleepaway-camp-esque setting, pairs will start to form.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • His next court appearance is his disposition hearing on April 30.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Olvin Carcamo-Meza, 19, pleaded guilty during a Tuesday afternoon disposition hearing to two counts of first-degree assault, a felony, and two violent crime sentence enhancers, according to Arapahoe County court records.
    Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Beneath the album’s apparent drift lies Jean-Baptiste’s almost classical concern for proportion and structure.
    Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2026
  • If the stock just manages a standard technical bounce and drifts above the $240 level by expiration, both last week's spread and this week's spread are positioned to cross the finish line as full 100% winners.
    Nishant Pant, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • And yes, Rick and Emily, huge allies, love working with them, no inclination of wanting to turn on them.
    Terry Terrones, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Lawlor’s book contains chapters devoted to politics, but her inclination to reach for examples of the reasonable and unreasonable that any reader will intuitively share serves her less well here.
    Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tenor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenor. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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