Synonyms for

Tone

Verb / təʊn / Another word for tone — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

A musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength.

Synonyms & similar words

Synonyms by register

Antonyms

Common collocations

  • tone of voice
  • angry tone
  • friendly tone
  • change the tone
  • set the tone
  • warm tone
  • somber tone
  • professional tone

Word family

noun tone
verb tone
adjective tonal

Usage note

The word 'tone' can refer to the pitch or sound quality of a voice, or the attitude or feeling conveyed in writing or speech. Be mindful of the context to distinguish between these meanings.

Example sentences

  1. The tone of the music was very upbeat.
  2. She used a stern tone of voice when talking to her children.
  3. He tried to match the tone of his guitar to the song.
  4. The tone of the book was dark and ominous.
  5. She used a sarcastic tone when speaking to her friend.

Quotes

  • 'The tone of good conversation is brilliant and scintillating.' - Winston Churchill
  • 'Language is the dress of thought; and as the noblest mien or most graceful action would be degraded and obscured by a garb appropriated to the coarsest and most vulgar employments, so the most heroic sentiments will lose their efficacy, and the most splendid ideas drop their magnificence, if they are not arrayed in words which are the dress of thoughts, and adapted to the tone of the mind which utters them.' - Charles Caleb Colton
  • 'I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.' - Martin Luther King Jr.

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