1
as in echoing
to continue or be repeated in a series of reflected sound waves
the stranded hiker's cries for help sounded throughout the canyon
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in seeming
to give the impression of being
the idea at least sounds plausible
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3
as in voicing
to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion)
a person who certainly isn't shy about sounding her opinions
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4
as in announcing
to make known openly or publicly
the grand opening of the region's newest and largest mall has been loudly sounded for months
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1
as in plumbing
to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line
the pilot sounded the river to make sure we weren't in any danger of running aground
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2
as in plunging
to cast oneself head first into deep water
a whale suddenly surfaced and then, just as suddenly, sounded
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sounding
Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Though the choice is ultimately David’s, his wife Pam becomes a critical sounding board.
—Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 18 Aug. 2025
Robert Hart, The Verge, 23 Apr. 2026
Baháʼí leaders in the United States are sounding the alarm, saying the hundreds of thousands of believers in Iran are facing growing persecution and scrutiny over their beliefs.
—Adam Duxter, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sounding
Noun
Graham eventually hired him as an off-field assistant under Norvell, who found a valuable sounding board.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Though the choice is ultimately David’s, his wife Pam becomes a critical sounding board.
—Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
Anthropic has a habit of using dramatic, alarming-sounding language that can be tough to interrogate cleanly, including flirting with the idea that its Claude model might be conscious.
—Robert Hart, The Verge, 23 Apr. 2026
Baháʼí leaders in the United States are sounding the alarm, saying the hundreds of thousands of believers in Iran are facing growing persecution and scrutiny over their beliefs.
—Adam Duxter, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sounding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sounding
draft
Noun
-
Chen, a 2025 third-round draft pick who appeared in 24 games for the Valkyries last season, dished three assists and scored 11 points in Golden State’s victory.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Robert, a running back, was a first-round NFL draft pick in 1998 who rushed for 1,115 yards as a rookie.—
Todd Holcomb,
AJC.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sounding. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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