Sonorous
adjective /ˈsɒn.ər.əs/ — Imposingly deep and full in sound
Definition
Having a pleasingly rich, deep, full sound — resonant in a way that carries weight and presence. A sonorous voice fills a room not with volume but with timbre.
Beyond the definition
The quality of sound that makes you stop and listen not because it is loud but because it has weight. Sonorous sound settles into you.
Origin & history
From Latin 'sonorus' (noisy, resonant) — from 'sonor' (a sound) — from 'sonare' (to sound). Related to 'sound', 'sonic', 'sonata'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
His sonorous baritone carried across the room without his having to raise his voice.
The cathedral organ produced a sonorous chord that lasted long after the organist lifted their hands.
A good reader's voice should be sonorous — not performed, just resonant.
Synonyms
resonant, deep, rich, full, mellifluous
Antonyms
thin, reedy, shrill, tinny
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Orchestra Reaching Full Sound
A conductor stands in the middle of an orchestra, arms expansive and body in an intense gesture as the music reaches its peak.
The music at its peak is sonorous. The resonant, full sound that carries weight and presence as the orchestra reaches its loudest point fills the vast space, showing how a rich, deep timbre can dominate a room through its acoustic intensity.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration