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monotonal

monotonal

7.3
A thing that uses only one color or shade
  • adjective
  • /ˌmɒnəˈtoʊnəl/
translation icon : monocromático
  • Critics praised the monotonal design for its simplicity and elegance.

Examples

  • Her voice sounded monotonal during the presentation.

  • The artist created a monotonal landscape using only shades of blue.

  • Her room was decorated in a monotonal style, with everything in soft gray.

  • The painting was entirely monotonal.

  • The artist chose a monotonal palette for his painting, using shades of blue only.

  • Her voice had a monotonal quality that made it hard for the audience to stay engaged.

  • The room was decorated in monotonal colors, creating a calm but somewhat lifeless atmosphere.

Synonyms

monochromatic
vsmonotonal
8 7.2

Having only one color, or for light, only one wavelength

is broader, covering any single tone color or shade throughout
monotonous
vsmonotonal
4 5.3

A voice or sound that stays on one tone and does not change

applies to single tone in color or sound without the dullness
monochrome
vsmonotonal
2 6.1

Showing only one color or its different shades

refers more generally to any single tone or single shade appearance
monochromic
vsmonotonal
7.5

Showing only one color in lighter and darker shades

is the broader adjective for any single tone or shade
monochromous
vsmonotonal
9.6

Having only one color

describes the general single tone quality across color or shade
homochromatic
vsmonotonal
  • Specialized
9.9

Light that has only one color

covers visual single tone use beyond strict wavelength meaning
shadeless
vsmonotonal
5.4

Having no change in light and dark so it looks flat

focuses on single tone or color rather than just lack of shading

Antonyms

multicolored
  • US
8 2.9

Having many different bright colors

How Colorful

vibrant
29 3.6
colorful
  • US
89 1.0
muted
10 4.2
monotonal
7.3

Surface Forms

monotonal positive

Morphology

monotonal = tonal (semi-transparent) = mono + tone + al

The form is still clearly built from 'mono-' plus 'tonal', and the color/shade sense is a natural extension of the tone-based meaning.

Etymology

Monotonal comes from mono- 'one' and tone 'shade' or 'color', similar to the word monochrome which uses a single color. So a monotonal design or painting uses only one color or shade throughout.