tone poem

1 of 2

noun (1)

: an extended programmatic composition for symphony orchestra usually freer in form than a symphony
tone poet noun

tone poet

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a composer of music
specifically : a composer of symphonic poems

Examples of tone poem in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Some of the emails read like absurdist tone poems. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2025 This kind of visual tone poem approach was something that was used quite a lot for multiple 80s anime. — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 The movie also removes the bulk of the narration of the memoir, which often reads like a tone poem, and adds in a ton of dialogue. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026 In the process, Tarr essayed an arresting tone poem about spiritual isolation that enraptured viewers. — Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tone poem

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

translation of German tondichter

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1902, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tone poem was in 1847

Rhymes for tone poem

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Browse Nearby Words

tone picture
tone poem
tone poet
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Cite this Entry

“Tone poem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tone%20poem. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tone poem

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tone poem

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