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

Resonant

adj.thoughtful, joyfulliterary

What it means

Producing a deep continuing sound or carrying strong emotional or intellectual significance.

Reach for it when describing something that continues to vibrate, literally or in memory

Her resonant account of migration stayed with the audience.

Choose between these

6
  • everyday

    echoing

    sound continues through a space

    not when Echoing does not imply a rich tone.

  • everyday

    powerful

    strong impact matters more than mechanism

    not when Powerful is very broad.

  • warm

    meaningful

    personal significance is the main point

    not when Meaningful lacks the vibration image.

  • professional

    reverberant

    acoustic persistence is technically relevant

    not when Reverberant can imply excessive echo.

  • formal

    evocative

    images or feelings are called to mind

    not when Evocative may not feel personally true.

  • literary

    sonorous

    full deep sound deserves praise

    not when Sonorous concerns sound only.

Said against

3
  • hollow
  • forgettable
  • muted

It naturally appears in

3
  • resonant voice

    His resonant voice carried without amplification.

  • deeply resonant

    The closing image was deeply resonant for returning residents.

  • resonant theme

    A resonant theme of mutual care runs through the book.

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.