onomatopoeic
2 synonyms for onomatopoeic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Describing a word that imitates the sound it names, or relating to such words.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
echoic
imitative
How to use onomatopoeic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
onomatopoeic word
onomatopoeic sound
onomatopoeic effect
It is a fairly formal term, used mostly when discussing language, poetry, and writing.
Etymology
The word was formed in English from onomatopoeia plus the suffix -ic.
Full origin of onomatopoeic →Frequently asked questions
What does onomatopoeic mean?
It describes something that has to do with onomatopoeia, such as a word that imitates a sound. 'Splash' and 'meow' are examples.
What is an example of an onomatopoeic word?
Words like 'buzz', 'hiss', 'bang', and 'sizzle' are onomatopoeic because their sounds echo what they describe.
Can onomatopoeic be used in a comparison, like more onomatopoeic?
It is listed as not comparable, so careful writers usually avoid 'more onomatopoeic' and simply say a word is or is not onomatopoeic.
