tenor

noun

Definition of tenornext
1
as in course

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in style

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tenor different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of tenor are current, drift, tendency, and trend. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

When is current a more appropriate choice than tenor?

While the synonyms current and tenor are close in meaning, current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

In what contexts can drift take the place of tenor?

The words drift and tenor can be used in similar contexts, but drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

the drift of the population away from large cities
got the drift of her argument

When might tendency be a better fit than tenor?

Although the words tendency and tenor have much in common, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

When would trend be a good substitute for tenor?

The meanings of trend and tenor largely overlap; however, trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of tenor Trout expresses optimism about quick return Angels star outfielder Mike Trout was in a jovial mood Friday, a far cry from the understandably glum tenor of his normal injury interviews. —Sam Blum, New York Times, 3 May 2025 While the meeting between the two leaders got off to a cordial start, the tenor of the meeting took a noticeable turn when Trump confronted Ramaphosa with a video that allegedly showed grave treatment of white farmers. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025 The tenor of the video shifts as the teens navigate more serious questions. —Sam Gillette, People.com, 21 May 2025 Did making that move to affiliate with Columbia in New York help produce the tenor of the album? —Chris Willman, Variety, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for tenor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenor
  1. course
  2. style
  3. direction
  4. tendency
  5. gist
  6. disposition
  7. drift
  8. inclination
Noun
  • Not every email Cross received while sitting in that chair was positive, of course.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
  • Thankfully, there were no police with radar guns in the vicinity as he was driven back to the course.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
Definition of course
Noun
  • The club has long been associated with a style called ‘shoeshine and piano’, which in basic terms is ‘touch football’, similar to tiki-taka.
    — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 7 June 2025
  • The color is easy to accessorize, works with any design style, and layers beautifully with neutrals and other colors.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2025
Definition of style
Noun
  • Holden praised Indicator, citing their focused direction and curation.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 June 2025
  • His regular-season numbers are astonishing, but so are his postseason stats… in the opposite direction.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
Definition of direction
Noun
  • The heavy stacks of cash fit into a pattern emerging throughout the trial as prosecutors attempt to paint Combs as a man spoiled by success, able to hide a tendency for abuse and criminality through a large staff and an ever-larger fortune.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 June 2025
  • That’s the tendency, when arriving at such milestones — to celebrate the past, and the distance traveled.
    — Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Definition of tendency
Noun
  • Again, the overall gist is that everyone expects this to be pretty competitive basketball between two good teams.
    — Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The general gist of the new dolls is to celebrate two distinct industry roles—musical Artist and Tour Manager.
    — Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of gist
Noun
  • On the other hand, those with a certain chronotype — a natural disposition determined by factors such as age and genetics — may benefit from the habit, Fiala said, referencing a 2023 study which found night owls tend to rely on their snooze button more.
    — Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 26 May 2025
  • He was released from jail on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon for a disposition hearing, court records show.
    — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 May 2025
Definition of disposition
Noun
  • Without that goal, their attention drifts, and practice becomes boring.
    — Stefan Falk, CNBC, 30 May 2025
  • Smoke from the recent Los Angeles wildfires drifts over the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.
    — Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Definition of drift
Noun
  • Additionally, the Bank of Japan’s inclination to tighten its monetary policy, which collides with the Asian nation’s fiscal woes, also have a hand in fueling the bond sell-off, said Varathan.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 22 May 2025
  • But state officials have shown no inclination toward making alterations. California earlier this month joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Federal Highway Administration and the Trump administration from withholding billions of dollars to expand electric vehicle infrastructure.
    — Rob Nikolewski, Mercury News, 21 May 2025
Definition of inclination

Browse Nearby Words

tenners
tenor
tenors
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tenor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenor. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on tenor

Nglish: Translation of tenor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tenor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Some Data About 'Datum'

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All