1
as in modes
a distinctive way of putting ideas into words
the angry tone of his letter makes it clear he doesn't want to speak to me ever again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in shades
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished
fall fashions in deep jewel tones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in natures
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others
all that showbiz glitz is out of keeping with the tone of the college
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tones
Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design took a different approach with the interiors of Dagger, combining a linear layout with natural tones and nine different types of wood.
—
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2026
Rarely averse to a pattern or pop of color, her latest coat look was a pleasant surprise, either a nod to the forthcoming Valentine’s Day holiday or a hopeful spin on springtime tones.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Splinter’s Dojo is a middle grade book in similar tones of the popular book franchises such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, featuring a story told through a mix of comics panels, artifacts, and text from Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson, the author/illustrator team of Barb the Last Berzerker.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026
Neutral tones plus jeans is pretty much always going to work.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2026
Best known for its tall, blue and white-painted ceramic bottles, Clase Azul carefully translated the signature look to its new house, contrasting stark blue textiles and designs with warmer tones like natural wood and rich greenery.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Why Designers Are Loving Honey Oak For some designers, honey oak is a welcome alternative to the white tones that have characterized kitchens in recent years.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
Consider light palettes in tones of sage, soft blue, or butter yellow, and placing out chic umbrellas to create shade for your guests.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026
Minimalists typically limit pillows to a small, versatile selection that works year-round, focusing on high-quality materials and neutral tones.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2026
Rarely averse to a pattern or pop of color, her latest coat look was a pleasant surprise, either a nod to the forthcoming Valentine’s Day holiday or a hopeful spin on springtime tones.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Splinter’s Dojo is a middle grade book in similar tones of the popular book franchises such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, featuring a story told through a mix of comics panels, artifacts, and text from Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson, the author/illustrator team of Barb the Last Berzerker.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026
Neutral tones plus jeans is pretty much always going to work.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2026
Best known for its tall, blue and white-painted ceramic bottles, Clase Azul carefully translated the signature look to its new house, contrasting stark blue textiles and designs with warmer tones like natural wood and rich greenery.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Why Designers Are Loving Honey Oak For some designers, honey oak is a welcome alternative to the white tones that have characterized kitchens in recent years.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
Consider light palettes in tones of sage, soft blue, or butter yellow, and placing out chic umbrellas to create shade for your guests.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026
Minimalists typically limit pillows to a small, versatile selection that works year-round, focusing on high-quality materials and neutral tones.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tones
Noun
-
Launched in 2025, the satellite provides a 240-kilometer imaging swath and revisits most of the global roughly every 12 days using fully polarimetric and interferometric radar modes.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Federal analysts averaged data from hundreds of different transit agencies around the country using a variety of modes, including on-demand ride services, van pools, monorails, heavy rail and funicular rail cars that climb steep slopes.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With 30 shades to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find a seamless match.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Plus, these shades allow for privacy without totally obstructing natural light.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Hval’s restless melodies and at-times Proustian lyrics trail cigarette smoke or the fragrance of roses toward litanies of memory, all the while deconstructing the very natures of stage performance, recording technology, and digital existence.—
Jenn Pelly,
Time,
4 Dec. 2025
-
The world features beautifully ethereal landscapes as well as industrial facilities that feel functional and fully realized despite their alien natures.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The fancy men are very rude to Tristan, which is terrible manners and therefore very UN-fancy, but Charlotte likes him.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Judith Martin's Miss Manners column has chronicled the continuous rise and fall of American manners since 1978.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
True to her signature flair for whimsy, Samuel brought in lots of playful elements featuring warm colors, bright patterns, and contemporary silhouettes.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Gap CashSoft Oversized Chunky Cardigan My daughters also loved this soft, chunky cardigan from Gap, available in multiple colors.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And many of the media companies have great monetization but don’t really have any of the big personalities and audiences was a really interesting point.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The New York Giants rookie running back has become one of the most electric personalities in all of sports — and off the field, his relationship with influencer girlfriend Chloe Rodriguez is giving fans even more content to follow.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And while Dostál, Vejmelka and Vladař all play different styles, there are plenty of commonalities.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Exaggerated Shapes Swabb is ready to move on from curved furniture and scalloped details galore, finding these styles to be a bit overused for her liking.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For minimalists, Abasks’s smart leather bags come in gorgeous hues, and feature washable interiors.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
-
In addition to featuring intricate lacework, some pieces stand out for being crafted from chiffon and fluid satins, being punctuated by tiny floral embroideries and cascading daisy embellishments or simply for their buttery hues that add to the classic black and white propositions.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tones. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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