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 human actors thread the film’s tonal needle properly as well. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 Washed grey colorways, tonal floral embroidery and ripped knees are some of the ways the brand is injecting newness for fall. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2026 The Essence palette features Antique White (011W), a soft neutral that adds balance and ease, and Western Orange (209-4DB), a warm, tonal complement. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026 Even if some of the dialogue was similar, the emotional conversations were very different, and playing with those tonal shifts was a lot of fun. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 25 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 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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