tonal

adjective

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

Examples of tonal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Samba Slate trades the pastel green and pink combination of Hague’s first release for a heathered gray upper, tonal overlays, and contrasting off-white Three Stripes. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 This all plays out with a lot of frequent jarring tonal mismatches, and some bafflingly overwrought dramatic beats, especially around Vision’s makeshift self-repair. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 Gosling is in every scene of the 156-minute movie, and he’s called upon to play every note on the tonal scale in a performance that utilizes his razor-sharp comic timing before moving into emotionally devastating registers. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026 From the fuchsia silk strapless gown to its pleated train in rose and pale pink, Instagram fans instantly fell in love with the tonal mix (a black bow in back, however, divided style pundits, some deeming it an unnecessary detail). — Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tonal

Word History

Etymology

tone entry 1 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tonal was in 1776

Rhymes for tonal

See All Rhymes for tonal

Browse Nearby Words

tonadilla
tonal
tonalamatl
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonal. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tonal

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

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