tonal

adjective

ton·​al ˈtō-nᵊl How to pronounce tonal (audio)
1
: of or relating to tone, tonality, or tonicity
2
: having tonality
tonally adverb

Examples of tonal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The cast shows talent across the board, further tested by a tonal rug pull in the final act that has the characters confronting more serious matters than crushes and candy bars. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 Louis Vuitton gown in pale blue, writer-director-producer Ava DuVernay also went tonal with her jewelry, wearing earrings and a pair of rings by Reza. Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 Gosling’s head-to-Gucci look included a single-breasted pink wool suit, matching trousers, a silk crepe tonal shirt, and black leather lace-up shoes for the epic occasion. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 The director’s control of tonal and visual storytelling, his meticulous attention to detail and his bone-chilling use of sound make this a uniquely disturbing experience. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 The not-so-dirty blonde tonal look lets the dishwater shades shine through — allowing more time in between color appointments — but still infuses some brightened strands. Shelby Wax, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024 And the result is a tonal balance that, while not necessarily unique in fiction, effectively conveys the seriousness of its events while not dampening the mood. Anhar Karim, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 The bag is super sleek, too, featuring tonal details. Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 Especially with this one, because of all the tonal undulations. Carita Rizzo, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tonal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tonal was in 1776

Dictionary Entries Near tonal

Cite this Entry

“Tonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tonal

adjective
ton·​al ˈtōn-ᵊl How to pronounce tonal (audio)
: of or relating to a musical tone
tonally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tonal

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