How to Use monotone in a Sentence

monotone

1 of 2 noun
  • She read the story in a dull monotone.
  • She spoke in a monotone voice.
  • He sang in a soft, low monotone.
  • Brown likens it to a melody that becomes one, long monotone sound.
    — Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2021
  • Red Beard spoke in a low, electric monotone.
    — Will MacKin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
  • Slavs do battle with monotone hordes, and then with each other.
    — Sophie Pinkham, The New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2020
  • His critiques were muttered in a rapid-fire monotone out of the side of his mouth.
    — Bruce McCall, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2020
  • There is a mix of tones and hues throughout the cockpit to help avoid a monotone look.
    — G. Chambers Williams Iii, Houston Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2018
  • Tuck a plain white pocket square into the breast pocket for a monotone look.
    — Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 19 Aug. 2023
  • Shiv delivers one to the press through a low monotone, almost a growl.
    — Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 11 Apr. 2023
  • Without contrast, a monotone space can take on a boring, flat look.
    — Amanda Smith, ELLE Decor, 17 Apr. 2018
  • These have been replaced by an endless monotone of heavy-handed highs.
    — Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
  • His voice remained monotone; his speech soft and bereft of inflection points.
    — Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press, 24 Nov. 2019
  • But if my all-black wardrobe didn’t offend them, the somber monotone of my Spanish did.
    — Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023
  • The road-hazard orange of a blood star leaps from its monotone environs.
    — Clark Fair, Alaska Dispatch News, 8 July 2017
  • Characters read texts aloud in monotone while the camera frames them in doorways and peers at them through glass.
    — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 30 June 2021
  • The crunch of the sesame and seaweed is not only addictive on its own, but works well to dress up any bland monotone meal.
    — Zoe Dubno, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2023
  • Our guide had a calming vibe with his monotone voice and slow descriptions of the history of the home.
    — David Duran, Country Living, 11 Oct. 2016
  • His whole monotone, his life story, and his pain was [influential].
    — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 27 June 2017
  • In place of his previous monotones are color blocking, bold stripes and a clash of florals and plaids.
    — Alexandra Marshall, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2023
  • Monochrome styling is having its moment, but sticking to one color scheme doesn’t have to read monotone.
    — Staff Author, InStyle, 19 June 2026
  • Yevhen spoke in an unnerving, quiet monotone, as if all the emotion had been burned out of him by months of shellfire.
    — Timothy Garton Ash, The New York Review of Books, 26 Jan. 2023
  • When your outfit is mostly black-and-white, littles pops of color can keep things from looking too drab or monotone.
    — Elizabeth Loga, Glamour, 22 June 2021
  • Although the aluminum trim added a sporty touch and the plastics were soft, the monotone interior looked plain.
    — Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 27 June 2017
  • Not even a new monotone blonde narrator by the name of Kristin Cavallari could save it.
    — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 24 June 2019
  • In interviews, his sound bites fall somewhere between measured and monotone.
    — Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Both were narrated by a man in a monotone, with the actors barely audible in the background.
    — Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2021
  • Akeem Davis-Gaither showed how to make a monotone look sophisticated and classy.
    — Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023
  • In a low, monotone voice, Gómez Quiñones read through the syllabus with all the enthusiasm of a chair.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2020
  • A lot of your character's mannerisms — the yo-yo, the constant eating, the monotone voice — aren't in the book.
    — Lauren Huff, EW.com, 16 July 2021

monotone

2 of 2 adjective
  • For fall she’s gone more monotone, with a bit of ombré on the ends.
    — Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2024
  • In an effort to break up the monotone look, try navy instead.
    — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 3 June 2026
  • Many of the looks were monotone, but floral motifs were a main driver.
    — Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2023
  • To avoid a flat, monotone look, play with color and create tonal contrast.
    — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
  • Princess Kate's fall wardrobe is proving that monochrome doesn't have to be so monotone.
    — Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 3 Nov. 2022
  • Right now, Sanders is too monotone with his lower half and needs to move with more urgency.
    — Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
  • This keeps the work environment from feeling monotone and gray.
    — Justin Tobin, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
  • Talking too long or in a monotone voice will cause the interviewer’s mind to wander.
    — Robin Ryan, Forbes, 12 July 2022
  • The whirling sound of the hair dryer felt soothing, its monotone hum putting me in a calm, meditative state.
    — Andrea Aliseda, Harper's BAZAAR, 28 Sep. 2022
  • Talking too long, or in a monotone voice will surely cause the interviewer’s mind to wander.
    — Robin Ryan, Forbes, 18 May 2021
  • Rectangular graves lie covered with flowers and petals, awaiting their monotone stone slabs.
    — Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Teammates smacked his helmet in celebration and fans showered him with cheers, yet the noise all blurred into a slow, monotone hum.
    — Jesse Dougherty, chicagotribune.com, 3 July 2018
  • Contrasting colors are often a better choice than a monotone design.
    — Monika Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2021
  • The clean, crisp and monotone interior practically looks brand new, in a tannish, light brown hue.
    — Houston Chronicle, 5 Jan. 2018
  • One message, only a few seconds long, delivers the message in a monotone, robotic voice.
    — Jack Gillum, ProPublica, 3 Nov. 2020
  • Replace matte, monotone stoneware with something with more character.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
  • One deepfake video altered Clark’s voice to tell a monotone story about a fake confrontation with Reese.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
  • Available in two sleek, dark, monotone colorways, this slide-style sandal has a refined, sporty aesthetic.
    — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 20 Dec. 2024
  • In Italy, neutrals aren’t limited to just black, as warm tones like a chocolate brown add depth to an otherwise monotone outfit.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
  • The dainty scalloped edge is a real conversation starter, and adds some playful texture to the monotone fall layer.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The ready-to-wear palate was rigorously monotone, in strong shades including tangerine, lavender, teal and black.
    — Colleen Barry, Star Tribune, 24 Feb. 2021
  • The dainty scalloped edge is a real conversation-starter, and adds some playful texture to the monotone fall layer.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Her clothes became more monotone in color, with fewer patterns but remained rich texturally.
    — Julia Rabinowitsch, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Or go all in on a monotone all-pink flower garden with different colors and textures of foliage to keep it interesting.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The vehicle isn’t completely monotone, though.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Reading verbatim tends to flatten the vocal inflection and produce a monotone voice.
    — Jerry Weissman, Forbes, 3 May 2022
  • The brilliant color of pre-war life has faded into a monotone cement gray that dominates the territory.
    — Abdel Kareem Hana, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Broadcasters don’t want a monotone, unflappable old-school official.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • His monotone responses and repetitive hand gestures can often appear robotic.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The brilliant color of prewar life has faded into a monotone cement gray that dominates the territory.
    — Abdel Kareem Hana and Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025

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

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