melodious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "melodious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a pleasant, musical quality, often referring to sounds or voices. Example: "The melodious sound of the birds singing in the morning filled the air with joy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For example, there are phonological rules that will account for the variations in the placement of stress and the alternations of vowel quality that occur in sets of words such as harmOny, harmOnic, harmOnious and melOdy, melOdic, melOdious.

Encyclopedia Britannica

What strikes me about Dai is his courtesy, desire to be fair and melodious Welsh accent, like a boat on an up-and-down sea.

The Guardian - Film

Little survives of his work, apart from a detailed list describing how voices can range from being engaging or feeble to persuasive and even melodious.

The Guardian

The resulting numbers range from the tense – Everyone Is Very, Very Nervous, as the killings begin – to the lushly melodious London Road in Bloom, in which the residents hymn the hanging baskets which, raised from and lowered to the floor, were one of the most powerful images in Norris's production.

The Guardian

But what actually makes a voice seem engaging or melodious?

The Guardian

He has a new translator, but his sentences remain long and melodious; they are more emotional units than grammatical or logical ones, like the book as a whole.

The Economist

But the melodious talk cannot conceal a dissonance at the heart of the euro zone.

The Economist

Read "The Cello Suites"—preferably with their melodious hum in the background and you will never look at a cello in quite the same way again.

The Economist

They held their position for about 65 seconds, as a melodious prayer was chanted across the courtyard.

The Economist

Many came home lugging a high-end Japanese luxury: a heated toilet-seat complete with pulsating water jets, deodorisers and even music to drown out less melodious tinklings.

The Economist

Old recordings of his melodious symphonies were dusted off and new ones made.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "melodious" to describe sounds that are not only pleasant but also have a musical quality or resemble a melody. It's particularly effective when describing voices, music, or natural sounds like birdsong.

Common error

Avoid using "melodious" to describe visual elements or abstract concepts that don't involve sound. Stick to contexts where the primary focus is on a pleasing and musical auditory experience.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "melodious" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns by attributing to them the quality of having a pleasant melody or sound. Ludwig confirms that "melodious" correctly describes something with a musical or pleasing auditory quality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

51%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "melodious" is a grammatically correct adjective used to describe something having a pleasant melody or sound. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate use across various contexts, especially in news and encyclopedic writing. While it's a very common word, it's important to use it accurately, focusing on auditory experiences and avoiding overuse in non-musical contexts. Alternatives like "tuneful" or "harmonious" can provide subtle variations in meaning. Remember, "melodious" is your go-to word when you want to convey the delightful musicality of a sound.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tuneful

Focuses specifically on the musical quality of something.

harmonious

Suggests a pleasing combination of sounds or elements working together.

musical

Emphasizes the quality of resembling or being related to music.

lyrical

Highlights the expressive and song-like nature of something.

euphonious

Refers to sounds that are pleasing to the ear, often due to their smoothness.

sweet-sounding

Directly describes the pleasantness of a sound.

mellifluous

Emphasizes the smooth and rich flow of sound.

dulcet

Suggests a soothing and pleasing sound, often with a gentle quality.

rhythmic

Highlights the presence of a pleasing and regular pattern in sound.

clear-toned

Focuses on the purity and clarity of the sound produced.

FAQs

How can I use "melodious" in a sentence?

You can use "melodious" to describe things like a bird's song, a musical piece, or a person's voice. For example, "The bird sang a melodious tune" or "She had a melodious voice that captivated the audience."

What words are similar to "melodious"?

Alternatives to "melodious" include "tuneful", "harmonious", and "musical". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to describe non-auditory things as "melodious"?

While technically correct, it's best to reserve "melodious" for describing sounds or things directly related to music. Using it for visual or abstract concepts might sound unusual or forced.

What's the difference between "melodious" and "euphonious"?

"Melodious" implies a pleasant, song-like quality, while "euphonious" refers to any sound that is pleasing to the ear, not necessarily musical. Therefore, all melodious sounds are euphonious, but not all euphonious sounds are melodious.