resonant

American  

[rez-uh-nuhnt] / ˈrɛz ə nənt /

adjective

1. resounding or echoing, as sounds.

   the resonant thundering of cannons being fired.

2. deep and full of resonance.

   a resonant voice.

   Synonyms:

   reverberant, sonorant, vibrant, rich

3. pertaining to resonance.

4. producing resonance; causing amplification or sustention of sound.

5. pertaining to a system in a state of resonance, especially with respect to sound.

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noun

1. Phonetics. a vowel or a voiced consonant or semivowel that is neither a stop nor an affricate, as, in English, (m, ng, n, l, r, y, w).

resonant British  

/ ˈrɛzənənt /

adjective

1. (of sound) resounding or re-echoing

2. producing or enhancing resonance, as by sympathetic vibration

3. characterized by resonance

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Other Word Forms

• hyperresonant adjective
• hyperresonantly adverb
• nonresonant adjective
• nonresonantly adverb
• resonantly adverb
• unresonant adjective
• unresonantly adverb

Etymology

Origin of resonant

1585–95; < Latin resonant- (stem of resonāns ), present participle of resonāre to resound; -ant

Explanation

Resonant describes sound that is deep and rich. It also can mean deeply evocative. A resonant speech moves you by bringing to mind all that is good in the world: family, friends, laughter. Resonant comes from the Latin re, meaning again, and sonare, meaning to sound––or literally to sound again or echo. So resonant's meanings all have that sense of reverberating or echoing. Not only does it mean echoing or evoking meaning, but it also refers to sound that echoes through a room. Don't confuse the spellings of resonant (the adjective) and resonate (the verb).

Example Sentences

It is trying to channel spending into lifestyle categories that are repeatable, emotionally resonant, and easier to scale through branding, intellectual property, and offline experiences.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

Without sacrificing the book’s dark humor, Burke doesn’t shy away from the repercussions of Natalie’s choices, and scenes with her children are the most frustrating and emotionally resonant.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Rendered with atomic specks of red, blue and green that produce a darker purplish cast, its resonant effect is reinforced in the painted border Seurat added later, as he did to many of his seascapes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The resonant cavity increases the local optical density of states and helps emitted light escape more efficiently.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

“Again I swear!” came the Professor’s resonant voice.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Related Words

• mellow
• profound
• rich
• ringing
• sonorous
• thrilling