Weekly Word: Sonorous

It’s that time of week again where I share a word that I find interesting and write a little story in which I use it.

This week’s Weekly Word is: sonorous

Part of Speech

adjective

Pronunciation

suh-nawr-uhs / son-er-uhs / səˈnɔːrəs

Word Origin

First recorded use 1605–15 – from Latin sonōrus ‘loud’, from sonōr ‘a noise’

Related Words

sonorously adverb
sonorousness noun
sonority noun

Meaning

(of a thing or space) capable of creating a deep, resonant sound
(of a speech or style) using imposing and elevated language, sometimes pompous in style
(of a voice or sound) imposingly deep and full

Synonyms

clear, deep, full, full-toned, mellifluous, mellow, melodious, resonang, resoundimg, vibrant
bombastic, declamatory, extravagant, flowery, fustian, grandiloquent, high-flown, high-sounding, impressive, imposing, lofty, magniloquent, majestic, orotund, overblown, rhetorical, rotund, swollen
boomonh, clear, deep, full-bodied, loud, resonant, resounding, rich, strong, vibrant

Antonyms

gentle, low, soft

Use the Word

Sonorous

The cavern was his refuge. When he stood there within the sonorous space, and let his voice resound in vibrant echoes, then, and only then, could he drown out the commanding tones of his father. Down in the city, amongst the halls of power, he remained forever merely the son of a great man. His father’s sonorous speeches had once guided a nation in its time of need. No matter how hard he tried, he could never make himself heard.

High up in the mountains, standing within nature’s own cathedral halls far away from his father’s world, he could finally find his own voice. He could boom out his own sonorous exhultations.

He was finally free to be himself.

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If you would like to join in with this activity in any way, feel free to do so. You could either share a Weekly Word of your own – this week beginning with the letter S – or you could use my word, or Millie Thom’s, as inspiration for a post. This could be a piece of poetry, flash fiction, or any form of prose that you choose. Just share a link in the comments so we can see what you’ve been up to!