Thesaurus results for TENOR

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

tenor

noun

Definition of tenor next

as in course

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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Recent Examples of tenor His hysterical and paranoid tenor made this easy to dismiss as excuse-making for his difficulties governing in his first term and his myriad legal problems. —

Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025 But on Thursday afternoon, on a call that included Otto Benedict, who oversees the SoFi campus, and an LAPD battalion chief, the tenor changed. —

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025 The Los Angeles Times' current news coverage doesn't reflect the tenor of Soon-Shiong's posts, either, even though his X account identifies him as the paper's executive chairman. —

David Folkenflik, NPR, 3 Feb. 2025 Instead, as sets burned to the ground, new locations were scouted the next day, the Oscars delayed the announcement of nominations, the Grammys decided to carry on as planned but transitioned the tenor of the evening to that of a fundraiser for musicians who lost everything in the fires. —

Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for tenor

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenor

Noun

Split evenly across America, Jaclyn lives in Los Angeles (of course) with her hot actor hubby, Kate’s in Austin, Texas to raise her own purportedly idyllic family, and Laurie is the resident New Yorker, divorcee, and heavy-drinker.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2025
Trump, of course, has already gone ahead with 10% tariffs on China.

— STAN CHOE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 11 Feb. 2025