tone-setter
noun
: a person or thing that determines or establishes a quality, feeling, or attitude
I like to use the joke as a tone-setter for my speeches.
Examples of tone-setter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Allen’s debut production at La Jolla High in 2016 was a tone-setter.
—
Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
But the Mustangs’ triumphant first season in the ACC was the perfect tone-setter for where SMU wants to be in the years ahead.
—Manny Navarro, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Baltimore needs a tone-setter against Philadelphia, which has won seven straight.
—Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 30 Nov. 2024
Oklahoma’s first play was the tone-setter for a 257-yard rushing day, 113 yards above the Sooners’ season average.
—Kennington Smith Iii, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
That was more of the tone-setter of what really frustrated me throughout the day.
—Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
The Dolphins made a business decision, and so did Wilkins, a three-year captain and the tone-setter for last year’s team.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 July 2024
Veteran tone-setter Al Horford capped one of the longest personal title droughts in NBA history, closing out Year 17 as a pro with his first championship in his 186th playoff game.
—Zack Cox, Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2024
This season, though, Spagnuolo has added a layer to the offseason programming in Kansas City — an intentional tone-setter, of sorts.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2024
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Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
But the Mustangs’ triumphant first season in the ACC was the perfect tone-setter for where SMU wants to be in the years ahead.
—Manny Navarro, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Baltimore needs a tone-setter against Philadelphia, which has won seven straight.
—Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 30 Nov. 2024
Oklahoma’s first play was the tone-setter for a 257-yard rushing day, 113 yards above the Sooners’ season average.
—Kennington Smith Iii, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
That was more of the tone-setter of what really frustrated me throughout the day.
—Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
The Dolphins made a business decision, and so did Wilkins, a three-year captain and the tone-setter for last year’s team.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 July 2024
Veteran tone-setter Al Horford capped one of the longest personal title droughts in NBA history, closing out Year 17 as a pro with his first championship in his 186th playoff game.
—Zack Cox, Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2024
This season, though, Spagnuolo has added a layer to the offseason programming in Kansas City — an intentional tone-setter, of sorts.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2024
Dictionary Entries Near tone-setter
Cite this Entry
“Tone-setter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tone-setter. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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