intonation

noun

Definition of intonationnext
as in inflection

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of intonation Some combination of its audio quality, breathiness, cadence, and intonation just hits me as squarely inhuman. — Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 8 June 2026 Speakers from the country’s western areas, like Osaka and Kyoto, use different intonation and verb forms than those in the eastern Tokyo metro. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 9 Apr. 2026 In addition to the instrumentation, she also was inspired to try jazz singing after spending time with Chet Baker’s catalog and favoring his style of intonation. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 13 Apr. 2026 Bryant and Larson both master the sexy-robot-baby intonation of a very particular strain of 2000s pop, making the displacement doubly funny. — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for intonation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intonation
  1. inflection
  2. accent
  3. accentuation
  4. stress
  5. emphasis
Noun
  • Not as bad as the previous two, but also not good enough to expect a major inflection anytime soon.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 July 2026
  • In a video of her final performance, Lee snaps fluidly in and out of African-American Vernacular English, applying different accents and inflections.
    — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Definition of inflection
Noun
  • Like a take on a classic Timberland boot, the shoe was a wheat color with dark brown cuff accents creating a tiered look.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
  • Familiar accents fill the room, strangers introduce themselves over drinks and supporters who follow different sports at home gather behind the USMNT.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of accent
Noun
  • Thankfully, after expending serious overtime up front, the design crew lightened its hand over the rest of the truck, which remains a stout, sturdy pickup without the over-accentuation that characterizes the new US-market Tundra and Tacoma.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
  • Held together by a wide black barrette, Gomez’s hair had a shiny quality to it with the ends flipped up for a fun, playful accentuation of the look.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 1 Dec. 2025
Definition of accentuation
Noun
  • The offer comes amid a period of stress for the global aviation sector, as airlines navigate a jet fuel squeeze caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Its receptors can be activated by external opioids such as morphine, but also natural ones – the endorphins produced by the brain to relieve pain and stress.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 July 2026
Definition of stress
Noun
  • The small, photogenic village of Aurora, which hugs the eastern shoreline of Lake Cayuga, is home to a new spa that draws inspiration from this landscape and places an emphasis on hydrotherapy.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
  • These insights, especially the emphasis on studying liberal arts subjects as tomorrow’s vocational advantage, echo my own reporting for Forbes.
    — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of emphasis

Browse Nearby Words

intonating
intonation
intonations
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Cite this Entry

“Intonation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intonation. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on intonation

Nglish: Translation of intonation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about intonation

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