Skip to main content
plonk

plonk

1 8.1
A short loud sound when something drops into water
  • noun
  • /plɔŋk/
: plop

Examples

  • Had he struck it with a tree, the plonk could not have been more bass-baritone.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • It makes a hollow PLONK.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • [matchbook plonks]

  • The diver made a big plonk when he hit the water from the high board.

  • I heard a loud plonk as the stone fell into the lake.

  • When the ice cube dropped into the drink, it produced a sharp plonk.

Synonyms

splash
vsplonk
53 1.0

The sound or action of liquid hitting a surface

is a single short resonant liquid drop rather than general scattering
splatter
vsplonk
11 5.1

A sudden sharp sound made when liquid hits a surface

is focused on one resonant liquid drop, not many small strikes
plop
vsplonk
8 3.0

A short soft sound when something drops into liquid

is more resonant and often louder, implying a stronger splash
thunk
vsplonk
7 8.9

A dull hollow sound when something heavy hits a surface

is more resonant and involves a liquid splash quality
clunk
vsplonk
5 6.0

A heavy, dull sound made when something hits a hard surface

is lighter and more resonant, linked to a drop into liquid
pong
vsplonk
1 7.3

A short, sharp sound when a ball or small thing hits a hard surface

is rounder and less sharp, produced by a liquid drop impact
doink
vsplonk
1 9.9

A short, clear sound that happens when something hits a hard surface

is similarly brief but specifically comes from dropping into liquid
whump
vsplonk
1 8.5

A dull sound made when a heavy object hits something

is brighter and more ringing, occurring when something hits liquid
clonk
vsplonk
1 7.9

A dull, heavy sound made when something hits another thing

is more ringing and associated with liquid rather than solid strikes
swack
vsplonk
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A loud hit that makes a sharp sound

is less sharp and more rounded, describing a liquid drop sound
kerplunk
vsplonk
1 9.5

A sudden heavy splash or thud when something falls

is a shorter, more ringing liquid drop sound with a distinct splash
plash
vsplonk
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A soft sound of water hitting something

is sharper and more resonant, tied to a single heavy drop
thwonk
vsplonk
1 9.9

A soft, low sound that something makes when it hits a surface

is produced by contact with liquid rather than a hard surface
splunge
vsplonk
9.9

A loud splash when a person or animal jumps into water

is a briefer resonant liquid drop rather than a long noisy fall
whuff
vsplonk
9.9

A dull heavy sound when something falls or is hit

is shorter and more resonant, tied to liquid impact rather than a blow

How Loud

to crash
46 2.4
to splash
101 1.0
plonk
1 8.1
plink
1 8.6
plop
8 3.0

Surface Forms

plonk singular
plonks plural

Etymology

Plonk is a sound word that copies the short, heavy noise something makes when it drops into water, like a stone making a sudden splash. So plonk is used for that quick, resonant drop sound.