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Glite Dictionary
🔊 Having a sound ✨ Seeming impressive
-sounding

-sounding

7.6
Appearing to have the quality described by the word before it, often only in appearance
  • adjective
translation icon : -que suena
  • His speech was full of fine-sounding promises but lacked substance.

Examples

  • They were impressed by his high-sounding titles, unaware of their actual meaning.

  • The proposal may be good-sounding but is not feasible in practice.

  • The -sounding music filled the room with energy.

  • She prefers -sounding names for her pets.

  • His speech was full of fine-sounding promises but lacked substance.

  • The proposal may be good-sounding but is not feasible in practice.

  • They were impressed by his high-sounding titles, unaware of their actual meaning.

Synonyms

-looking
vs-sounding
  • Specialized
3 4.9

Having the look shown by the word before it, for example sad-looking

focuses on auditory impression rather than visual appearance
seeming
vs-sounding
3 4.7

Appearing to be true when it is not

emphasizes auditory or general impression rather than mere appearance
onomatopoeic
vs-sounding
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A word that sounds like the noise something makes, for example bang or buzz

marks an impression of sound rather than literal mimicry by the word
sounding
vs-sounding
5.6

Having a loud, low sound that fills a place

refers to an appearance rather than an actual produced noise
mellisonant
vs-sounding
  • Formal
9.9

A pleasant, sweet sound that is nice to hear

indicates an impression of pleasantness rather than a truly sweet tone
echolike
vs-sounding
8.0

Sounds repeat and seem far away like an echo

suggests an impression similar to reflected tones rather than literal repetition
trumpet-like
vs-sounding
5.1

Sounds loud and clear like a trumpet

suggests an impression of that brass quality rather than producing it

Surface Forms

-sounding positive

Morphology

-sounding = sound (semi-transparent) = sound + ing

The form is clear, but the extended sense of seeming to have a certain quality is somewhat generalized beyond the literal idea of making a sound.

Etymology

-Sounding can also mean 'seeming to be' because the sound or the words give a strong impression. So a high-sounding or good-sounding promise may 'sound' impressive even if it is not true.