Words of Positivity
Browse the A to Z index4,633 ENTRIES

Euphonious

adj.joyful, calmformal

What it means

Pleasant, smooth, and harmonious to hear.

Reach for it when praising the sound of language, names, music, or voices

The poet chose euphonious words for the final stanza.

Choose between these

6
  • playful

    easy on the ear

    when accessible informal praise is preferable

    not when The phrase is conversational and may suggest blandness.

  • everyday

    musical

    when rhythm and tone resemble music

    not when Musical may describe skill or instruments rather than pleasant sound.

  • warm

    melodious

    when tuneful musical quality is central

    not when Melodious is less natural for prose, names, or isolated speech sounds.

  • professional

    harmonious

    when sounds combine agreeably

    not when Harmonious emphasizes relationships among sounds rather than their individual beauty.

  • literary

    dulcet

    when sweet, soothing sound deserves ornate praise

    not when Dulcet can sound affected and may imply excessive sweetness.

  • literary

    mellifluous

    when flowing smoothness of voice or wording is central

    not when Mellifluous can imply slickness and is unsuitable for brisk percussive beauty.

Said against

4
  • cacophonous
  • discordant
  • grating
  • harsh

It naturally appears in

3
  • euphonious name

    The designer chose a euphonious name that remained easy to spell.

  • euphonious language

    Euphonious language gave the translation a gentle cadence.

  • euphonious sound

    A euphonious sound emerged when the two choirs joined.

Where this comes from

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.