sonorous

[ suh-nawr-uhs, -nohr-, son-er-uhs ]

adjective

1. giving out or capable of giving out a sound, especially a deep, resonant sound, as a thing or place:

   a sonorous cavern.

2. loud, deep, or resonant, as a sound.
3. rich and full in sound, as language or verse.
4. high-flown; grandiloquent:

   a sonorous speech.

   Synonyms: orotund, grandiose, florid, eloquent

sonorous

/ səˈnɔːrəs; səˈnɒrɪtɪ; ˈsɒnərəs /

adjective

1. producing or capable of producing sound
2. (of language, sound, etc) deep or resonant
3. (esp of speech) high-flown; grandiloquent

Derived Forms

• soˈnorousness, noun
• soˈnorously, adverb
• sonority, noun

Other Words From

• so·norous·ly adverb
• so·norous·ness noun
• multi·so·norous adjective
• multi·so·norous·ly adverb
• multi·so·norous·ness noun
• unso·norous adjective
• unso·norous·ly adverb
• unso·norous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sonorous¹

1605–15; < Latin sonōrus noisy, sounding, equivalent to sonōr-, stem of sonor sound ( son ( āre ) to sound ¹ + -or -or ¹ ) + -us -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sonorous¹

C17: from Latin sonōrus loud, from sonor a noise

Example Sentences

There are indelible voices in entertainment, and there is James Earl Jones’ baritone, variously described as sonorous, commanding, and booming.

From Salon

Stylistic innovations, relative to the Burnsean oeuvre, are promised, including split screen images; sounds and pictures from the future Da Vinci anticipated; a score by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, performed by contemporary ensembles Attacca Quartet, Sō Percussion and Roomful of Teeth; and sonorous Keith David stepping in for tumbleweed-dry Peter Coyote as narrator.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Pigg’s deep, sonorous voice was also a staple of television.

From New York Times

It’s startlingly similar to what happens when he stands on opera stages — all 6 feet, 5 inches of him — and bellows in his sonorous bass-baritone; you are irrevocably drawn in.

From Seattle Times

He blew through it, and what came out was sonorous and weird.

From New York Times

Related Words

• booming
• ringing
• thundering