1
as in style
a distinctive way of putting ideas into words
the angry tone of his letter makes it clear he doesn't want to speak to me ever again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in shade
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished
fall fashions in deep jewel tones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in self
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others
all that showbiz glitz is out of keeping with the tone of the college
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 tone
Rodríguez’s rise to interim leadership has signaled continuity in key areas of state control, even as her government adopts a more pragmatic tone toward the United States.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Arwa locations are painted in natural desert tones, with archways that mimic mosques and lampshades shaped like the hats worn by Yemen’s coffee farmers.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones?
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 2 May 2026
That small, human effort set the tone.
—Peter Folan, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tone
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Arwa locations are painted in natural desert tones, with archways that mimic mosques and lampshades shaped like the hats worn by Yemen’s coffee farmers.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones?
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 2 May 2026
That small, human effort set the tone.
—Peter Folan, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tone
Noun
-
In scenes where Yura remembers her childhood and its connection to the beast, the animation takes on a gauzier, more primitive style that matches the film’s more cosmic, oceanic themes.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
1 May 2026
-
For major criminals, the city seemed to offer not only impunity but also sunshine, an easy life style, and safety.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lucchese had American alligator cowboy boots in a shade called black cherry for sale for $17,000.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The couple made their entrance — arm in arm — with Sonenshein in a tea-length, corseted gown and Vahle in a bespoke suit the shade of a Liguria olive.—
Kit Warchol,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And what could be more defensive and self-aggrandizing than choosing a weaker person to pick on, to transfer all of one’s anxieties to, and then to harm for daring to comply?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
It’s taken me years to be able to overcome that psychology of self-loathing and victimhood.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At this, the reënactor—whose name was Jen Roger and whose real job was director of the Nevada State Museum in Carson City—went into docent mode.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Alternativa is addressing the issue by creating a distribution arm that has already been in talks with platforms, TV channels, in-flight systems and other ancillary distribution modes.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
These teams are growing fiber from bacteria, engineering cotton that comes out of the ground in color and creating silk like fibers from compost.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The centrality of the extra-long flyback chronograph seconds hand (in a straw-yellow color) nods to his belief that the watch is, at heart, an instrument.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Charles, who is well-known for his love of nature and the importance of sustainability, fed chickens in a coop together with the kids.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The actor and hairstylist was questioned extensively by Blumberg about her dynamic with Weinstein and is expected to face a grilling about its complicated nature when cross-examination begins.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The dragon’s tail on the Crew-13 patch wraps around Earth in a manner reminiscent of the blue contrail that connects Earth with the horses on the Apollo 13 insignia.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Another challenge is that sometimes DCF has to request police reports from another state and the information is not obtained in a timely manner, the DCF worker said.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Enjoy the mixture of black, blue and yellow hues on the male.—
Sheryl DeVore,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The shampoo uses highly concentrated violet pigments (which give it that signature purple hue) to neutralize yellow tones on contact.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tone. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
